A new generation of Spider-Man
In 2018 Insomniac Games once again brought Marvel’s most iconic character back to the top of superhero games. Spider-Man is still considered one of the best comic book games of all-time, as well as being one of the best of the generation. When Sony announced Miles Morales was getting his own game in the series we all had plenty of questions. Would this be a full-sized game? Will it be as good as Spider-Man? All of that was silenced when the game launched alongside Sony’s new console. Spider-Man Miles Morales is a fantastic follow-up and an outstanding launch title to showcase the next generation of PlayStation.
Now let’s remember this game is also available on PS4, but seeing it on PS5 really showcases what the new console is capable of. The loading time is instant. The ray-traced reflections are jaw-dropping. This game takes all the neat functionality of the console and puts it to the test. Spider-Man has never looked this good.
MSRP: $49.99 ($69.99 Special Edition w/ Spider-Man Remastered)
Platforms: PS5 (reviewed), PS4
Price I’d Pay: $49.99
Even though the campaign is condensed, it still packs a story that is just as good, if not better than the one found in Peter Parker’s 2018 adventure. Miles is a great character. Insomniac has captured all the nuance such as his less than stellar swinging mechanics, as well as his apprehension that he can replace Parker. The journey Miles goes on throughout the game is powerful, with fantastic voice acting, a compelling villain, and a wonderful maturation of Miles himself.
Miles Morales comes with two visual modes. The aforementioned ray-tracing is only available in the fidelity mode. While gorgeous this does limit the game to 30fps. This is a hard trade-off for some, but considering most of us spent so much time in 2018 at 30fps, I could live with it. The performance mode removes these and some other items to achieve 60fps, and it feels fantastic. The city feels more alive this time around and the visuals are just gorgeous. Combine that with the loading times that are nearly non-existent and this package truly feels next-gen.
The Dual Sense also plays a role in the game. The feedback triggers pull with each web swing. The sound of the ‘thwip’ also comes out of the controller speaker, lending to some nice immersion. The haptics feel great, especially during combat.
Combat in Miles Morales shares a lot with 2018’s game. The refined Batman-style brawling is complemented with new venom powers that involve Miles’ electricity abilities. No, this doesn’t have anything to do with the villain Venom, so don’t expect any of that here. These new powers though do a wonderful job of separating Miles from Peter. It is also great to see this game stick with its focus on Miles. This is not Peter’s side story, this game focuses entirely on Miles, both in story and game play.
As I mentioned this is a more streamlined and shorter experience. There is still fluff such as challenges and collectibles, but not as much. The story is also a bit shorter. The main campaign can be completed in 7-10 hours, with a few more to 100% the game. Sure, it is smaller than the original game, but it felt just as impactful. This does not feel like a budget expansion, and instead easily justifies its place as the premiere launch game for the PS5.
Those that want to revisit 2018’s game can purchase the special edition of Miles Morales, which includes a fully remastered version of that game. I find it frustrating that this version is not available for those that do not purchase this version though. Let original owners get a free upgrade, or at least pay a small fee to snag it. Still, with that said the remastered version of 2018’s game features the same updates: faster loading, ray-tracing in fidelity mode, and of course a 60fps performance mode. I found myself playing the original all over again, so it is hard for me not to recommend that version.
Spider-Man Miles Morales is a wonderful introduction to the PlayStation 5. It checks all the boxes of showcasing the new consoles features. The game is heart-warming, fun, and impressive on all levels. If you bought a PlayStation 5, this game should be mandatory. While it is available on PS4, this version really shows what Sony’s new console is capable of, and I cannot wait for Insomniac’s next game in the series.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
