π’ SPOODER-MAN, SPOODER-MAN, DOES WHATEVER A SPOODER CAN! IF YOU - π’
Ok that's enough get him off stage! π‘
I only recently saw the new PlayStation Direct and was treated by the amazing gameplay reveal for the new Spider-Man 2. Set to release next year. It reminded m of how much of a bomb game was. Unquestionably the best Spider-Man game of all time, and that's not even a debate.
So let's discuss why that is!
AhemβοΈ In this edition of Through the Lens π, we'll be taking a look at Insomniac Games's gweb-slinging, open world, action masterpiece from 2018: Spider-Man Roll it! π½
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π· UP TOP πΆ
First thing first, I present to you the bombastic superhero soundtrack that you should def listen to while reading this column. π― It gives you that sense of thrill that only a younger version of you, bouncing on your bed could. Nothing to write home about mayhaps in the large landscape of video game soundtracks. But it gets the job done and then some.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUAeCo5f0pY
I cannot believe that it's been five years since this game came out. in my mind, it's still a new game, which technically I guess it is. But ye, time moves folks. π
I've never played this game from start to finish. I've played large chunks of it at other friends' houses and have watched the other chunks on youtube. As a fan of the Ultimate Spider-Man game back in the 00s, I felt like this newest iteration of the character is the spiritual successor to that game.
So let's go piece by piece and break down why this game is so great.
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π· MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN πΆ
If you are in any way familiar with Insomniac Games you will understand why I used that exact title for this chapter. Insomniac is one of the premier studios when developing out-of-the-box games. And their time developing Sunset Overdrive certainly helped when making Spooder-Man. πΈ
Insomniac have stated on several occasions that they've taken the responsibility of bringing back Spidey to the gaming screen really seriously. They wanted to honor the character's legacy while making their own version of the Spider-verse. This is not the MCU Spidey, nor is it any of his previous iterations. No, this is Insomniac's Spidey, and that's well and good with me.
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π· ARKHAM INSPIRED πΆ
I've gone on record saying I hate the Arkham-style combat system. I remember getting hyped to play the first Arkham game only to be bored out of my mind. π© Just click one button over and over, ooo, click a parry! Ok. back to that one button. π€·ββοΈ I know people like it but it's just not engaging enough to me for it to be interesting.
However, I have always felt like the Arkham system is good enough to build upon, and that is what has been done here. Spidey has various other gadgets and moves that supplement his acrobatic movement. There are more button presses! Yay! And in general, the combat system is just more dynamic and fast-paced than others in its ilk.
The stealth aspect of the system (which in my opinion is the best aspect of the system) fits perfectly with Spidey as well. I know Batman is the real master of shadows, but spiders are creatures of the dark as well. And it makes sense that Spidey crawls around as he does. So it fits both thematically and mechanically.
Lastly, it's not about individual mechanics, but the meshing of each as a whole. Insomniac managed to strike a great balance between playable and challenging. And the various difficulty levels in the game make it so anyone and everyone can pick this game up and play it.
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π· NEW YORK CITY πΆ
The open world in this game is like no other Spidey game. Well, maybe the Ultimate Spide-Man game I mentioned earlier π. The devs have managed to bring New York to life in a way that I believe has never been seen before or since.
The various buildings have been scaled as much to proportion as would make sense. There is still cheating here and there to make it all make sense while web-slinging across it. But you wouldn't tell just by experiencing it, someone has to tell you. In my book, that means the city is pretty much spot on. π
There are plenty of other tertiary elements that make the city feel alive. For one thing, a lot of the interiors are modeled out, so when you're stuck to a building you can still see rooms and furniture inside. For another, civilians react to Spidey when they see him. This again just raises the level of immersion.
There are also a lot of miscellaneous tasks that you can perform. Such as getting collectibles scattered across the map, or following NYPD incidents.
The entire game is a love letter to Spider-Man. There are even sub-par mini-games that simulate Peter's day job as an aspiring scientist. π¨βπ¬
Moreover, the story itself is not half bad. It draws upon the spider-mythos in a way that is respectful yet with a twist. There are many ups and downs in its run time. And what a run time it is because this game is long. π If it's an enjoyable experience as a cutscene movie on youtube, then it's a good story. And this game fits that bill perfectly.
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π· LEGACY πΆ
I don't think many people will disagree with the statement of "best Spider-Man game ever". No doubt there have been plenty of good Spidey games over the years, which makes this one's excellence even more impressive.
It helps that the Miles Morales expansion built upon the original i9n ways that enhance both. And from everything I"ve seen the second game looks to build on the same elements even more.
For a lot of people, this is their favorite PS4 title, and that's saying something. It's a cliche to say but you really did feel like Spider-Man while playing this game. And that is the biggest compliment a game like this can receive.
Thank you for reading, you rock! (and maybe roll) πππ
Shout-out to the πPIZZAπ gang, π€ gang. π€
Not sure if I should do a stand-alone article on Miles Morales, but I don't think I have enough to say to validate that. π€·ββοΈ I'm for sure gonna cover the sequel when it drops, but until then -
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Hope you are having a fantastic day! π
Return from Spider-Man π½ Through the Lens to ΠΠΎΡΠΊΠΎ's Web3 Blog
