Jason Savio

One of the most iconic comic book characters finally has his own game that lives up to his legendary stature.

Insomniac Games’ PlayStation 4 exclusive Spider-Man is without a doubt one of the greatest superhero games to ever grace a console, and it takes notes from other games before it to make it the best possible web-slinging experience imaginable.

Armed with a fresh new suit, Spider-Man offers an open world approach, allowing you to swing across New York City like the Web Crawler himself from roof top to roof top as you take on a grandiose storyline complimented by neatly thought-out side missions.

No longer a teenager, you play as a twenty-something Peter Parker who works as a research assistant for Dr. Otto Octavius (more on that in a moment). This more closely resembles the current state of an older Peter Parker in the newest issues of the comic book. Spider-Man knows that we are already well aware of the Web Crawler’s background and that we don’t need to be told it again, avoiding any drawn-out origin details.

Instead, Spider-Man introduces a whole new group of villains led by a secret mastermind who, as you might have guessed it, is right under Parker’s nose. But, as you might have incorrectly surmised, it’s not Doc Oc. He is not the super-villain we have come to know at the start of the game. There are hints of his transformation to a baddie, but it’s a slow burn, as is much of the storyline. Spider-Man has the most colorful rogues’ gallery in all of comics, and Spider-Man patiently—and wisely—waits to introduce them in the best spots possible. It’s not bad-guy overload like many other superhero games, nor is it your dad’s Spider-Man story. Sure, Peter still has that Bad Parker Luck and can barely balance both his personal life and superhero life, but overall this story is revamped and given a tune-up from the classic.

Perhaps the biggest thing that stands out about Spider-Man is not its masterfully crafted storyline, but rather its exceptional gameplay. It’s no coincidence if gamers find the mechanics strangely similar. That’s because Spider-Man unabashedly takes a page (or three) straight from the book of the hugely popular Batman: Arkham games. The similarities between the two games is unmistakable, from the fluid fighting approach down to descrambling frequencies and perching atop a roof; all are basically the exact same as in the Batman: Arkham series. And that’s a good thing. Those Batman: Arkham games were popular for a reason. Spider-Man’s open-world approach and map setup, featuring numerous side missions and challenges, also brings to mind the presentation of the Batman: Arkham games, as well as the latest Grand Theft Auto releases and Red Dead Redemption.

There is a whole lot to do in Spider-Man. Whether it’s diving into the main story or the side missions, you’ll never get bored. Perhaps one of the most exciting things, however, is simply swinging through the concrete canyons of New York City. If you time it right, you can glide across the sun setting against the city skyline and, for a moment, get a sense of the wonder of being Spider-Man.

Spider-Man will have your spidey-senses tingling in the best way possible.

Simply put, it is amazing.

For more, visit: playstation.com/en-us/games/marvels-spider-man-ps4/