I loved Marvel’s Spider-Man. In a game that looked to “Be Greater”, it showcased a fantastic new version of Peter Parker. Both him and his world felt fully realised, and it’s now a game I’ve completed on both PS4 and PS5. A great experience twice over, and now I’m comfortable with Peter’s new face!
In this sequel we’re asked to “Be Yourself” as we step into the shoes of Miles Morales. His game irons out the few wrinkles of the first game – mainly the non Spider-Man sections – whilst adding it’s own flavour. Now I’ve completed this twice too, and it continues to hold up extremely well. I’ve learnt a few things too.
I love it’s almost laser like focus on Miles. Peter’s first outing had a lot to do; it still nailed the emotions but it took longer to get there. With this game, I felt even more connected to the main character. I was building a relationship with Miles, and I really like him. I was also building a relationship with Miles’s new home, Harlem. The first time I played this game I felt that Harlem was spoken about a lot but not connected with fully. I was wrong! This time I focused on side missions and got to now people from the area. I spent a lot more time in the Harlem area, so when it was threatened, I felt protective of it.
MM plays well, looks gorgeous, and biggest of all, is the perfect length game for me. On the first play through I logged around 20 hours. In that time I finished the story and chased down everything on the map. Second time I knocked it down to easy and just enjoyed it for about 12 hours. I’m not one for spending hundreds of hours in any game, and this felt like a great balance between money spent, time spent, and enjoyment.
From the wobble when stringing up goons, to occasionally ungainly swinging, it’s clear that this is someone finding their way. Miles has plenty of his own stuff to deal with, but having Peter in his corner means he isn’t answering the same questions that Peter constantly asked of himself. With his extra abilities (stunning in photo mode btw) making up for his slighter weaker fighting, Miles is unique, and it’s a joy to experience his take on being a Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man.
It feels reductive to label either game better; it’s more of the same whilst focusing on a different character. I can’t wait for Spider-Man 2. A fully trained up Miles alongside an experienced Peter could lead to some amazing battles and set pieces. But also a lot of interesting story points. Now that Miles is a Spider-Man in his own right, how can he help Peter when they face even bigger challenges?
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