An Amazing Game!

 

So this game has been out for weeks now. It’s safe to say that people are loving Spider-Man. Developed by Insomniac Games, they are recognized by their previous series’s; Spyro The Dragon, Ratchet and Clank, and Resistance. Yet despite their previous successes, they still had their work cut out for them. They needed to create a game that captures the fun of Spider-Man while telling a story that did it’s source material proud. The end result is something truly special.

Story:

Taking place eight years after his origin, Spider-Man has solidified himself among the citizens of New York. You’re immediately thrown into the action as you and the police launch a raid on the King Pins headquarters to bring the crime lord down. After his imprisonment you’d think that things would be better for the city. Unfortunately things don’t stay quiet for long as gangs and other factions move in to take control. Even worse, a new villain arrives with his own agenda.

It’s refreshing that the story doesn’t start with the origin, we’ve seen it so many times already. I also appreciated that Insomniac went with a villain that may not be well known as others, though their are some cameos. I can’t speak for others but I know next to nothing about Mr. Negative, though as I understand, he’s been around for a number of years. All of the performances are great, and to my surprise, there are a number of emotional moments throughout.

Gameplay:

If you’ve played any of the Batman: Arkham games then you’ll notice the similarities between the combat, though I found it to be more enjoyable here since Spider-Man is much more agile with his moves. You won’t just be fighting though, stealth sections and tech puzzles will keep you busy as well. You even get a chance to play as other characters, though I won’t say who. There are also a number of side quests and collectibles spread throughout the city. The game encourages you to see it all since completing these activities will give you tokens that you can use to unlock new costumes, moves, powers, and gadgets. My favorite aspect of the gameplay is hands down the web swinging. Once you get the hang of it, it becomes incredibly addictive swinging around New York.

Visuals and Music:

The city is beautiful and actually changes as you progress through the story, showing the impact of your actions. There is an insane amount of detail put into this game. The music is also stellar, the main theme in particular will really get you pumped. It’s clear that Insomniac put a lot of love and passion into this.

Criticisms:

As much as I”m praising the game, there are a few complaints. Early on I encountered a few bugs; I got stuck in the geometry a couple of times and a glitch or two. Also, near the end of the game there are a bunch of enemy bases to take out. They aren’t mandatory for completion, but since the game did so well at keeping the side quests varied, I felt that these kinda of got repetitive by the end.

Final Verdict:

Spider-Man is one of the best games of 2018. Taking lessons from the films and other superhero games, Insomniac has created a version of the web swinger all their own. It looks and sounds great, it plays even better, and tells a story that you’ll want to see through to the end. This was made by fans, for the fans. However, that shouldn’t discourage others from playing it either. The game is very welcoming to newcomers. So if you haven’t already picked this one up, then I highly recommend that you do. You won’t be disappointed.

9/10

A Must Buy