It's been quite some time since we got to play a Spider-Man video game and his PlayStation 4 debut will be the first time the wall-crawler has appeared on the current generation of consoles. Exclusive to the PS4, there's a lot of excitement surrounding the spectacular looking title and now the review embargo has lifted, and the overall consensus is definitely that's it's a pretty amazing video game.
It doesn't sound like it breaks the mould, but fans of the wall-crawler will seemingly find plenty to enjoy here and as action-adventure games go, it definitely appears as if it's a winner for the most part.
So, to check out this wave of reviews for Spider-Man from a variety of websites (both specialising in video games and trades like The Hollywood Reporter and Variety), all you guys have to do is click on the "View List" button below. We've also included some video reviews, so there's a lot to dive into...
Overall, Insomniac Games has created a gorgeous, intricately made game that stands alone atop the pantheon of Spider-Man video games. Already touted as a console-seller for the PlayStation 4 (where it is available exclusively), Marvel's Spider-Man will undoubtedly satisfy any tingling Spider-Sense fans have.
SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter
I wanted Marvel’s Spider-Man on PS4 to make me feel like Spider-Man: To sail between the highrises of New York City, to nimbly web up hordes of enemies, and tussle with familiar, animal-themed villains. Insomniac Games’ first foray into the world of Marvel handily delivers on all of that. But what I didn’t expect from Spider-Man was to come away feeling just as fulfilled to have inhabited the life of Peter Parker. Aside from a few odd pacing issues, which momentarily took me out of the experience of being a superhero, and a world of optional missions that don’t always quite live up to the heft of the main story, Insomniac has delivered a Spider-Man story that both surprised and delighted me, coupled with gameplay that made me feel like Spider-Man nearly every step of the way. The Wall Crawler’s open world doesn’t consistently deliver the thrilling moments of its main campaign, but the foundation laid here is undoubtedly a spectacular one. [8.4/10]
SOURCE: IGN
But while it doesn’t advance the world of action-adventure superhero games too far forward, the title represents a huge leap for the future of Spider-Man himself as a video game star. Beyond its excellent mechanical refinement and its earnest fondness for the legacy of one of Marvel’s mightiest heroes, the unique strength of Spider-Man lies in its unlikely star. Every great Spider-Man story is actually a great Peter Parker story first and foremost—and no game in Spidey’s long-swinging history within the medium has nailed that idea quite as remarkably as this one.
SOURCE: io9
Ultimately, “Marvel’s Spider-Man” feels like the first entry in an ambitious and promising new series. Making it all the more unfortunate it didn’t do more to subvert expectations, or to pay off some of the more exciting possibilities it seemed to be gesturing toward — and it will likely always exist in the shadow of “Batman: Arkham Asylum.” But its masterful web-swinging and its undeniable sense of joy make for an experience that’s more gratifying and eminently replayable than anything seen from a superhero game in years.
SOURCE: Variety
Marvel’s Spider-Man is a terrific addition to the superhero video game canon and an addicting, thrilling experience that already has me itching to jump back in and swing through the city once again. [9/10]
SOURCE: Slash Film
To be fair, most of Spider-Man’s faults can’t be attributed to design decisions or a lack of effort on the developer’s part. Had it been released a couple of years ago (pre-Breath of the Wild), the collectible-driven approach to crafting an open world wouldn’t have hampered the overall experience. Still, even with a sometimes-boring city and the occasional rote stealth section, Marvel’s Spider-Man is easily the best Spider-Man game to date. Any respectable superhero or Marvel fan shouldn’t even think about skipping this one. [4/5]
Its main character is brilliantly realised and a real joy to play. Gameplay is as good as any Arkham game before it and the challenge on offer is tough but rewarding from the off. There’s a real journey here to enjoy as Peter Parker and the main baddies are an electric combination that keeps you coming back for more. Casual gamers may feel a little overwhelmed at first with number of skills to master. The game doesn’t gently ease you in, it’s full-on action all the way. But if you strap yourself in and let Spider-Man take you on an adventure through New York you’re going to have a blast. Marvel's Spider-Man is quite simply one of the best games of the year and an obvious must-buy for all PS4 owners. [5/5]
SOURCE: Daily Star
But as entertaining as Spider-Man is there’s not a single element of gameplay with any real depth and the game is clearly terrified of its audience not knowing what to do for more than a few seconds. In other words, it’s just like most older tie-in games that on the surface use their licence well but purposefully constrain its potential in order not to put off a wider audience. [7/10]
SOURCE:Metro
There aren’t many surprises to the game; despite being an open-world experience, it plays upon a linear story, and the twists that happen feel familiar. The action sequences are breathless and memorable, but after the game’s final act I was left wanting more. Just like a summer blockbuster, Spider-Man leaves too much waiting in the wings for its obviously upcoming sequel.
SOURCE: Polygon
Insomniac’s writers are on fine form, delivering a whip-smart MJ who’s far more than a damsel, and peppering combat with Spidey’s beautifully bad jokes. Its adjustment of J Jonah Jameson into a frothing shock jock is a little stroke of genius. But, in its efforts to produce compelling human drama, the narrative holds back the good stuff for far too long, resulting in a second act that feels stilted and a third that feels rushed. This game shows tremendous love for all things Spider-Man, and the ending packs a punch he would be proud of. But Insomniac relies too much on its hero to elevate the world built around him, with the result that the game wears thin some time before its powerful conclusion. [3/5]
SOURCE: Guardian
There’s going to come a day when the industry will have to move beyond open-world levels peppered with various objectives, towers that unlock portions of the map, RPG-lite mechanics, Arkham combat and stealth, and all the other tropes that fuel Insomniac’s Spider-Man. However, at a time when superhero games - much less good superhero games - are few and far between, it’s easy enough to recommend Spider-Man as a simply enjoyable game of its time that will hopefully lead us towards something a little more timeless. [4/5]
SOURCE: Den Of Geek
Once again, Sony has demonstrated why it is King of Console Exclusives. Marvel’s Spider-Man is better than it has any right to be. The simple pick-up-and-play action game most of us wanted evolves into a complex and demanding drama few expected. Insomniac achieves this transition without being jarring or heavy-handed, either; the progression of skills, collectibles, objectives and story is neatly and expertly paced. I never felt rushed or overwhelmed. Instead, I learned how to be Spider-Man. And thanks to an immersive story, I felt like Spider-Man too. Not just his ups, but his downs. (A memorable text exchange with Mary Jane was highly relatable content). You won’t want to put it down. And if you’re ever in NYC, you won’t like seeing parks, either. [9/10]
SOURCE: Newsweek
There's so much more I want to tell you about this game. I want to assure you that the stealth missions will make your mouth go dry. I want to warn you about certain challenges. I want to admonish you to cherish your time with certain characters. There's much more that I could say, but you guys don't need any more persuasion. This is a genre-defining and generation-defining effort from Insomniac, Sony, and Marvel, and it's one of the best Spider-Man stories ever told. Go play it. Go be great.
SOURCE: ComicBook.com
Spider-Man, above all else, is compellingly imperfect. I never felt an urge to skip a cut scene or chunk of wonderfully performed dialogue, even as I agonized over how obvious and predictable the plot was. I kept wishing Insomniac had sprinkled one more touch of mechanical-gameplay salt onto the familiar superhero-combat formula, even as I relished some of the game's best beat-'em-up sequences and eye-bulging boss battles. And while the game would sometimes grow stale as it prodded me along with repetitive side quests and awful puzzle interruptions, I couldn't help but swing, swing, swiiiing my way across virtual Manhattan again and again, always feeling like there was just enough fun to keep me hooked to my webs. Spider-Man is happy to confirm your superhero-gaming bias. If this adventure isn't ultimately your cup of tea, it won't be for a lack of effort, polish, and content on Insomniac's part.
SOURCE: ARS Technica
Ultimately, Marvel's Spider-Man is a must-buy, because no matter how you feel about our webbed superhero, this is just an insanely fun game to play, and it's so well put together. Just like the Arkham games did for Batman, this pretty much provides the definitive version of the Spider-Man universe outside of the comics, and leaves us begging to explore more of it in the inevitable sequel. Webslinging is bliss, combat is fantastic fun, and the extra content and collectibles are varied and infrequent enough not to overwhelm. What's more, the plot and characters are an unexpected surprise, with some fantastic performances that are genuinely touching. Marvel's Spider-Man is one of the best games of 2018 so far, and every PS4 owner will feel proud to own it as part of their library. [9/10]
All in all, Insomniac’s take on Spider-Man is still a complete and spectacular Spider-Man experience. It’s fast, fluid, funny and real. It’s a game that stays true to Spider-Man’s character while also bringing more substance to the table, even when it gets a little overwhelming. So whether or not you’re a Spider-Man fan, this Spider-Man game is definitely worth purchasing and seeing through the end.
SOURCE: Rappler
Marvel’s Spider-Man doesn’t innovate on the open-world genre, but Insomniac doubled down on creating a spectacular Spider-Man fantasy. It simply feels good to travel through Peter Parker’s New York as the webslinger, even if whatever Spidey-suit you choose is covering a competent and entirely expected open-world formula. Filled with more emotion, heart, and humanity than we’ve seen in superhero adventures before, Insomniac doesn’t need to reinvent the open-world wheel. Marvel’s Spider-Man embraces the man behind the mask and gives us the best interactive Spider-Man experience to date. [9/10]
SOURCE: PlayStation Lifestyle
Marvel's Spider-Man is fantastic in terms of execution and I'm mostly sad that it's over for the time being. As one character says later in the game: "I will miss you and your bizarre witticisms, Spider-Man. Until we meet again."
SOURCE: US Gamer
With a fresh take on the character in both story terms and gameplay, Insomniac have delivered a superb experience that harks back to when Rocksteady revitalised Batman with Arkham Asylum. Marvel’s Spider-Man is a brilliant, thoroughly needed entry in the superhero genre that is a must play whether you’re a hardcore comics fan, casual Spidey aficionado or simply a lover of action adventures. [5/5]
SOURCE: Mirror Online
And it's a reminder, then, that while it seems that games of a certain type - and a certain budget - are all converging these days, that all games are in a hurry to become the same game with the same tricks and the same hooks, there are still places, even within the most risk-averse of designs, for genuine character to bloom. Go get 'em, tiger.
SOURCE: Euro Gamer
There are some nice story beats here with a surprisingly emotional pay-off that should keep comic book fans happy. Marvel themselves were hands-on with development of the story and it shows, giving rise to the idea that a Marvel gaming universe might not be such a bad idea… Especially if the overall quality is as good as this. Insomniac’s take on Spider-Man has its caveats, with its raft of distractions following a little too closely to what has gone before. But its dedication to and understanding of its leading man make for a thrilling and satisfying slice of comic-book entertainment. Because, ultimately, Spider-Man, I like the way you move. [4/5]
SOURCE: Telegraph
Spider-Man does what so many games can't these days, scoffing in the face of expectations and delivering in superhero-esque fashion. The game is sheer fun in all facets, has tons of replay value and manages to pull off not only an incredible feat with the living city itself, but also tells a fresh story in a classic universe Marvel won't want to just let be one-and-done. This game feels like a culmination of developers who have worked on the franchise from the onset. Instead, it's a monster debut with pick-up-and-play appeal, a love letter to lifelong fans of the universe and even a game with a speedrunning element built in thanks to the game's high skill ceiling. When it isn't making you laugh, it's stunning you with some of the feats it pulls. Written another way, it's as versatile as Spider-Man himself, the man tasked with juggling two lives and how to properly handle it all when the circles overlap. They're constantly doing so in Insomniac Games' Spider-Man, though it's handled as smoothly as how the webhead himself would breeze through the challenge.
SOURCE: Bleacher Report
Simply put, Marvel’s Spider-Man is a triumph on almost every level. Even the occasional bit of padding in the story and some repetitive crimes can’t get in the way of a game that looks incredible, plays even better, and manages to tell one of the most exciting stories in a video game this year.
SOURCE: Unilad
Insomniac Games has laid an excellent foundation for more Spider-Man games down the road. This first entry demonstrates that the veteran studio can tackle Spidey's combat in a compelling way and create some genuinely astonishing action sequences with top-tier visuals to match. I'll be looking for more gameplay depth and variation to round out the entire experience next time and more motivation to see Spider-Man's next chapter all the way through. By no means is Spider-Man dead on arrival, it just leaves some room for improvement. This feels like a game that will have a great sequel.
At its best, Spider-Man might just be the finest superhero video game ever made. It uses relatively simple and intuitive controls to make you feel like a powerful hero, bounding across a vast city with ease, using spectacular skills to defeat evil. The epic boss battles in Spider-Man rival anything you’ve seen in a Marvel movie, including an absolutely incredible final encounter. I just wish that core wasn’t bogged down by a tragically mundane open-world structure. It’s a game that manages to do one thing really well, but it does it so well that it elevates the whole experience.
SOURCE: The Verge
Minor shortcomings don't detract from Insomniac's achievement in creating a game that feels like an authentic interpretation of a beloved creation. The feeling of embodying Spidey and using his abilities is astonishing, and the time spent on exploring its major characters help make its story feel heartfelt, despite superhero bombast. There have been open-world Spider-Man games before, but none so riveting and full of personality, none that explore and do justice to this many facets of the universe. Insomniac has created a superior Spider-Man experience that leaves a lasting impression, one that has you longing for just one more swing around New York City, even after the credits roll. [9/10]
SOURCE: Gamespot
Ultimately, Marvel's Spider-Man masters practically every aspect of superhero games that have come before, but it does so in an uninspiring way. That's not to diminish the experience of playing as the wall-crawler, but if gamers are looking at Insomniac's adaptation of Spider-Man as the next step in gaming, they will be (somewhat) disappointed. Perhaps the game isn't meant to take the genre to the next level, and that's okay. What it aims to do - to tell the definitive version of Spidey's story on an epic scale - it does so exceptionally well, and that is possibly all fans can ask for at this stage. Because, really, aside from fluid combat against an unintelligent AI system, the main thing that holds this game together is Peter Parker's story. [3.5/5]
What do you think about these Spider-Man reviews? Are you now even more excited for the game or not too bothered? As always, share your thoughts in the comments section down below.