Spider-Man: Miles Morales might not be as grand in scale as 2018's Spider-Man, but it more than makes up for that with a wonderful, inspiring story that establishes Miles as being every bit as worthy of being called Spider-Man as Peter Parker (comic book and movie fans already knew that, of course, but it's now the case for video games as well). Serving almost as an extended demo for what the PlayStation 5 is capable of, this is a jaw-droppingly beautiful game which it's impossible to tear your eyes from (just make sure you have a 4K HDR TV). It's hard not to get caught up in just how damn good the city looks, and if this is an indication of what we can expect from the next generation of consoles...well, we're in for a treat.
Click on the image below to view the hi-res version.
With Peter heading off to Symkaria alongside Mary Jane Watson for a working vacation, New York is solely under the protection of the inexperienced Miles, so it's now up to him to prove he can be Spider-Man without his mentor keeping an eye on him. Unfortunately, just as Peter leaves, the young wall-crawler finds himself caught in the middle of a war between Roxxon and The Tinkerer's Underground. What follows is a surprisingly personal, action-packed adventure which firmly establishes Miles as a hero it's going to be hard not to play as all the time when the inevitable Spider-Man sequel is released.
Between the clumsy way he swings around the Big Apple to his Venom and camouflage abilities, Miles is a very different Spider-Man to Peter in more ways than one, and that makes this a refreshing, thrilling experience. Finding yourself surrounded by Roxxon goons, it's immensely satisfying sending them all flying with a well-timed Venom blast, while taking out a warehouse full of bad guys is even more enjoyable when you can turn invisible and pick them off from up close. Even beyond the action, exploring Miles' home life, friendships, and place in his newfound home of Harlem is fascinating to explore. It's definitely a shame the campaign isn't slightly longer, but there are a tonne of enjoyable side-missions and collectibles which will distract you and, honestly, it's just fun exploring this stunning update of New York. With any luck, though, we'll get some DLC in the not too distant future.
Click on the image below to view the hi-res version.
An improved Photo Mode, less repetitive crimes, and a New York that feels truly alive are all additional highlights, and prove that the Spider-Man franchise is in the best possible hands with Insomniac Games. We can only hope that the plan now is for Peter and Miles to star in their own respective franchises because they're too good to share a game, and the latter proves here that he needs, and deserves, to be more than just a sidekick or spinoff.
With a spectacular soundtrack and some of the best visuals we've ever seen in a video game, Spider-Man: Miles Morales is an incredible experience, and one which you'll want to go back and play again and again.