Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a smaller and more intimate take on the world of Marvel’s Spider-Man that perfectly captures the strengths and struggles of Miles Morales as a character. Ironically it’s a bit buggy, but it’s an overall excellent package that serves as a strong start for the PS5’s library.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Developer: Insomniac
Price: $40
Platforms: PS5 (reviewed), and PS4
I really loved Marvel’s Spider-Man, partially because Peter Parker is my favorite fictional character. That being the case would put Miles at a disadvantage, as Peter is hardly in it. And yet, Miles Morales had me greatly invested the entire time. The character of Miles and his struggle to become his own Spider-Man is enthralling, and the gameplay makes it that much sweeter. It’s the Lost Legacy of Spider-Man, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
In Miles Morales, the titular Miles becomes New York’s only Spider-Man while Peter Parker goes on a work vacation. A new villain named the Tinkerer and their gang, the Underground, is causing trouble while the dubious energy company Roxxon has set-up an armed base in Harlem. Throw in personal life problems and responsibilities, and you have a classic Spider-Man story for the modern age. The story itself is a lot of fun, but the real appeal comes from watching Miles grow in his role as a hero.
“If you ever wanted to vicariously become Spider-Man, this is how you do it“
You can feel his apprehension at Peter leaving in the beginning, but as the game goes on, his experiences and battles make him more and more confident, leading to a strong ending that has some exciting hints for the eventual Spider-Man 2. The supporting cast greatly complements Miles too, from the always supportive Ganke to the conflicted Phin. Simon Krieger is another highlight, as his smarmy “cool boss” act feels painfully genuine throughout the whole game. It’s a tight cast of characters, led well by the incredibly charismatic Miles himself.
The gameplay of Miles Morales is wonderfully fluid, with combat and swinging both feeling perfectly natural. Exploring the city is simultaneously relaxing and exhilarating, as performing parkour and web-swinging is as fast as it is stylish. I found myself just swinging long distances instead of fast-travelling because of how fun it is, which is a testament to how perfectly Insomniac nailed the most important part of a Spider-Man game. A neat addition comes from using the DualSense controller, which makes the sensation of swinging feel tangible to the player. The slight resistance in pulling the trigger all the way makes it feel like you’re really shooting webs, which feels crazy to type, but it’s true. If you ever wanted to vicariously become Spider-Man, this is how you do it.
“ Being able to immediately turn invisible makes it a lot more fun to take risks, or to just mess with enemies in general.“
Miles has his own way of moving when compared to Peter, which really helps him stand out from a gameplay perspective. Fighting as Miles is a whole new experience, both due to his new gadgets and his Venom attacks. Unlike Peter, Miles can use bioelectricity to do additional damage to foes and stun them. There’s a wide variety of Venom attacks that each work in different ways, allowing for smooth combo weaving. If that wasn’t enough, Miles has a camouflage ability that makes stealth sections far more interesting. Being able to immediately turn invisible makes it a lot more fun to take risks, or to just mess with enemies in general. I did encounter a few bugs when playing, with enemies getting stuck in walls occasionally and a game freeze here and there, but overall it’s so fun to play that I barely cared.
Miles is a gorgeous game all-around. The character models, environments, and suit designs are all incredibly crisp, and the ray-tracing? It’s something else entirely to see reflections of the environment in certain suits and windows, especially since the game still performs consistently. The snow effects are particularly nice, and Miles actually leaves footprints in snow patches.
The Final Word
Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a great launch game for the PS5. The story and characters are riveting, the gameplay is smooth and exciting, and the visuals are next-level. Miles Morales is a grand experience for any Marvel fans or action game fans, and a must-buy in general.
MonsterVine Rating: 4.5 out of 5 – Great
