This review contains spoilers
Spider-Man 2018 is the pinnacle of Superhero game design and the Genre at its best, to repeat an overused statement, but this game absolutely makes you feel like Spider-Man, not only that, but also Peter Parker.
This game, alongside the Arkham Tetralogy are how Superhero games of this Genre should feel like, It is a work of brilliance for Insomniac turning a Hero who's game series are mixed of good and bad, to create arguably its best game yet and their own best game.
To get onto specifics:
Story - Spider-Man is a story of high stakes and gut punching emotional blows, From surprise twists and seeing Spider-Man at his lowest to Watching Peters relationship with MJ, Aunt May and FEAST creating a Spider-Man who is humanised and Humble, very comic accurately placed. This is an experienced Peter from the get go, 8 years into his career as Spider-Man already having locked so many notable villains in the Raft and opening the game with him going against Wilson Fisk who in this game world seems like Peters biggest Nemesis, working alongside his mentor Dr Octavius to better the world in science despite the trials and tribulations, this creating a new look at Spider-Man we rarely see for a debuting project. Side Characters from Dr Octopus all the way to Miles Morales are also perfect and radiate off the main character incredibly, aiding each other in a great symbiosis, each having integral contributions to the story and Game. Overall this could possibly be the greatest non-comic Spider-Man Story.
Gameplay - Fast, Fluid, Fun. The three F's this game achievs to make this excel at its gameplay design. From easy and accessible but engaging and interesting web swinging, Satisfying and varied combat with mixed gadgets, verticality and combos at its heart and Stealth reminiscent to that of the Arkham games with more varied world interaction to objects and gadgets. The gameplay is action packed and perfectly encapsulates Spider-Man's classic style.
World - New York IS New York, It is perfect, this is how I (An Englishman) imagine how New York is, I can't comment to accuracy but from all reports I have seen, it is very similar, not perfectly accurate but honestly that doesn't matter, The Level design perfectly fits the web swinging and traversal, there is so many vistas and guiding lines to players, always something to interest players. It is the perfect Superhero playground for Peter.
Activities - The world activities are so prevalent, as someone who has platinumed this game twice now I fully believe that these are great for the first 15 hours, but once you get past this point, other than Backpacks and Black vat activities the other side activities become repetitive and often too much grind.
DLC - for the most part everything I have said here I can agree and carry for the DLC. However It wouldn't be right if I ignore how badly Hammerhead was done in this DLC, I believe he is not as grounded as he should be, I would've preferred if he was the main villain of at 1 and 2 and had nothing to do with sable but the we learn that the head Maggia Leader is Silvermane who would take over the Role Hammerhead took in this DLC. Due to this, act 2 and 3 don't feel quite as great as Act 1.
Overall I give this game a 9/10and t is well deserved, not perfect with some definite flaws, but those flaws are very outweighed by the great. Please, Please buy this game if you are on the fence, such a fun and easy game to enjoy and platinum
This game, alongside the Arkham Tetralogy are how Superhero games of this Genre should feel like, It is a work of brilliance for Insomniac turning a Hero who's game series are mixed of good and bad, to create arguably its best game yet and their own best game.
To get onto specifics:
Story - Spider-Man is a story of high stakes and gut punching emotional blows, From surprise twists and seeing Spider-Man at his lowest to Watching Peters relationship with MJ, Aunt May and FEAST creating a Spider-Man who is humanised and Humble, very comic accurately placed. This is an experienced Peter from the get go, 8 years into his career as Spider-Man already having locked so many notable villains in the Raft and opening the game with him going against Wilson Fisk who in this game world seems like Peters biggest Nemesis, working alongside his mentor Dr Octavius to better the world in science despite the trials and tribulations, this creating a new look at Spider-Man we rarely see for a debuting project. Side Characters from Dr Octopus all the way to Miles Morales are also perfect and radiate off the main character incredibly, aiding each other in a great symbiosis, each having integral contributions to the story and Game. Overall this could possibly be the greatest non-comic Spider-Man Story.
Gameplay - Fast, Fluid, Fun. The three F's this game achievs to make this excel at its gameplay design. From easy and accessible but engaging and interesting web swinging, Satisfying and varied combat with mixed gadgets, verticality and combos at its heart and Stealth reminiscent to that of the Arkham games with more varied world interaction to objects and gadgets. The gameplay is action packed and perfectly encapsulates Spider-Man's classic style.
World - New York IS New York, It is perfect, this is how I (An Englishman) imagine how New York is, I can't comment to accuracy but from all reports I have seen, it is very similar, not perfectly accurate but honestly that doesn't matter, The Level design perfectly fits the web swinging and traversal, there is so many vistas and guiding lines to players, always something to interest players. It is the perfect Superhero playground for Peter.
Activities - The world activities are so prevalent, as someone who has platinumed this game twice now I fully believe that these are great for the first 15 hours, but once you get past this point, other than Backpacks and Black vat activities the other side activities become repetitive and often too much grind.
DLC - for the most part everything I have said here I can agree and carry for the DLC. However It wouldn't be right if I ignore how badly Hammerhead was done in this DLC, I believe he is not as grounded as he should be, I would've preferred if he was the main villain of at 1 and 2 and had nothing to do with sable but the we learn that the head Maggia Leader is Silvermane who would take over the Role Hammerhead took in this DLC. Due to this, act 2 and 3 don't feel quite as great as Act 1.
Overall I give this game a 9/10and t is well deserved, not perfect with some definite flaws, but those flaws are very outweighed by the great. Please, Please buy this game if you are on the fence, such a fun and easy game to enjoy and platinum