Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Although it might sound overly dramatic, fiction definitely has the power to get someone through a difficult situation, especially if the character they are reading is a particularly relatable one. Okay, maybe not Spider-Man, but Peter Parker sure does the trick.

As you well know, there are lots of versions of Spider-Man that people can identify with. And now, Miles Morales is another one of those, and once again, Insomniac has done the job well.

In spite of the fact that Peter is part of the intro mission, it is Miles' story: the former is whisked away to Europe with his significant other and stealth-sequence expert Mary Jane Watson very quickly. In the meantime, there is only one Spider-Man in New York.

Right from the beginning, you are in the right place. The game isn't about the origin (the ending of the first game dealt with that); it's more like a Batman Year One story. I guess you could catch up on the original if you want, but it's not necessary since, again, this is an independent story that involves Miles, his family, and friends, as well as new villains. Besides a few Easter eggs, you can also get by with this version.

Gradually I realized how different Miles Morales was. In both combat and non-combat scenes, it shares many of the same frameworks, but it's a different story. With a focus on Miles' friends and those who are close to him who most players haven't met yet, it fits the game perfectly and allows it to step out of the shadow of Peter Parker. It also helps to feel like this isn't a copy-paste job since it is Christmas time and the city is sparkling.

It is Miles himself that I cherish most about the game. His insecurities and demons, along with his heroic duties, make him quite the character in the Spider-Verse films. The narrative and subtle animations in the game all showcase Insomniac's personality. When Miles attacks, he sometimes looks off-balance or struggles. His heroic nature is not limited to his costume, though.

Due to the fact that this is a PlayStation 5 game, it is also relevant to discuss the next-generation goodies. Rather than the visual upgrades, it's the lack of load time that stands out to me. There is a real SSD effect, with the game loading up in a matter of seconds or moving at a faster pace. It was sometimes quicker to manually zip to a location in the original to avoid forcing a load - but Miles Morales literally walks out of fast-travel points in a flash. This is the kind of speed I hope the entire generation is capable of.

In comparison to the original, the visual options are slightly less impressive, but totally functional. While native 4K/ray tracing/60 is ideal, the game is perfectly fine in either setting. Insomniac offers 30FPS, ray tracing, and 60FPS, the latter providing a "4K picture from a lower resolution base." The ray-tracing effects (including the puddles) are gorgeous, too, whether you choose native 4K or ray tracing/60.

It has a smooth action system that mimics the original Spider-Man character's agility and strength. It is important to note that Miles has two abilities at play: the ability to generate bio-electric shocks (Venom Blast) and the ability to blend in with the environment. When shooting a single target or unleashing an electric blast into a crowd, the neon aesthetic from inFamous: Second Son really appeals to me.

During gameplay, Miles' camouflage is controlled by a meter, which depletes as you use the ability or whack a foe out of stealth. The camouflaging in stealth sequences makes them easier, but it makes them more fun as well. You have to maintain a degree of anonymity, lest you blow your cover, even with Miles speeding through those portions of the game faster than Peter.

The benefit of this way of going about things is that you don't feel overwhelmed or overstimulated by the game. There are just two easy-to-follow currencies to juggle, and the in-game challenges and collectibles never get out of hand.

The story of Miles Morales was just as enjoyable as that of Into the Spider-Verse. The story exceeded my expectations; it was more than just a side story. My heart was in my mouth when I heard that Miles and Peter were both going to be playable in Spider-Man 2.

AJ