You’d have to cast your mind back to 2011 to remember the last mainline Spider-Man game to grace a PlayStation console.
Sure, there have been movie tie-ins for The Amazing Spider-Man and mobile spinoffs in the vein of Total Mayhem and Unlimited , but this month’s PS4 exclusive heralds the triumphant return of Marvel’s greatest ever character. You could even call it a homecoming.
Even now, the critics (including our own Chandler Wood ) are raving about Marvel’s Spider-Man , its gorgeous open world, and those subtle little Easter eggs scattered throughout Manhattan. Some have even gone as far as to say that Insomniac’s sandbox represents the finest superhero game since Batman: Arkham Knight. It is high praise, indeed.
It’s fair to say that everyone’s favorite Web-Head is riding the crest of a wave! In anticipation of September 7, 2018, we’ve scoured the four corners of the Internet (and the PSLS archives !) to present to you the 411 on Marvel’s Spider-Man –its gameplay, its combat, and its incredible roster of A-list villains.
So without further ado, let’s get to it.
Marvel’s Spider-Man makes a beeline for PlayStation 4 this September 7th, and we simply can’t wait to see what Insomniac has in store for our friendly neighborhood Web-Head. There’s been talk that this PS4 exclusive could lead to an entire superhero universe spawning at Marvel Games, so the sky’s really the limit for Peter Parker.
Essential Reading:
Marvel's Spider-Man info dump
Marvel's Spider-Man – EYNTK
The 411 on Insomniac's new licensed title.
What is Marvel's Spider-Man?
It's the PS4 exclusive coming by way of Insomniac Games, the developer best known for Resistance, Ratchet & Clank, and the open-world oddity Sunset Overdrive .
Marvel's Spider-Man takes gameplay cues from the latter and projects them onto a lush open world teeming with big-name villains and a 23-year-old Peter Parker who's already at the top of his Spidey game.
Which brings us to...
What's the Story?
Marvel's Spider-Man is all about the power vacuum left behind by Wilson Fisk, who is defeated by the Web-Head early on in the game.
His absence allows the so-called Inner Demons, led by Mister Negative, to seize control of Fisk's territory, leaving Spidey in quite the pickle as he attempts to juggle his personal life with his role as Spider-Man.
You know what they say about great power.
How Does it Play?
Like a dream, according to early reviews . Marvel's Spider-Man dumps players in the middle of a thriving sandbox filled with things to do and cute Marvel Easter eggs waiting to be uncovered.
It's a third-person action game, essentially, and ought to be familiar to anyone who's played through Spidey's back catalog.
Welcome to New York
Insomniac's version of Manhattan is the beating heart of Marvel's Spider-Man , and all of this is shown in the gameplay footage narrated by the one–the only –J.J. Jameson.
"Bring me pictures of Spider-Man!"
20-Hour Campaign
Word on the street claims that the core campaign of Marvel's Spider-Man can be cleared in about 20 hours , with plenty still to do thanks to the side quests and miscellaneous activities peppered throughout Manhattan.
Parker's Relationships
Like we said, striking a balance between Peter Parker and Spider-Man is a core tenet of Insomniac's licensed title, and we've even heard that we'll be playing as Mary Jane Watson during "key moments" of the story.
To make matters more interesting for Parker, it isn't long before he discovers that Aunt May volunteers at a F.E.A.S.T. shelter run by Martin Li (aka Mister Negative).
A Villainous Ensemble
Marvel's Spider-Man seemingly features Mister Negative, Kingpin, Shocker, Electro, Rhino, Scorpion, Vulture, and Taskmaster, with many more Marvel callbacks and Easter eggs hidden across Manhattan.
A Litany of Spidey Suits
There are alternate suits to choose from (and unlock) throughout the course of Marvel's Spider-Man , with one, in particular, being inspired by the Iron Spider armor from Avengers: Infinity War .
The City That Never Sleeps
The post-launch DLC for Marvel's Spider-Man has already been revealed .
Entitled "The City that Never Sleeps," it's split into three parts : The Heist, Turf Wars, and Silver Lining. You can check out the full schedule for upcoming DLC here.
The Heist is the first add-on for Marvel's Spider-Man and will be released October 23, 2018. If you're wanting to pick up all three pieces of DLC, it'll set you back $24.99. Otherwise, you can always purchase them them individually for $9.99 a pop.
Official Soundtrack
The official soundtrack for Marvel's Spider-Man will be available for digital purchase on release date (September 7).
But if you're wanting something a little more extravagant, the $35 vinyl discs from Mondo are certainly worth a look-in.
Miles Morales
He's just one of many famous Spider-Man characters set to feature, but it's fair to say that Miles Morales is a fixture of Peter Parker's personal life.
Perhaps we'll see him get in on the action?
'90s Nostalgia
If you feel so inclined, there's a nostalgia-fuelled trailer remix out there on the interwebs that imagines Marvel's Spider-Man set against the iconic theme song of Spider-Man: The Animated Series .
Gameplay Footage
Curious to see what Marvel's Spider-Man looks like in action? We've got you covered .
Download Size
While they haven't nailed down a specific number at this moment, Insomniac devs recommend clearing out around 45GB to make room for the digital version of Marvel's Spider-Man .
Pre-Order Perks
If you secure your copy before September 7, 2018, you'll gain access to the following Spidey content:
Spidey Suit Pack
Skill Points
Early Unlock of a Spider-Drone Gadget
Spider-Man PS4 Custom Theme
Spider-Man PSN Avatar
Digital Deluxe Edition
The Digital Deluxe Edition includes all this as well as a "custom, one of a kind physical pin for Marvel’s Spider-Man " that will only be available to those in North America.
This premium package also bundles in the game's full, three-part DLC package.
Collector's Edition
Going one step further, the Collector's Edition promises to be the ultimate version of Marvel's Spider-Man .
It bundles together all those aforementioned perks and the following:
Custom Steelbook
White Spider Sticker
Mini art book – Contains unique, early-look concepts and unreleased artwork
Collector’s Edition Marvel’s Spider-Man Statue by Gentle Giant
Dynamic Theme
A free dynamic theme for Marvel's Spider-Man is currently available to all. Simply visit the Marvel portal on PlayStation.com and click on the "giveaways" section. From there, you'll find a button which says "claim reward," which ought to bring up a code to download said theme.
Happy trails!
The Infamous Puddle-Gate
We'd be remiss if we did not mention "Puddle-Gate," which stems from allegations that Marvel's Spider-Man has been downgraded since its initial reveal.
Insomniac Games' Community Director James Stevenson has weighed in on this, ahem, fiasco, and its even resulted in one or two brilliant memes online .
Better on PS4 Pro
Not only is Marvel's Spider-Man better (and smoother ) on PS4 Pro, there's also a very eye-catching console themed after Insomniac's superhero gem.
Supplies are limited, so you may want to bite the bullet and reserve yours ASAP.
ESRB Rating
The ESRB has spoken, and Marvel's Spider-Man has officially been rated T for Teen .
Per the ESRB:
This is an action game in which players assume the role of Peter Parker/Spider Man in a fictional version of New York City. From a third-person perspective, players fight crime, swing around buildings, and engage in melee combat with various thugs. Characters mostly punch, kick, and throw each other during fights; some enemy characters also use pistols and machine guns. Combat is highlighted by realistic gunfire, screams of pain, impact sounds, and occasional slow-motion sequences. One cutscene depicts a character in the background shooting himself in the head; another cutscene depicts a mugger shooting an innocent character (just out of frame). Some missions/plotlines involve drug deals and “designer narcotics”; one scene briefly shows a duffel bag full of white packages of the drug. The word “sh*t” appears in the dialogue.
A Possible GOTY Contendor?
Marvel's Spider-Man has received nothing but praise in the lead-up to September 7th, and while some reviews have called out the repetition–both in the gameplay and storytelling departments–Insomniac's licensed title is off to a flyer.
Our Final Verdict
Our own Chandler Wood landed at the higher end of the review spectrum, awarding Marvel's Spider-Man with a 9.0/10 and the coveted Editor's Choice award .
He wrote:
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.