Outlook December Digital Magazine

33 December 2020
SPIDER-MAN: MILES
MORALES REVIEW
Despite it not be as lengthy as
some hoped, Insomniac’s second
installment in the Spider-Man series
is a great experience all around
Two years removed from the release of what many consider to be one of the best superhero
video games of all time, Insomniac has released another title in the Playstation-exclusive
Spider-Man series. This time we follow and control Miles Morales, the teenage
Spider-Man who appeared briefly in the 2018 game and recently inherited his powers. Coming
in with a $49.99 price tag, the game is not as extensive as its predecessor and features a shorter
story. Just like the previous game, the story is set in New York City, with missions and activities
all over Manhattan. However, unlike the first installment, the events occur during winter
and the holiday season, with snow frequently being part of the environment. The premise is
that the original Spider-Man and Morales’ mentor, Peter Parker, is taking a “vacation” for a
couple weeks, leaving Miles as New York’s only Spider-Man for the entirety of the story.
max dolinh | staff writer
image courtesy of abijithka
It might not come as a surprise, but the graphics and overall environment of the game are exceptional. Even though I was not able to
play the game on the newly released PS5, it still looks great and runs smoothly on the current-gen console. Additionally, the swinging
mechanics feel just as good if not better than on Marvel’s Spider-Man. The storyline and plot development is also nearly flawless. It
features new characters and does a great job at showing how Miles must come to terms with being a teenage superhero and how it affects
his friends and family, as well as trying to find an identity without being compared to his mentor. As stated before, the game is not
as extensive as its predecessor and that is apparent in the campaign. I completed the story in about four sessions, but I often stopped
to observe and interact with parts of the environment or complete side-quests. If you just played the main story missions, you could
probably complete the game in a couple long sessions or even just in one sitting. So for gamers who want a long experience with their
single-player games, the length of the story might not justify its $49.99 price tag. But if you are a fan of the franchise and just looking for
a high-quality title, it won’t be a waste of money. All aspects of the gameplay are extremely enjoyable. From the combat, which features
new electrically-charged moves and camouflage mode, to the story and side-missions, to just swinging around New York City, the game
does not feel dull for any one moment.
Insomniac delivered once again with Spider Man: Miles Morales. Apart from one of the antagonists being quite generic and the main
story not being comparable to a full-length title, the second installment in Playstation and Marvel’s Spider-Man franchise is a complete
hit. The game takes all the features that gamers loved about the previous title and elevates them in a game centered around a different
and unique Spider-Man. And if you are uncomfortable paying $50 for a game you might not play for more than a week, I’d advise to
wait for the price to go down before purchasing. However, the game is a must-play for all fans of the series and while the game might
not be exactly what some envisioned in the quantity department, it is everything and more in the quality one.