‘Spider-Man’ breathtaking - but too predictable
AFTER 36 years and 37 SpiderMan video game appearances that date back to a 1982 Atari 2600 encounter with the Green Goblin, none shimmers with more signature angst and electrifying, heroic feats than Insomniac Games’ new, photorealistic offering for the PlayStation 4.
As “Marvel’s Spider-Man” begins, the action is breathtaking as I happily swing high among Manhattan’s skyscrapers, high enough to fly through a flock of squawking pigeons.
And when I saw the 102-storey Empire State Building in the distance, I wanted to scale the Art Deco masterpiece of Indiana limestone by running up the top to check out the gobsmacking vista. It is quite the scene to behold - the boat-filled Hudson River and the golden sunny sky over New Jersey. At its best the experience can feel so real that I wasn’t certain whether a police siren came from outside my Manhattan apartment or from the game.
On closer examination, though, this open world is an approximation of New York City that isn’t always exactly alive. On the Empire Building observation deck, the tourists don’t recognise my costume as they do on many city streets, and they don’t react when I engage them or even bump into them. Just as I was thrilled by the views and wild web swinging, I was briefly taken out of the game.
Early on, this game suffers from the conundrum of many which feature a great city as a living character. You can’t go into every building or landmark, but you can visit many lush roof decks that feature hipsters, music and bottles of wine.
They won’t engage you, either, unfortunately.