USA TODAY International Edition
‘ Spider- Man’ spinoff spins a web of fun
Miles Morales will grow on you as he grows up
Once again, Spider- Man will have video game players caught in his web.
On Thursday, Sony launched Marvel’s “Spider- Man: Miles Morales along with its highly- anticipated PlayStation 5 video game console.
The spinoff to 2018’ s Marvel’s “Spider- Man” for the PlayStation 4 stars Miles as the lead wall- crawler. It features everything you could want from a Spider- Man game: high- flying through downtown New York, breaking up crimes and pummeling villains with a wide array of tricks.
In this Spiderverse, Peter Parker is Spider- Man, with Miles as his protégé after he, too, is bitten by a spider and develops superhuman powers. An older Peter needs to leave the city to travel overseas, and he wants high schooler Miles to serve as Spider- Man while he’s away.
If you’re new to Miles Morales as Spidey, a quick explainer: He’s got all the abilities of Parker’s version but also boasts bioelectric powers and the ability to turn invisible to evade threats. In the game, Miles and his mother move back to East Harlem after his father is killed.
These perks blend beautifully when navigating New York City or having to fight multiple bad guys at the same time. Miles can go invisible to quietly disable armed enemies or perform different “venom” attacks leveraging his bioelectric gifts. When combined with other tools such as his agility, webs and gear including remote mines, players can creatively defuse any situation Miles enters.
Miles’ adventure centers on a fight over control of the city between energy company Roxxon and a mysterious group called The Underground.
Players will have missions connected to this plot but also can access an app with the help of Miles’ friend Ganke to help bust local crimes or assist citizens in need of heroic help.
As you complete missions, you build up experience to make Miles stronger, faster and tougher to spot.
You also can unlock new Spider- Man suits and modifications, including one that re- creates the animation of the hit movie “Spider- Man: Into The SpiderVerse.”
Since this is on the PS5, the game also takes advantage of the DualSense controller and its haptic technology. Players can feel every “thwip” of the web Miles shoots out to sling himself between skyscrapers or the crackling of electricity.
As with its predecessor, Marvel’s “Spider- Man: Miles Morales” creates a vibrant New York City that is just fun to explore. It’s weird to say this for an action game, but parts of this game are relaxing as you glide across the city on webs or bounce between rooftops as onlookers gaze. During the game, users can also access a photo mode to capture some of Spidey’s more picturesque views of the city.
A lot of gamers who preordered their PS5 will be eager to check everything the new console offers. Marvel’s “Spider- Man: Miles Morales” should be the first thing they download.