Spider-Man Miles Morales review: When game developer Insomniac announced ‘Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ earlier this year, it had me at the edge of the seat, for ‘Into the Universe’ remains to be one of my favorite superhero movies – animated or otherwise. Growing up, I have come across a bunch of Spider-Mans, in various art forms, played by different people. Yet, no one charms you like Miles. A relatively new superhero which is still finding its place in what seems to be a crowded genre now, Miles Morales makes its game debut with the ‘Spider-Man: Miles Morales’.  

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

It is priced at Rs 3,999 in India which isn’t a small amount by any means but what excites is the fact that the launch comes around the time when the gaming enthusiasts are eagerly waiting for the next-gen PlayStation 5.  

Before we even dive into our review, let me make it clear that I never played the original ‘Spider-Man’ game which was launched in 2018 and also ended up winning the Game of the Year title. Why? There are just 24-hours in the day and a man can only do so much. Good enough an explanation? I mention that because a lot of people are comparing the two games, claiming that Miles Morales comes with a similar gameplay. In our review, there will be less of comparisons and more of views around Miles Morales as a standalone game.  

So, let’s get started.  

Spider-Man Miles Morales review: Story 

Our game is apparently set a year after the events of the original Spider Man game where Miles takes over New York after our beloved Peter Parker leaves the town for a work trip. This puts Miles – still a college going student – in charge of the whole city a group of mysterious people are planning something nasty. As Miles pulls off the solo hero act, he needs to take more responsibility than ever, learn from his mistakes and evolve in the process. 

The journey of the character is very similar to what we have seen multiple times in superhero movies. If I have to pick one, this comes very close to ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ where Tom Holland’s teenage Spider-Man deals with similar issues and comes out as the savior of the city. 

During the game, you come across several characters like Miles’ Mom Rio who is contesting elections, his uncle who we also saw in the movie, friends and few others. I will not reveal much of character details as it can spoil the game for you. But, the story line is definitely engaging with a mix of emotions and moments that will give you chills.  

For example, Miles’ best friend knows of his secret Spider-Man identity which leads to some interesting conversations between the two. While his uncle, Aaron Davis, also adds an interesting angle to storyline. The only issue here is that the story isn’t too long and leaves you craving for more. I spend around three hours playing the game in one go and ended up completing about 25 per cent of it. So, finishing the game should not take more than 10 to 12 hours, if you exclude the side-missions. Even with them, 20 hours is what you get at max. 4000 rupees for that? It's a decision you have to make.  

Spider-Man Miles Morales: Gameplay 

The gameplay is one of the best I have seen on any game this year. It includes usual elements you would expect from a Spider-Man game like swinging, traversal and combat. As the game goes on, you encounter new enemies in action-packed sequences. There is a skill tree which you need to upgrade as the character grows and learns new skills. Spider-Man also gets a gadget wheel and ability to use add-ons like web shooters and floor mines, among others. 

The fascinating aspect of this game for me was how seamless Miles swings past the tall New York buildings, giving a trip down the memory lane. You could also feel his struggle as our super hero, still new in job, continues to struggle with his webs.  

The other cool gameplay aspects include the ability to zip to specific points, run vertically on buildings, dive off the roof and a camouflage mode – which allows you to turn invisible for a few seconds when encountered by enemies. The game also makes Miles’ home an essential part of the overall gameplay, allowing you to revisit the place in frequent intervals and indulge in conversations with other characters.  

The game makes use of almost all the buttons on the controller. You need to press R2 to swing, L2 + R2 to zip to specific points, square to attack, circle to dodge, and triangle for a distance closing web pull. You can hold square to launch enemies in air and frequently tap it to launch back-to-back attacks. Holding the triangle button allows you to unarm the opponent.  

The other part of the gameplay comprises of the combats which I said can get riveting at times. The sequences are really cool with Miles’ agility allowing you to dodge attacks, shoot webs at opponents and use other abilities to counter them. There added elements like Venom Punch that unlock as you move further into the game. This venom punch can be used to deliver an explosive blow at opponents or break walls.  

The game also allows you to regain health – an aspect that is very useful and allowed me to win several tight battles. The extent of regain depends on the number of blows you land on the opponent during an action sequence. Also, there are multiple suits you can unlock and each shave a set of powers that come handy in different scenarios.  

To make the game interactive, developers have also added an app which can be used by our character to find new missions. You can also access the map of the entire city and visit any place whenever you want. There are sub-stations at different points in the city that allow you to fast travel between two places. However, it takes a few seconds for the game to load as you enter a station.  

Spider-Man Miles Morales review: Graphics  

The Last of Us II is my benchmark when it comes to game graphics and Miles Morales comes really close. Insomniac has paid close attention to details ensuring the city looks visually stunning with little to complain about. The game takes a while to load in between missions on PS4 but there are no stutters during missions. You can swing through the buildings almost seamlessly, dodge enemies effortlessly and unleash finishers that leave you in awe.  

You can only imagine how good Miles Morales will feel on the PS 5. Unfortunately, we are yet to get any update about its India availability and can only wait till an official announcement is made.  

Spider-Man Miles Morales review: Music 

“I think your love would be too much. Or you'll be left in the dust. Unless I stuck by ya. You're the sunflower,” the lyrics have stuck by me ever since I watched the Into the Verse movie and it was the BGM that made it so special. The magic continues with the Miles Morales game with features some well selected tracks.  

The developers have also paid great attention to the surroundings where the game is set. You can hear the honking of horns and frequent chatters in the background, reminding that you are in New York. You can also clearly hear the shooting of webs, frequent sledging from opponents and more.  

As far the character voices go, Nadji Jeter continues to play Miles Morales while Peter Parker is voiced by Yuri Lowenthal. 

Spider-Man Miles Morales review: Final Verdict  

Not playing the original Spider-Man game, made Miles Morales work for me even more. It is a terrific game designed for action-adventure lovers with stunning graphics and gameplay. The only thing you need to ask is if it makes sense to spend Rs 3,999 on a title that can be completed over a weekend. Probably, it doesn’t.  

But then, most us end up spending the same amount on FIFA games every year despite them offering little improvements over the previous version. Yes, EA if you are reading this, you need to do something about it.  

Coming back to Miles Morales, I feel this is genuinely a game that deserves to be in your inventory but probably, not at this price. I would advise you to maybe wait for a few days and grab a copy during one of PlayStation sales for as less as possible.