Miles Morales is just starting his journey as a superhero, but his debut solo game proves that developer Insomniac has found its groove in transforming a standalone hit into a series. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales dazzles as Miles takes the lead, delivering an equally compelling narrative to the original Marvel’s Spider-Man while addressing any minor concerns I had with the previous game. Though smaller in scale, every aspect feels more refined, from the incredible swinging mechanics to storytelling, and the animation that defined Peter Parker's adventure. This installment also brings meaningful updates to side missions, introduces Miles' impressive new abilities, and captures the vibrant essence of New York City.
While playable on the PlayStation 4, Miles Morales truly shines as a stunning introduction to the PlayStation 5. The game leverages enhanced lighting and particle effects that make me, a former New Yorker, deeply nostalgic for the city I once called home. Swinging through the cityscape is an even more exhilarating experience at 60fps compared to the previous 30fps.
Marvel's Spider-Man introduced Miles alongside Peter Parker, and this solo adventure highlights the ample space in Manhattan for multiple Spider-Men to shine. Actor Nadji Jeter reprises his role, infusing the newly heroic Miles with sincerity, heart, and excitement that rivals other notable portrayals, such as the Oscar-winning Into the Spider-Verse animated film, the original Brian Michael Bendis/Sara Pichelli comic series, and the ongoing Saladin Ahmed comic arc. This iteration remains faithful to the essence of Miles' best stories across various media—his commitment to doing right by Peter, his family, and his friends—while also injecting freshness and novel perspectives into the character.
Insomniac's portrayal of Miles holds its own among other depictions.
This discovery is partly due to Miles getting familiar with his new neighborhood, Harlem, both with and without the suit. Spider-Man: Miles Morales continues the tradition of intelligent storytelling set by the original game (and many of the finest Spider-Man narratives) by seamlessly integrating the challenges of everyday life with the web-slinger's own trials and tribulations. While gameplay allows for free exploration of the expansive map (which remains largely unchanged from Marvel’s Spider-Man), much of the narrative is centered in or ultimately brings us back to Harlem.
While Peter had his apartment and Doctor Octavius' lab, his connections to the city often revolved around specific individuals like Mary-Jane or adversaries such as Doc Ock and Vulture. In contrast, Miles repeatedly returns home like any teenager living with his mom would during the holidays. We become intimately familiar with his entire apartment and the surrounding blocks, with friendly shopkeepers making appearances in side missions and the main storyline. Additionally, the arrival of the Roxxon tech conglomerate and their new plaza HQ in Harlem transforms this warm and welcoming neighborhood into the epicenter of a captivating struggle to preserve its identity against corporate encroachment.
Miles Morales not only meets but also exceeds the high standards set by Marvel's Spider-Man.
Peter's story brilliantly balanced personal stakes with the epic superhero action, and Miles Morales not only matches but surpasses that high standard. His best friend, Ganke, being in on his secret identity leads to entertaining conversations during Miles' missions. Tensions rise as his mother's political ambitions clash with Roxxon and the enigmatic Underground faction. Miles' frequent return to Harlem deepens my connection to a neighborhood I didn't explore much in the first game. Insomniac even explores new and intriguing territory in Miles' relationship with his uncle, Aaron Davis, despite their recent connections in the comics and Spider-Verse that are still fresh in my mind.
While navigating the city, Miles Morales employs a familiar technique from the first game to delve deeper into Miles' backstory, but with even greater immersion. A collection of time capsules from his younger years provides glimpses into his friendships and school experiences while growing up. Additionally, an audio-focused collectible adds a fresh perspective on his family. This concept seems to emerge organically from Miles' character, rather than simply serving as a means to expand the game world, resulting in some genuinely touching moments outside of the main storyline.
The anticipation of seeing where this series goes next is a thrill in itself.
Miles is fallible because he's so new to the superhero role, and the story doesn't shy away from showcasing his mistakes. For instance, it explores how his interactions with a personal friend can have significant consequences for his superhero alter-ego. However, it also consistently emphasizes the value of working toward improvement, a process that becomes stronger when rooted in trust and community. Without giving away any spoilers about Miles and his exceptional supporting cast's journey, it's an emotionally charged and captivating Spider-Man tale that left me with goosebumps during its final moments. The excitement of anticipating where this series will go next is a thrill in itself.
Of course, Miles' narrative is interwoven with spectacular action. Insomniac has ingeniously managed to utilize the same overarching setting as the original game without retreading too much familiar territory. The epic showdowns, igniting sparks, feature a clash of new technologies: the Tinkerer's purples, Roxxon's reds, and Miles' own yellow bioelectricity. These battles offer visually stunning and exhilarating encounters, ranging from memorable boss fights that uphold the first game's tradition of remarkable confrontations to street-level brawls that push Miles' enhanced attacks to their limits.
Returning to the swinging and combat mechanics of Miles Morales felt both familiar and thrilling. Miles handles the basics much like Peter: R2 for swinging, L2 + R2 for targeted zipping, square for attacks, circle for dodging, and triangle for web-pulling over distances. However, Insomniac has truly excelled in enhancing Miles' movement and combat abilities, giving him a unique identity rather than simply being a cosmetic reskin of Peter. On the animation front, observing the less experienced Miles navigate the city with less finesse is a delight. He occasionally spins around his web to adjust his position, displaying a style Peter can't replicate. This includes the most impressive rooftop-to-ground jumping animation I can recall from any Spider-Man adaptation.
Bioelectrical attacks introduce a refreshing variety to combat and never fail to look exceptionally cool when deployed.
In terms of combat, Miles brings a handful of exciting new tricks to the table, and so do his adversaries. One standout addition is Miles' bioelectricity, which he can unleash by pressing L1 in combination with various face buttons. As you charge a meter during combat, Miles can release electrifying bursts that temporarily incapacitate foes with a powerful impact. Some of these Venom attacks (completely unrelated to the symbiote guy) are tailored for single-target takedowns, while others excel at crowd control. Some even facilitate initiating aerial combos while keeping adversaries at bay. Incorporating these into Miles' basic moves not only rescued me in the heat of intense battles but also injected a tremendous amount of stylish flair and diversity into my combat strategies.
These abilities also introduce one of the more enjoyable applications of the PS5's DualSense controller, simulating the crackling of electricity around Miles through its haptic feedback. When you hold down L1 to prepare an attack, you can start to sense the rumbling sensation building up. Initiating a Venom-empowered right hook will send vibrations from the left side of the controller to the right. The Venom-infused takedown animations are simply stunning, featuring mesmerizing displays of electricity dancing and bouncing between Miles and his adversaries.
Another feature that sets Miles apart is his cloaking ability, allowing him to turn invisible for brief periods (this power is linked to a separate meter). It proves handy during combat to bewilder enemies or make a quick escape when things get tough. Naturally, it's a significant asset if you prefer a stealthier approach to a situation. In stealth combat scenarios, nothing's more frustrating than getting accidentally spotted by an enemy. Miles' invisibility provides you with the time and room to react, compensating for the absence of Spidey Sense.
ve noticed that with Miles, I tend to switch suit powers more frequently depending on the situation.
Integrating all these new elements into combat is genuinely enjoyable and ensures that fights remain fresh throughout the nine-hour campaign and while tackling side challenges like dismantling Underground or Roxxon hotspots. Furthermore, Insomniac has effectively addressed one of my significant concerns from the first game. They've made the various powers Miles can unlock through his new suits or visor upgrades more meaningful and intriguing. With Peter's suit skills, I had a few favorites that I exclusively relied on during the entire adventure. However, with Miles, I've discovered myself switching them up more frequently based on the situation. For instance, I loved combining an enhanced perfect dodge window with another powerup that boosted my damage for a few seconds after a perfect dodge in battle. On stealth missions, I could opt for upgrades that allowed me tidenother enemies had a specific foe in their line of sight. While not every powerup o scan and automaticidentify enemies (in stead ofally having to highlight each one individually) and even received the same attention in my playthrough, Itify when remained eager to test them out and experiment with different scenarios to discover their unique benefits.
On the other hand, Miles' adversaries employ an array of new technology to keep your regular brawls engaging. While the standard Roxxon security force and Underground villains may seem relatively straightforward, with some merely blocking basic attacks using a crowbar that prompts you to dodge beneath their feet or launch them into the air before subduing them, each faction introduces new enemy types that require you to adapt your fighting style. The Underground's shape-shifting technology allows their swords to transform into whips, enabling them to close the distance swiftly. Meanwhile, both Roxxon and Underground lineups feature formidable shielded foes, but their attack patterns differ significantly. To overcome the challenges in the latter part of the story, you'll need to employ a combination of normal, Venom, and stealth attacks. This shift in combat dynamics keeps the action engaging and enjoyable, right through to the very end
To make it through the final third of the story, you'll need to utilize a combination of regular, Venom, and stealth attacks.
What's particularly satisfying are the enhancements made to Miles' side missions and environmental tasks. As much as I enjoyed Marvel's Spider-Man, its heavy reliance on mandatory crime battles and Ubisoft-esque radio towers scattered throughout neighborhoods made the pursuit of 100% completion (or gathering more tokens for upgrades) more tedious than necessary. The occasional highlights, such as a photo hunt mission, were the experiences I wished would become the standard rather than the exception.
Fortunately, that's precisely the case with Miles Morales. While there are still crimes to thwart, you now only need to tackle each type once in the entire city instead of dealing with them repeatedly in every neighborhood, and their optional objectives contribute to checking them off your list. The remainder of Spider-Man's neighborhood missions offers an impressive variety, ranging from assisting a window washer in restoring power to his platform to locating a runaway housecat. Additionally, there are a few unique, one-time missions that capture the true essence of a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, rather than endlessly engaging in the same car chase scenarios. Granted, Miles Morales offers a more condensed experience overall, resulting in a more curated selection of missions that allow Spidey to engage in more meaningful interactions with the people of New York, rather than repeating the same task ad nauseam.
I enthusiastically embrace this curated collection of missions, which allows Spidey to engage in more meaningful interactions with the people of New York.
These missions and collectibles also make better use of the environment, thanks to Miles' bioelectricity and camouflage abilities. In some missions, you'll need to solve environmental puzzles to establish a current flow between your webs, while other situations will require you to turn invisible to stealthily investigate a crime scene for clues. Even with one of the most common collectibles, the Underground tech caches, you must locate them and occasionally find your way through obstacles like drywall or construction equipment to reach your reward. When considered together, these elements create an enjoyable rhythm of web-swinging, combat, and puzzle-solving that remains engaging, even during the pursuit of my 20th Underground cache.
Let It Snow
As mentioned, Miles Morales unfolds within the same Manhattan map as the first game, but this time it's set during the Christmas season. New York City during the holidays holds a special charm, adorned with dazzling window displays, festive park decorations, and a breathtaking array of lights adorning the streets. Miles Morales captures this enchantment to perfection, showcasing it with such finesse that it almost feels like Insomniac is simply flaunting its prowess. The holiday light displays are a sight to behold, shattering into a mesmerizing cascade of particle effects that left me momentarily forgetting any guilt over virtually dismantling the hard work of New Yorkers. The PS5's ray tracing truly shines when you're soaring high in the city skyline, with Spidey's graceful movements reflected on iconic landmarks like Avengers Tower and the Freedom Tower. Moreover, the weather effects, from sunshine to snowstorms, are not only visually stunning within the game world but also come to life beautifully in the reflective windows that surround you.
As one of the select few launch titles for the PS5, Miles Morales takes full advantage of the hardware, delivering native 4K resolution and ray tracing lighting effects that enhance an already breathtaking cityscape. The sight of sunlight piercing through misty clouds and gently falling snow was unexpectedly awe-inspiring during the early moments of my first playthrough, and the 'Wow!' moments continued to unfurl. Transitioning to the 60fps Performance Mode, however, provides an exceptionally smooth experience during web-swinging and combat, without sacrificing too much of the world's detail. While the lighting may appear somewhat flatter and less dynamic, the shift to 60fps is immediately noticeable and well worth it, especially after you've explored the city in all its splendor. As much as I generally favor cinematic modes, the fluidity of 60fps adds an irresistible allure to exploration that's difficult to resist.
It's challenging to let go of the smoothness that 60fps brings to exploration.
Some truly stunning indoor locations await exploration, often serving as the backdrop for intense brawls or stealth sequences. From office buildings to theaters and beyond, they appear to be even more meticulously detailed this time. Completing Miles' story took me roughly between eight and 10 hours, but I've invested at least twice that time savoring the city's enchanting snowy transformation, occasionally pausing mid-mission to appreciate the intricacies of an interior, or gradually chipping away at the abundant array of side content.
That remarkable level of detail extends to the characters as well. The citizens of New York may not receive as much attention as the meticulously crafted main cast (which is completely understandable), but I did observe a noticeable improvement in their lifelike movements and facial animations, particularly during the side missions. Furthermore, the work put into the main characters is among the finest I've seen in a first-party Sony game, rivaling even The Last of Us Part 2. Whether it's the texture of the fur on Miles' jacket hood, the subtle facial changes that accompany a growing smile during his playful banter with Ganke, or the overall naturalness of their body movements, the animation truly excels, both in cutscenes and during the exhilarating moments of web-swinging, acrobatics, and zipping across the world.
Miles Morales on PS5 is visually stunning, matched by an equally impressive auditory experience. While I primarily played with my TV's soundbar, I decided to test Miles Morales' use of 3D audio using the PS5 3D Pulse headphones, and I discovered that it truly shines during the quieter moments. For instance, when I swung my way into Central Park and gracefully landed on a bridge, startling a flock of birds on a frozen pond, their irritated caws realistically surrounded me as they took flight. The sounds of car horns and conversations shift as Miles moves, and the camera changes position, while enemy projectiles whiz by during intense battles. It's all incredibly immersive and engaging, showcasing the capabilities of this impressive new PS5 technology. However, it's not necessarily essential; if you're playing with TV speakers, a soundbar, or another audio setup, the experience is still fantastic. Beyond the city's soundscape, the fantastic and energetic score, along with the licensed tracks, is a sheer delight. I'm eagerly awaiting the release of this soundtrack on vinyl, ASAP!
It's set in an open-world city, and once you start up Miles Morales, you'll notice virtually no load times. Fast-travel doesn't include a comical subway loading animation like Peter's adventure, and transitions between indoor locations for story missions, cutscenes, and gameplay are nearly instantaneous, thanks to the speed of the PS5's SSD.
Conclusion
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales may not boast the same quantity of content as the original, but it undeniably shines as an indispensable addition to Insomniac's Spider-Man Universe. It secures its place as a superb sequel, delivering a captivating Miles-centric narrative while enhancing the core aspects of the initial game with unique abilities and adversaries. Moreover, it serves as an outstanding introduction to your new PlayStation 5; its visuals are stunning, load times are swift, and it takes full advantage of the DualSense controller, directional audio, and more. Whether you experience it on the previous generation or the latest, it stands as a worthy follow-up to one of the finest superhero games ever crafted.