"Marvel's Spider-Man" for PlayStation 4 is the "Spider-Man" game I never knew I wanted, but I'm so glad that I got it. Rumors first abounded in 2016 that it was Sucker Punch (not Insomniac Games), that would be creating a new "Spider-Man" game, and given the work they put into "Sly Cooper" and "inFamous," I was already hitting the hype thrusters. Eventually, at E3, we learned it was actually Insomniac, the people behind "Spyro," "Ratchet & Clank" and "Sunset Overdrive" making the game...but screw it, I love Insomniac, too, so keep those hype thrusters rolling! Marvel was finally out of the whole Activision deal and announced they were working with the best game devs to make titles that would be faithful to their characters. With this, my excitement was through the roof! And as more and more gameplay was being shown, I had a feeling it would be something special, potentially even eclipsing the high standard set by "Spider-Man 2" back in the day. And let me tell you, it does more than eclipse that.
"Marvel's Spider-Man" for PlayStation 4 plays like a dream: never has swinging around the city felt more emphatic, and the combat even feels refined and exciting. The boss fights are tense but rewarding, and general combat is fun and rather challenging as well. I've heard some critics complain about the game's world, but i personally find it to just be brimming with excitement, and the city leaves a huge impression on you even after the game is finished. Hell, even looking at New York alone is worth it, because the game's visuals are spectacular: the city is beautiful, the game is brimming with color, and the cinematics are well designed, too. The gameplay is varied, the storyline is emotional and fantastic in how it deals with themes of hard choices, and the characters are as charming and lovable as you remember (I especially like the dynamic between Peter and MJ's relationship, it's so easy to root for them).
There's not much I can complain about here, this is easily one of my favorite games of the year, and one of the best superhero games I've ever played. It more than eclipses "Spider-Man 2," it sets a new standard for Marvel games that many future titles may struggle to reach (well, except for the potential sequels, but still). From a film standpoint, "Homecoming," "Far From Home" and, of course, "Into the Spider-Verse" have been proving that Spidey's still kicking and avoiding franchise fatigue, and this game does little to dispel that notion: it only proves that Spidey's hitting on all cylinders now. If you haven't gotten to play this game yet...well, what are you waiting for? Go play it!
Final rating: 10 out of 10 "Fantastic"