Spider Man: Miles Morales Review
Remember when I got that PS5? That was a real victory in a year otherwise marked by misery and woe.
Well, since then I’ve had some time to put the console to work with Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and gosh, I’m glad I did. Can I get a movie-theater style poster here for a game this cinematic?
Hell yeah. So, starting with a controversial opinion: Miles Morales stories are more fun than Peter Parker stories. It’s not Peter’s fault. When he was a fresh, young Spider-Man still growing up and facing new responsibilities, he was a heck of a lot of fun. But even in the 2018 Spider-Man game, it was hard to deal with the fact that a Spider-Man who had already been on the job for years was failing at such adult responsibilities as holding down a job or not getting evicted. It’s weird that his life is constantly on the verge of falling apart. It’s also the reason that in comics these days, Spidey is usually best when he’s on a team with other heroes, so the writers can take a break from kicking him while he’s down.
Enter Miles Morales! He’s young, he’s suffering a loss, he’s trying to figure out who he really is, how to balance his secret super-heroing and day life, new enemies, and old friends. Honestly, Miles’ story follows a lot of the same beats Peter’s did in the last game. He’s trying to rise to an occasion and messing it up in a way that I think just about everybody who’s been on the verge of adulthood can relate to. It’s what made Spider-Man Into the Spider-verse such a hit, and still lets Peter’s best qualities shine as a mentor who isn’t hogging the emotional spotlight.
I’ve played both the 2018 version starring good old Peter Parker (minus the DLC) and the Miles Morales sequel. While Miles’ game is shorter and there’s less mission variety overall, the game hits harder by dropping some of that excessive bloat the original game had: there were a good few sidequests that I straight-up ignored because I wasn’t in the mood chase pollution or whatever Harry Osborne wanted me to do.
In Miles Morales, missions tend to feel more engaging because most of them are tied to Miles’ community. You take on the role of the friendly, neighborhood Spider-Man, and it’s fun to watch the neighborhood warm up to you as you prove yourself. You’re a young hero just starting out, figuring out really cool powers (“Venom” bio-electricity and natural camouflage) that are video game-y “super moves”/stealth missions and deeply satisfying.
Tell me that doesn’t look like a blast.
Developer Insomniac also managed to bring us perhaps the most important video game innovation of the past few years which is… wait for it…
A little cat named Spider-Man that rides around in your backpack to spider around with you! Issa Spider-Cat! What the hell was every other game designer doing with their careers the last few years?
Ahem. Less-is-more missions, even more fun powers, a fresh protagonist, and being straight up gorgeous to look at (especially on a PS5!) make this game a cut above its predecessors. 4.2 Spider-Cats out of 5 (not enough Spider-Cat).