As you could read above, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales has the arduous task of not making a bad impression in the face of the videogame adventures of Peter Parker dated 2018, which we told you in our review. With the first chapter of what, we hope, will become a long series, Insomniac Games managed to decode the DNA of the comic book character created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko and to create a perfect new transposition. A new transposition that draws heavily from the most recent print runs, with a nod to the film versions, but maintaining a solid and unique identity.
Miles Morales, however, is not Peter Parker and his recent publishing life limits anyone who wants to put their hand to the character to about a decade of stories. Born from the skilled hands of Brian Michael Bendis and from the very Italian Sara Pichelli, Miles is a Brooklyn boy who, following the death of Spider-Man in the Ultimate universe, will decide to take his place. For those who don't know, the aforementioned Ultimate universe is a parallel Marvel reality, created to update all the characters of the House of Ideas to the XNUMXs. A commercial move that is as risky as it is perfectly successful and that we leave you the pleasure of discovering and exploring.
Also seen the recent success of the animated film Spider-Man: A New Universe, Insomniac Games suddenly found a character in their hands who was no longer just known by comic book fans, but from all over the world. Thanks to an excellent work of writing the first chapter, which introduced Miles into the game world, the Californian developers have therefore decided to give life to an autonomous DLC, set about a year after the final battle between Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus. This additional content was also designed to be played by both users of the last generation of consoles, and by new owners of PlayStation 5. For this reason, the responsibility on Miles' shoulders has grown further, ending up in the spotlight not only of the public and videogame critics, but of all those who approach the new Sony console.
AN ACT OF FAITH
As we have already had occasion to anticipate, the title opens several months after the end of the last chapter. Miles, meanwhile, has begun to familiarize himself with the skills from Tessiragnatele, aided by Peter in the role of mentor. Following an investigation carried out by Mary Jane for the Daily Bugle, the original Spider-Man decides to take some sort of vacation, entrusting the protection of New York to his pupil. Of course, things will not go smoothly as expected and Miles will find himself forced to confront not only a mysterious new criminal, but also some unfinished business from his past.
We don't go into specifics anymore to avoid ruining what it is a story as much clichéd as it is beautifully told. Insomniac has once again found the square of the circle, giving birth to credible characters, full of humanity and, although different from the original works, equally fascinating. Just like at the base of the Ultimate universe, also in this case we have different transpositions of heroes, villains and extras, which pay homage to the great classics of the past, dragging the players into the future. Let us do it a praise to the management of the character of Tinkerer, extremely different from the old Thinker who appeared in the second issue of Spider-Man dated May 1963. A difference that is not an end in itself, but which is perfectly integrated with the new game world created by the Californian software house.
The sore point of the story of Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, however, is linked to its longevity. The title can be completed, by performing every single activity, in less than ten hours. A duration significantly shorter than the adventures of Peter Parker and that does not differ from productions such as Uncharted: The Lost Legacy or Infamous: First Light. Too bad, however, that to push the sales of the title on the PlayStation 5 it was not decided to keep a lower cost, forcing buyers to pay for a standalone DLC almost as much as a full title. With this we absolutely do not want to say that the title is not funny and, especially in the end, exciting, but it is undeniable how the Insomniac work has been the victim of some marketing moves, which have made the selling cost rise.
“TWIP TWIP”
DualSense in hand, the new adventures of Miles Morales behave in a very similar way to what already experienced in 2018. Also this second Spider-Man will be able to twirl for a perfectly recreated New York from an aesthetic point of view, alternating the main storyline with the different side missions. Precisely regarding this last type of quest, we admit that we were not particularly surprised by variety or innovation, finding the same problems encountered in the previous chapter. Collect items scattered around the map and dealing with criminal gangs fail to maintain the quality offered by the principal missionsi, which instead exalt for complexity and variety.
Insomniac Games has managed, however, to make the secondary activities perfectly integrated with the underlying plot. Each action, however obvious or trivial it may be, provides new narrative elements related to the game world and, based on the order in which we will face the missions, will activate different lines of dialogue between Miles and the various supporting actors. This helps create a more linear and less fragmented tale than Peter's adventures, making even the simplest assignment enjoyable.
The combat system derived from the free-flow-combat conceived by Rocksteady, which, however, makes use of some new additions. Compared to the original Spider-Man, in fact, Miles can use a burst of bio-energy that stuns his opponents and also boasts a kind of natural camouflage that manages to make him invisible in the eyes of enemies. These two new mechanics revolutionize the player's approach to clashes, which will find special area attacks and the ability to sneak even enemies already alerted. If the invisibility will only be useful in some situations, the same cannot be said of the venom discharge, which will be fundamental in every single fist fight and which will be able to give great playful and visual satisfactions to those who learn to use it.
Just like in the first chapter, Here too the gadgets to use in battle and the many costumes to wear return. Unlike Peter, Miles possesses entirely new technologies. Among these undoubtedly stands out the possibility of creating digital clones that will attack and distract the enemy, allowing Spidey to breathe between one opponent and another. As for the different suits that we will be able to dress, an applause must be made to the developers for the introduction of the skin dedicated to Spider-Man: A New Universe, which slows down the fps of the character's movements and adds pop effects to recall the extraordinary film of 2018.
Finally, we report the presence of some boss fight with fluctuating quality. Some will undoubtedly excite you, while others we found a little too simplistic in resolution and staging.
MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN: MILES MORALES, UNO SPIDER-MAN SUPERIORE
Played on PlayStation 5, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales manages to blow his mind for several reasons. Let's assume that the title can be addressed in "Loyalty" mode and that "Performance". In the first case we would have a 4K resolution and active Ray Tracing, maintaining a stable frame rate at 30 frames per second. In the second, however, we will sacrifice Ray Tracing to get the much desired 60fps.
Loyalty mode puts on stage a New York pulsating with life, reflections, neon lights and ice in the streets that simply left us speechless. Every single element is taken care of in detail and, although the title was also released on PlayStation 4, it is evident how the developers have worked with the version for the new Sony console as a reference point. Some clashes, in fact, take place in particularly illuminated environments, which therefore create reflections on Miles' suit and on some reflective surfaces, creating a truly breathtaking visual spectacle.
Switching to Performance mode, on the other hand, amazes for different reasons. Having abandoned some obvious aesthetic details, the game compensates with the possibility of spinning around New York at 60 frames per second, giving life to monstrously soft and satisfying stunts. Going back after experiencing this fluidity will be really difficult. For this reason, we recommend that you complete the first game with the Loyalty mode to fully enjoy the artistic system designed by Insomniac, and then definitely switch to 60fps.
We specify it, in case the trailers seen are not enough to make it clear: Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales animations and polygonal models are scary to say the least. The new protagonist hovers in a completely different way from Peter, demonstrating his inexperienced nature and confirming the attention to detail placed by the development team. Faces and movements of the characters, in fact, manage to perfectly convey their intentions and the psychology of the "actors" on stage, helping to create a living world and, in some ways, very close to an animated film. Too bad that the same enthusiasm cannot be found in the additional features of the DualSense, which despite a good vibration system and a slight resistance of the triggers, adds nothing to the final experience.
Very similar speech also for the audio sector, which offers not only a excellent dubbing e a better soundtrack than the previous chapter, but also some really exciting tracks. Tracks that, positioned in certain moments of the story, manage to increase empathy towards the characters and make real chills flow through the players' veins. Congratulations to Insomniac for having decided to use a sound very similar to the aforementioned animated film of two years ago, even taking advantage of the same Jaden. The author of Way Up in Spider-Man: A New Universe, in fact, returns within the title with I'm Ready, song written specifically for the game and that you can find above.
USEFUL INFOWe played Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales on PlayStation 5 through the Loyalty mode for the first game, then moving on to the 60fps offered by the feature called Performance.
Duration- The main adventure can be completed in approximately 6-7 hours.
- Side missions add 2-3 hours to the total longevity, allowing Marvel's Spider-Man to last between 8 and 10 hours overall.
- Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales is an open world action that allows the player to take on the role of the Brooklyn Webweave.
- The title offers a main campaign and different types of side missions, ranging from collecting items to defeating some specific gangs of criminals.
- Like the previous chapter, also in the new Insomniac title there are numerous collectibles.
- Some of them allow you to earn points to spend to upgrade your equipment, while others add elements related to the plot of the game world.
- Once the main storyline is complete, a handful of new items are unlocked to recover, which conclude the narrative path of some characters.
- Game Name: Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
- Release date: November 12, 2020
- Platforms: PlayStation 5
- Dubbing language: Italian
- Texts language: Italian
As you may have understood, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales is an excellent title, able to excite, amaze, entertain and satisfy from all points of view. It is equally true, however, that the product still suffers from some playful elements from the past and, above all, from the high price with which it was put on the market. In case you are still a fan of Marvel superheroes, the twenty euros in excess is a widely forgivable figure. For all the others, however, we would like to emphasize that it is a short experience, but still intense and successful. The choice, as always, is up to you.
Review by Luca MazzoccoGraphics
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a real feast for the eyes. Whether you play it in Fidelity mode (ray tracing and 30fps) or Performance (60fps), the Insomniac Games work offers exhilarating moments and a refined staging in every single detail. New York has never seemed so alive and pulsating with energy.
90
SOUNDTRACK AND DOUBLE ROOM
To the quality Italian dubbing, the Californian team combines a soundtrack that mixes epic tones with hip-hop songs perfectly integrated with the mood of the title. The result is a riot of sound and musical effects capable of projecting the player into a real high-budget animated film.
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GAMEPLAY
Insomniac Games has worked in the wake of what has been achieved in 2018. For better or for worse. The combat system is once again one of the strengths of the game, while the secondary missions have failed to exalt us like the main plot. Fortunately, the developers have decided to take advantage of the side activities to detail some narrative elements and provide the player with a real lore on the characters we will meet during the adventure.
