Review: Spider-Man for the PS4 (No Spoilers)
Summary: You'd think taking down the Kingpin in the opening of Insomniac's Spider-Man would mean Peter Parker could take some time off. But, this being Peter, he has to deal with a landlord threatening to evict him, his boss Doctor Octavious losing his grant funding, and his strained relationship with MJ after their breakup.
Soon the jailing of the Kingpin opens up New York to a new crime wave, as mysterious thugs in Chinese opera masks begin assaulting facilities owned by Oscorp, and then attack Mayor Osborne directly.
Review: Like last year's big PS4 exclusive, Horizon: Zero Dawn, Insomniac's take on Spider-Man is as close to being perfect as an open world game can be. Yes, it has some typically annoying open world tropes, such as activating towers to open up the map, and some frankly silly sidequests (rescuing a homeless man's pigeons in the middle of a pandemic, really?) but overall it's an amazingly engaging game.
One point this game has over previous Playstation Spider-Man games, is that it deliberately strikes a balance between the lives of Peter and his super powered alter ego. Playing as Peter, walking around the FEAST homeless shelter where Aunt May works, or helping Dr. Octavious in the lab, or even just having dinner with MJ, emphasizes his connections with the other characters, which serves to heighten the drama when the action starts again.
Playwise, the combat can be a bit fiddly. Spidey isn't an armored tank like Batman is in the Arkham games, so you can't just rely on the Punch-Dodge mechanic to save you. Successful combat relies on constant movement and the use of special moves and Spidey gadgets to keep your enemies off balance. As you play you also get the chance to acquire new suits with alternate powers to help you, though in practice you'll probably stick to one (I found the electrical attack particularly useful)
Graphically the game is stunning. Manhattan Island is mapped out in its entirety, and you can explore it freely, discovering famous spots both real and fictional. Also the photo mode is rather fun, allowing you to make your own Spider-Man covers using filters and stickers.
Overall Spider-Man not only manages the trick of being a good game, but an emotionally engaging story. My only nit is that there are two characters you watch fall down the hole of darkness that their obsessions open up for them, and I wish I could have saved at least one of them, but that's a minor point overall.
Highly Recommended.