The PlayStation 5 is a console that has numerous new features over the PS4 that should entice gamers. Its speedy SSD ensures games load up in no time, the DualSense controller adds an immersive sensory experience to games, and the Tempest 3D audio engine makes in-game sounds feel more realistic than ever. Despite all these features, like always, it is the games that ultimately draw gamers to a particular platform. Sony is lucky enough to have Insomniac Games in its stable, and it has been consistently producing impeccable titles that not only show off the PS5's capabilities, but also gratify gamers with exhilarating gameplay.

In the PS5's first year, Insomniac managed to ship out three PS5 games that have been veritable system sellers. The studio has continued to treat the Spider-Man IP well, releasing not only the short but spectacular Spider-Man: Miles Morales, but also remastering 2018's Spider-Man for the PS5. As if that was not enough, the studio also managed to release Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, a Pixar-quality game that had players jumping between dimensions at instant speeds. Without Insomniac, the PS5's first year may have been left looking much more skeletal.

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Insomniac Presents Spider-Man: Miles Morales

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In the Spider-Man universe, Peter Parker is not the only one who is lucky enough to have spidey powers. Miles Morales can also sling webs, and he possesses the same agility, reflexes, and strength that Peter has. He has the spotlight on him in Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Insomniac's latest entry in its Spider-Man franchise. Like 2018's Spider-Man, Miles Morales can web swing around New York City, bust criminals, and pose for some stunning photo mode moments. However, Spider-Man: Miles Morales does bring enough new content for those who have played 2018's Spider-Man to still have a novel experience.

Although Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a cross-generation title, it truly shines on the PS5. Thanks to the console's SSD, load times are drastically reduced. The game supports a Fidelity Mode with ray tracing, which makes puddles after a rainy day beautifully reflect the sky, and the glass skyscrapers of New York City reflect the streets below with stunning clarity. For players who prefer responsive gameplay, the game also has a Performance Mode that supports 60 fps gaming at a crisp 4K resolution, without ray-tracing. For a happy middle-ground, there is the Performance RT Mode that runs at 60FPS and features ray-tracing but caps the resolution at 1440p.

Some gamers have complained that Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a very short game. However, within its short runtime, it packs a lot of quality content. Since its release, the game has sold over 6.5 million copies, and its peaks on the top 10 UK sales charts tend to align with PS5 stock drops. It is clear that despite being it being shorter than most games, PS5 players are buying Spider-Man: Miles Morales in droves.

Spider-Man Gets Remastered

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Insomniac was intent on showing Spider-Man a lot of attention because it also decided to touch up 2018's Spider-Man. Spider-Man Remastered is available with the Ultimate Edition of Spider-Man: Miles Morales, although gamers can also upgrade the standard edition of 2018's Spider-Man if they have a copy of it. Like Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Spider-Man Remastered features ray-tracing and true reflections on the windows of buildings. The game also has upgraded textures, 3D audio, reduced loading times, and support for the DualSense controller's unique features.

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A somewhat polarizing change is the recasting of Peter Parker's face. While 2018's Spider-Man had Peter Parker's facial capture done by John Bubniak, the remaster features Ben Jordan instead. The change made Peter feel a little unfamiliar to some gamers, but it did not diminish what a sterling remaster Spider-Man Remastered is. It took an already impressive game and polished it until it looked like a true next-gen title.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Brings Innovative Gameplay

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Insomniac may be the most fitting name for the studio because it seems as though it never sleeps. After releasing two Spider-Man games, Insomniac also put out Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart in June 2021. Ratchet & Clank has been a popular franchise for PlayStation for a long time. Ratchet the Lombax and his friend Clank the robot pursue heroics around the universe, using powerful and sometimes silly guns to blast away at alien enemies.

With Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, another adventure is underway but this time they are joined by a spunky female Lombax named Rivet. Much of the gameplay will be familiar to gamers who have played previous Ratchet & Clank games. As players progress through levels, they use their arsenal of weapons to shoot enemies, destroy crates, and collect bolts. However, with the PS5, the game brings a few new surprises. Its visuals are unparalleled, and with ray tracing, every level that players explore provides irresistible eye candy.

Perhaps the most impressive feature is the ability to instantaneously jump through dimensional rifts, allowing players to find themselves in new environments without suffering through loading times. The rifts demonstrate how the console's SSD can be used not only to decimate loading time, but also to craft innovative gameplay mechanics that open up new ways to design levels.

For players who are interested in experiencing the power of the PS5 and what sets it apart from previous consoles, there is no better game to start off with than Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. Not only is its presentation indicative of next-gen gaming, but it also features gameplay fidelity that is difficult to imagine being effectively implemented on previous console generations.

Sony's lineup of first-party studios is undeniably impressive, and studios like Naughty Dog and Guerrilla Games have proven themselves to be capable of producing industry-leading titles with cutting-edge visuals and innovative gameplay. Since Sony acquired Insomniac in 2019, the studio has been making Sony's purchase worth it. Insomniac's output during the PS5's first year has ensured that the console has always had a title or two to entice players with, even during its driest months. With Spider-Man 2 and Wolverine in works, there are plenty more masterpieces still coming from the prolific studio.

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