Spider-Man swings onto the PS4 a week from today, but some lucky reviewers have already had a chance to tear through the highly-anticipated Insomniac superhero game. The early reviews range from 'pretty good' to 'super great,' so it sounds like fans of Spidey and Marvel are in for a treat.
Although the vast majority of the reviews have been glowing, there are some interesting criticisms that a few of the reviewers bring to the conversation. It seems like Spider-Man is destined to be a hit anyway, but it doesn't hurt to check out a few of the reviews before diving into the game next week.
Here's a look at some excerpts from a few of the reviews that have already gone live...
Game Rant (Anthony Taormina)
Luckily, Insomniac Games has nailed every crucial element of Spider-Man, from the look to the gameplay to the writing. This is the Spider-Man game that fans have dreamed of in every sense of the word. Past games have been well received but most have had some shortcomings in terms of story or gameplay, but Insomniac’s adaptation embraces the character from top to bottom.
Score: 5/5
Polygon (Chelsea Stark)
It offers the thrill of swinging between astonishingly realistic skyscrapers across an uninterrupted Manhattan skyline, but also relies on relics of open-world gameplay that feel jarring and dated. Its world brims with elaborate set-pieces, and yet, like so many flashy blockbusters, it never quite finds the beat in its heart-pounding action.
Score: N/A
IGN (BY Jonathon Dornbush)
Insomniac has delivered a Spider-Man story that both surprised and delighted me, coupled with gameplay that made me feel like Spider-Man nearly every step of the way. The Wall Crawler’s open world doesn’t consistently deliver the thrilling moments of its main campaign, but the foundation laid here is undoubtedly a spectacular one.
Score: 8.7/10
GameSpot (Edmond Tran)
Minor shortcomings don't detract from Insomniac's achievement in creating a game that feels like an authentic interpretation of a beloved creation. The feeling of embodying Spidey and using his abilities is astonishing, and the time spent on exploring its major characters help make its story feel heartfelt, despite superhero bombast. There have been open-world Spider-Man games before, but none so riveting and full of personality, none that explore and do justice to this many facets of the universe.
Score: 9/10
The Verge (Andrew Webster)
At its best, Spider-Man might just be the finest superhero video game ever made. It uses relatively simple and intuitive controls to make you feel like a powerful hero, bounding across a vast city with ease, using spectacular skills to defeat evil. The epic boss battles in Spider-Man rival anything you’ve seen in a Marvel movie, including an absolutely incredible final encounter. I just wish that core wasn’t bogged down by a tragically mundane open-world structure.
Score: N/A
Kotaku (Ethan Gach)
As a playground for one of the most idiosyncratic superheroes of all time, Marvel’s Spider-Man is sheer bliss. It’s a sandbox platformer first and foremost, and a damn good one. Throughout playing the game I was constantly hounded by the question of whether these—sublime superhero traversal in a gorgeous, idealized version of New York—were enough. After countless hours spent cleaning up every last icon on the map, I’m convinced they are.
Score: N/A
One recurring theme that seemed to come up throughout the reviews was the open-world structure. The lack of innovation around this particular feature seems to be a sticking point that may hold the game back from greatness for some players.
Obviously tons of new players will go hands-on with the game next week and then players can decide for themselves. Be sure to check back in the coming days for more Spider-Man information, guides, and news.
Spider-Man releases September 7, 2018 exclusively for PS4. Game Rant was provided a code for this review.