Spider-Man PS4: release, news, trailers and all you need to know
Spider-Man is one of the most-anticipated PS4 exclusives of 2018, and now we know when the superhero game will launch. Your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man will come to the console on September 7, 2018, Insomniac Games and Sony have announced.
Few other new details have been revealed about the game as yet, though the game's box art has been revealed--take a look at it below. Spider-Man was unveiled at E3 in 2016, and it will tell a completely new story that's not tied to any one movie or comic. It contains an open world to explore, and you can use your environment to your advantage by, for example, throwing nearby objects at enemies. Post-launch DLC and special editions will also be available and have just been detailed
Spider-Man PS4: 10 Things We Want
1. Greater Emphasis On Gadgets And Abilities Over Fisticuffs
Much like the Batman Arkham series, combat in Spider-Man games has leaned toward beat-em-up style brawling. Yes, Spider-Man does tend to finish his fights with some sort of webbing-based flourish but it would be a positive change if his other talents and gear took the spotlight. Better combat integration of his even his most well-known powers like wall crawling and superhuman reflexes would add depth.
2. It Feels Like An Insomniac Game
We'd love to see Insomniac's talents for imaginative weapons and gadgets make their way into the game, even if it sounds weird for Spider-Man at first blush. From webware to spider-bots, there's five decades worth of gadgetry to dive into, ripe for reinterpretations by the talents responsible for Ratchet & Clank. And we hope Ted Price and his crew have the creative license to invent new gadgets for Peter Parker.
3. A New Kind Of Spider-Man Open World
Insomniac is also experienced in open-world designs, a high point being Sunset Overdrive. There are a number of Spider-Man games with expansive open worlds but none interpreted with the same surrealist and involving flavor as Sunset City. As a standalone game with no attachments to any of prior Spider-Man stories (including last year's Homecoming film), Insomniac's can make this one of the most original video game interpretations of New York City in a long time.
4. No Origin Story
It seems like anyone with a remote interest in Spider-Man already knows his origin, with some thanks to the Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield films. Not only is the classic origin tale involving Uncle Ben unnecessary but so is any kind of origin-focused exposition. It'd be great to jump into the game with a version of Peter Parker who has already has a grasp of both his great power and responsibilities.
5. Focus On Peter Parker (And Miles Morales)
Speaking of Peter Parker, not enough games have paid attention to Spider-Man's real identity and his young adult challenges, particularly with his love life. It wouldn't be a stretch to hope for story-driven interludes that take inspiration from Life Is Strange or the many episodic Telltale games. And the fact that another Spider-Man, Miles Morales appeared at the stinger of the E3 2017 video for the game only makes the prospect of a Parker-Morales meet-up all the more intriguing.
6. Classic Spider-Man Attitude
One of the qualities of the better Spider-Man games in the past was their well-crafted dialogue, often bringing out Spider-Man's moxie, much to the frustration of his foes. This next game is all the more promising thanks to its experienced writing staff, which includes veteran comic book writers Christos Gage and Dan Slott. From what we've seen and heard, this latest handling will portray the web-slinger as the familiar smart aleck fans expect.
7. Mixing Up The Villain Roster
Yes, Doctor Octopus and the Green Goblin are popular for a reason, but for a series that's been around since the early 1960s, there's a wealth of sinister source material to mine. Having Mister Negative is a good start but how about Boomerang or even Crime Master? Insomniac can give the recurring villains like Black Cat, Rhino, Shocker, and Scorpion a break.
8. Side-Missions That Matter
Just because side missions are optional doesn't mean they're not worth the player's time. Some of the best side missions in the Arkham games have through-lines that last the entire length of the game. Speaking of mission choice, there'd be great replay potential if the narrative locked you out of one mission if you accept another, and with endgame repercussions. For example, what would happen if you flaked out on a date with MJ because you decided to stop a bank heist?
9. No Random Muggings
Just because it seems mandated that open-world Spider-Man games have to be set in New York City doesn't mean that it has to always have random muggings. It was an especially involving component in The Amazing Spider-Man 2's morality system, where your status as a hero or menace was determined by how many crimes you stopped. This feature ultimately felt like a chore, where disinterested players were unfairly classified as a menace. Being guilted into saving someone from a mugging doesn't always make for great gameplay, especially when you were in the middle a more compelling story mission.
10. Web-Slinging Wishes
PS4-exclusive Spider-Man is set to release on September 7. First announced at E3 2016, Ratchet & Clank Developer Insomniac's game adaptation of the famous web slinger has been a longtime coming. And with the upcoming release of God of War, all eyes are starting to turn towards Spider-Man.
In the last two decades, Spider-Man has seen more good game adaptations than bad ones. Memorable high points include Spider-Man 2: The Game and Web of Shadows, but it's clear Insomniac has a high standard of quality to live up to. After all, the studio has been responsible for many of Sony's most iconic franchises, so fans have eagerly hoping the studio can deliver. But what does Insomniac need to do to make a new Spider-Man game stand out? We have a few more than a few ideas, seen in this gallery of nine things we want from the game.
Some of our ideas include giving the game a great emphasis on gadgets and skills than beating up goons, revamping what it means to be an open-world Spider-Man game, avoiding telling an origin story, and much more.
Up until now, news on Spider-Man on PS4 has been scarce. The game's release date was finally announced and new gameplay has been released showcasing city exploration and webslinging. For a look at how Spider-Man is shaping up, watch the game's latest story trailer. And if you'd like more insight on how Marvel Games is overseeing development of Spider-Man and its licensed games as a whole, read our interview with Marvel Games vice president and executive producer Mike Jones.
What would you like to see in Spider-Man on PS4? Let us know in the comments below. And if you're eager to see what the other exclusives on PS4 are, then check out our in-depth gallery covering all the biggest PS4 exclusives coming in 2018. You can also look at our galleries detailing all the Xbox One exclusives, PC exclusives, and Switch exclusives.
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