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Marvel's Spider-Man, also referred to as simply Spider-Man, is a 2018 action-adventure video game based on the Spider-Man comic book series by Marvel Comics, developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4. The game follows a veteran Spider-Man following the incarceration of the Kingpin: when new threats begin to emerge, Spider-Man must work to balance his duties as both Spider-Man and Peter Parker, and keep New York from falling apart.
Upon release, Spider-Man received praise from reviewers, although some criticism was given for its lack of innovation in the open-world genre. It is considered to be one of the best superhero games ever made, and is one of the fastest-selling titles for the PlayStation 4, selling 3.3 million copies in only three days.
Gameplay[ | ]
Marvel's Spider-Man is an open-world action-adventure game, played from a third-person perspective and sent in Manhattan. As Spider-Man, the player can traverse through the world using Spider-Man's Web Shooters (which fire webs which he can swing from), jump far distances, and run along the walls of buildings: Spider-Man will automatically avoid obstacles in his path.
The game's combat consists of three core moves: dodging, melee attacks, and web-based attacks. Web attacks can be used to temporarily incapacitate enemies, as well as remove them from battle by sticking them to nearby surfaces. Additionally, Spider-Man can grab objects from the environment (such as manhole covers, trash cans, and enemy grenades) and hurl them at enemies, and string together move combinations to achieve new moves (such as aerial combat): his "Spidey-Sense" will allow him to detect nearby threats, such as incoming gunfire or melee attacks.
Plot[ | ]
For eight years, Peter Parker has been fighting crime in New York City as the costumed vigilante Spider-Man. Now 23 years old, he has formed an unsteady alliance with police captain Yuriko "Yuri" Watanabe, and has gained the public's support. In his civilian life, he is a research assistant at Octavius Industries, working on designing prosthetic limbs with acclaimed scientist Dr. Otto Octavius, and often volunteers at the F.E.A.S.T homeless shelter, where his Aunt May works with the shelter's founder, billionaire philanthropist Martin Li. He was in a relationship with investigative journalist and childhood friend Mary Jane "MJ" Watson until they broke up six months prior. His other friend Harry Osborn, son of Oscorp CEO and NYC Mayor Norman Osborn, has been abroad in Europe managing Oscorp's international branches.
Act 1[ | ]
The game begins with Spider-Man joining the police in their apprehension of Wilson "Kingpin" Fisk, the kingpin of organized crime in New York. After a heated battle, Spider-Man is able to subdue Fisk and leaves him to the authorities. However, this results in him being late for Octavius's demonstration for the financial grant review board, and the ensuing malfunction leaves the committee less than pleased. When Peter returns to the lab later that evening to repair his suit, he is caught by Otto. Seeming to misinterpret the situation as Peter being Spider-Man's aide, Otto promises to keep his secret safe and sends him ideas for design improvements.
The next day, after celebrating a party at F.E.A.S.T. in honor of Aunt May, Peter is alerted to a break-in at an auction house associated with Fisk. Inside the auction house, Spider-Man discovers masked gunmen demanding a file from the owner. While neutralizing the threat, he runs into MJ, who came to the auction house prior to the break-in to investigate its ties to Kingpin. Having found and taken the file just before the break-in, she notes that it contains information regarding something called "Devil's Breath", an unknown chemical under development by Oscorp. While some of the gunmen escape with the file, Spider-Man manages to take a mask. The next day, Peter brings the mask to Li, remembering the latter's degree in art. The visibly disturbed Li identifies it as a Chinese opera mask resembling a monster from a childhood story, with a mark inside meaning "demon".
Later that day, Peter and Otto's work is halted when Norman cuts government funding for Octavius Industries in an ill-veiled attempt to force Otto into working at Oscorp. Meanwhile, Yuri warns Spider-Man of attacks on Fisk properties performed by the gang responsible for the auction house break-in. Nicknaming the game as "the Demons", Yuri directs Spider-Man to an old Fisk shipping yard, sending Officer Jefferson "Jeff" Davis to assist in the search. Inside the building, Davis and Spider-Man discover a hidden armoury just after the Demons have stolen all lethal weapons from it. The two manage to catch some of the Demons before they get away, with Davis saving Spider-Man's life during the scuffle. Unfortunately, Peter is evicted from his apartment for not paying rent. After recovering his discarded belongings from the trash, Peter reluctantly spends the night in May's office.
The next morning, MJ informs Peter that Officer Davis be honoured with an award by Norman at the latter's re-election campaign rally later that day. Agreeing to meet her there, Peter checks on some of Fisk's construction sites for Davis. Spider-Man arrives to find the Demons attacking Fisk's men. He manages to save most of the workers and apprehend the Demons, albeit not without some collateral damage in the city, before meeting MJ at the rally.
Within seconds of Davis receiving the award, Osborn receives a threatening call and flees the rally. Moments later, the rally is attacked by the Demons. Peter witnesses Mr. Li transforming into an inverted form (dubbed Mister Negative), but is knocked unconscious before he can intervene. Miles Morales, Davis's teenage son, survives the attack and manages to save his mother Rio, but is unable to save his father.
Act 2[ | ]
Officer Davis's funeral is held a week later. After unsuccessfully trying to console Miles at the funeral, Peter begins searching for Li, who claims to be out of town handling a "personal matter". Meanwhile, Osborn hires Sable International, a Symkaria-based security company led by Silver Sable, to "bolster" the NYPD, which is already understaffed as a result of removing officers on Fisk's payroll. Spider-Man locates one of the Demons staging grounds, as well as a secret room in Li's F.E.A.S.T. office, determining that Li's actions are part of his vendetta against Norman Osborn.
Act 3[ | ]
Within the next 24 hours, Manhattan crumbles into chaos: Devil's Breath has quickly spread across the populace, and escaped inmates wreak havoc across the city. Osborn publicly blames Spider-Man for the prison break and pandemic, and has Sable brand him a priority target. Sable places Manhattan under quarantine to contain the outbreak, and enacts martial law to assert control over the city. May is among the infected, but hides her condition to help people during the crisis.
Recovering enough from his injuries to help, Spider-Man assists Yuri in stopping attacks on NYPD buildings.
Mid-Credits Scene[ | ]
While helping Peter move into a new apartment, Miles reveals to Peter that he has been developing superpowers, demonstrating by jumping to the ceiling. Peter, in turn, joins him on the ceiling, revealing that he is Spider-Man.
After-Credits Scene[ | ]
As Norman enters the secret lab in his apartment, a chamber opens up to show Harry inside, suspended in a green fluid and tangled in a black web-like substance. Vowing to cure Harry, Norman places his hand on the chamber. While he isn't looking, the substance reacts and copies him.
Reception[ | ]
The game received positive reception from critics, being considered one of the greatest superhero games of all time. It was praised for its gameplay, graphics, and narrative, but was criticized for its lack of innovation, mainly the usage of open-world tropes.
Editions[ | ]
- Marvel's Spider-Man: Game of the Year Edition: Contains the base game and all three DLC packs.