Playing Marvel's Spider Man Miles Morales

 After finishing the Marvel's Spider Man Remastered, I immediately picked up Spider Man Miles Morales. It's a sequel to the events of the previous game. I am excited to finally get to play this game.

My hardware

After playing Marvel's Spider Man on steam as I had already owned it there, I saw that Miles Morales is available with my ps plus subscription. So I decided to install it and give it a go on my PS5. I played this one on my living room TV at 4K fidelity settings on the PS5.

About the Game

Miles Morales is a direct sequel to the original game, also developed by Insomniac and published by Sony. It takes the same inspirations that formed the basis of the original Spider Man game. It's technically a spin-off as we are no longer following around Peter Parker's story, but is also a sequel as it depicts events following the story of the first game. The story of this game focuses on how Miles adapt to his new life in the city of Harlem.

Gameplay is mostly the same compared to the original. This game also takes place in the same fictional New York city. One noteworthy addition is the new Venom Punch ability.

Miles Morales was revealed on June 2020 and released on PS4 and as a launch day title for the PS5. The windows version was released 2 years later in 2022.

Gameplay

The core gameplay of Miles Morales is the same as that of the first game. It is also set in the same open world. Player controls Miles and the controls are similar to Peter. Miles have some extra abilities thanks to his new power of bio electricity called venom power. Miles also have access to some new gadgets and abilities. Miles also have access to his own mobile app to help him fight crime and help people out.

Miles have almost all the same abilities as Peter like spider sense and web zipping. Just like Peter he can stick to walls, web zip through and the same fast travel mechanic as the first game is also here. Suits mechanic is also here with several suits unlock able throughout the game, some of which are original creations for the game. Gadgets are also here with Miles having his unique set of them.

Narrative

The narrative focuses on the story after the first game when Miles was bitten by genetically modified spider like Peter. A year later Miles is a fully fledged Spider Man working alongside Peter, although he have doubts about himself. In the beginning of the game, Peter leaves New York leaving the city in the capable hands of Miles. The game focuses on Miles balancing between crime fighting and his civilian persona.

Apart from Miles and Peter the story narrative includes a number of other characters from Spider Man series too. 

In the midst of old faces we are familiar with in Peter's story, Miles Morales have new cast of characters from around Miles.

Development

Just like the original, this one is also developed by Insomniac and published by Sony. While development started as an expansion and enhancement to the original game, it was later developed into a stand alone game by Insomniac. Maybe this contributed to its smaller size when compared to the original.

Although it feels like an extension to the old game, the game features fresh story, villains and quests. The PS5 version of the game also takes advantage of all the new hardware capabilities. It's also able to run on a performance mode at 60 fps on PS5.

My Experience

We immediately start in the shoes of Miles, an year after the events of the previous game. Miles is now Spider Man working under the original Spider Man, Peter Parker. What is interesting is that some the skills and abilities that we had to unlock in the previous games are already available to Miles. He also get access to a new ability called Venom Punch. Compared to Peter, Miles get a limited selection of Spider gadgets. I feel like with the years between the games coming out, Miles Morales caters to a more modern gameplay experience compared to the original.

While all things from the original game is here and it looks, feels and plays almost similar to the original game, there is a distinct change of atmosphere about this game. Feel like Insomniac have refined the spider formula even more with this game. The integration of new Venom Punch ability into combat was very smooth and give multiple options to take down tough and powerful enemies.

Challenges

Unlike the original, where challenges were unlocked in the later part of the game and it was tied to the Taskmaster, Miles Morales starts of by giving us combat, traversal and stealth challenges from Peter, who sets up holograms for Miles to practice. Instead of challenges just being a way to earn tokens, some skills are locked behind their completion.

There are 9 challenges in total, 3 sets of combat, traversal and stealth challenges each and completing them gives us a corresponding combat, traversal or stealth skill.

Underground Crates

Completing one of the missions, we are get a similar mission to collecting bags in the original, but this time, it is collecting tech parts from crates around the city for tech parts that we can use to build and upgrade our gear.

Side Missions

In Miles Morales, Miles have a spider man app in which people can post requests for him. Side missions and crimes appear here and we can tackle them easily by tracking them through the app.

Notably, one of the side missions where we chase down pigeons from the original is here, which I said I liked, but with a twist.

Time Capsules

There is also a side mission in the game which focuses on collecting time capsules you buried in different places across the city with your childhood friend in the past. We need to swing around and be creative for some to be able to access these collectibles.

Enemy Bases

Most of the underground crates are in different parts of the game world. However, 6 of them are in some enemy bases that are unlocked to clear after you progress through the story.

Prowler's Sound Samples

After progressing through the story, there is a part were we have to sample sounds around New York. I must say that this was the least interesting side gig I have done so far in the Spider Man games so far. Once you have collected all the sound samples, you will be gifted with a new suit.

Post Game Side Quest

There's one interesting post game side quest after the main story and also one small one to unlock a costume.

New Game+

There's a suit, three skills and four gadget upgrades locked behind New Game+. Completing the main story on New Game+ is also required to unlock the platinum trophy on the PS5.

Conclusion

This is the first game I played through 100% on my PS5 and achieved the platinum trophy. Compared to the OG Marvel's Spider man, Miles Morales is a little short in length of the story, but short in length doesn't mean small in size.The number of times I was awed by this game and how much of a step up this is compared to the original is evident the moment you start playing the game. However, if someone asks me to pick a game between the two, I will always choose the OG game over this one. Only for that reason, I will give it a 9/10 instead of the 10/10 I gave for the original game. Doesn't mean the game's bad. Just means I prefer the OG game, something I believe insomniac will solve when I play through Spider Man 2 next.