Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a 2020 action-adventure game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Based on the Marvel Comics superhero Miles Morales, it is inspired by both the character's almost decade-long comic book mythology, and the 2018 animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which helped to popularize him. The game is the second installment in the Marvel's Spider-Man series, following Marvel's Spider-Man (2018), and depicts Miles' struggle to balance the duties of his civilian persona and Spider-Man when his new home, Harlem, is threatened by a war between the Roxxon Energy Corporation and the Tinkerer's high-tech criminal army, the Underground.

This article is about the 2020 video game. For the comic book and character, see Miles Morales.
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Developer(s)Insomniac Games
Publisher(s)Sony Interactive Entertainment
Director(s)
  • Brian Horton
  • Bryan Intihar
  • Marcus Smith
  • Ryan Smith
Designer(s)Cameron Christian
Artist(s)Jacinda Chew
Writer(s)
  • Jon Paquette
  • Ben Arfmann
Composer(s)John Paesano
Platform(s)
ReleasePlayStation 4
  • WW: November 12, 2020
PlayStation 5
  • NA/AU: November 12, 2020
  • WW: November 19, 2020
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay is presented from the third-person perspective with a primary focus on Miles' traversal and combat abilities. Miles can freely move around New York City, interacting with characters, undertaking missions, and unlocking new gadgets and suits by progressing through the main story or completing tasks. Outside the story, the player is able to complete side missions to unlock additional content and collectible items. Combat focuses on chaining attacks together and using the environment and webs to incapacitate numerous foes while avoiding damage.

First announced at the PlayStation 5 reveal event in June 2020, the game was released as a launch title for the new console on November 12, 2020 in North America and Australia, and November 19 worldwide. A PlayStation 4 version was released the same day, lacking some of the advanced features of its next-gen counterpart because of the console's technical limitations. A remastered version of Marvel's Spider-Man for the PlayStation 5 is included in the "Ultimate Edition" of Miles Morales. The game received generally positive reviews; it was praised for its narrative, combat, and addressing the issues from Marvel's Spider-Man, though criticism was directed towards its short length and technical issues with the PlayStation 4 versions.

Gameplay
See also: Gameplay in Marvel's Spider-Man

The core gameplay of Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales is the same of its predecessor. It features the same open-world, a fictionalized version of modern-day Manhattan, which is covered in snow because the game is set during the winter. Miles controls almost identically to Peter Parker, but with new animations and abilities, which are unlocked as the storyline progresses. The powers introduced consist of Venom Blast, which allows the player to incapacitate enemies with bio-electricity, and charge or drain electronics; Camouflage, which gives Miles temporary invisibility; and Mega Venom Blast, consisting of a massive explosion of bio-electricity that damages all nearby enemies. The game also introduces new gadgets, including Remote Mines, which can attach to enemies or electrical panels; a device that summons holographic fighters to help in combat; and Gravity Wells that trap multiple enemies and make them easier to hit. Miles' abilities and gadgets can be upgraded as the player levels up.

Like Peter, Miles possesses a "spider-sense", which warns the player of incoming attacks and allows them to dodge and retaliate, and web-shooters, which fire lines of webs that can be used during both traversal and combat, in several different ways. Miles can also jump, stick to surfaces, and fast travel using the New York City Subway system. Side-missions have been significantly altered, and are now accessed from an in-game phone app. Miles has several unlockable suits, some of which are based on existing versions of the character in media, as well as original suits created for the game. Many of these enhance Miles' abilities, such as allowing him to take less damage, stay invisible for a longer time, or regenerate Venom Power faster. During certain sections of the game, players control Miles in his civilian persona and cannot use any of his abilities or gadgets.

Synopsis
See also: Peter Parker (Insomniac Games character)

Characters and setting

The narrative continues from where Marvel's Spider-Man and its downloadable content The City that Never Sleeps left off, during which Miles Morales (Nadji Jeter) was bitten by a genetically-enhanced spider and gained powers similar to his mentor Peter Parker (Yuri Lowenthal). A year after the first game's conclusion, Morales has trained under Parker, moved from Brooklyn to Harlem, and has fully integrated himself into the role of a Spider-Man, though he is still gaining experience and doubts whether he can live up to Parker's legacy. At the beginning of the game, Parker leaves New York for several weeks and trusts Morales to protect the city in his absence. Now the sole Spider-Man, Morales must balance his new superhero responsibilities with supporting his mother Rio Morales (Jacqueline Piñol) in her campaign for City Council, and defending his new home from a violent war between the Roxxon Energy Corporation and a high-tech criminal army called the "Underground".[1]

The game features both new and returning supporting characters, including the supervillain Rhino (Fred Tatasciore), the imprisoned crime lord Kingpin (Travis Willingham), and anti-Spider-Man podcaster J. Jonah Jameson (Darin De Paul). Parker's mentor and former employer Dr. Otto Octavius (William Salyers) appears in a flashback while the head of Oscorp and former New York mayor Norman Osborn (Mark Rolston) appears in a mid-credits scene.

The new cast includes Miles' best friend and schoolmate Ganke Lee (Griffin Puatu), who assists him with his Spider-Man activities; Miles' estranged and overprotective uncle Aaron Davis (Ike Amadi), who operates as an armored mercenary known as the Prowler; podcaster and Spider-Man supporter Danika Hart (Ashly Burch); F.E.A.S.T. volunteer Gloria Davila (Melanie Minichino); impaired hearing street artist Hailey Cooper (Natasha Ofili); bodega owner Teo Alvarez (Yancey Arias); Caleb's Clean Cuts barber Caleb Ward (Emerson Brooks); Pana Fuerte restaurateur Camila Vasquez (Krizia Bajos); head of Roxxon's R&D department Simon Krieger (Troy Baker); and Miles' childhood friend Phin Mason (Jasmin Savoy Brown), who seeks to avenge the death of her brother Rick (Todd Williams) as the mysterious Tinkerer.[2][3][4]

Plot

After more than a year of training under Peter Parker, Miles Morales has mastered his spider-like abilities and established himself as Spider-Man's crime fighting partner, though he still struggles to adapt into his new role. While escorting a police convoy carrying prisoners to the rebuilt Raft, Miles' carelessness accidentally allows Rhino to break out of his container and wreak havoc in Harlem. While Miles stops the other escapees, Spider-Man struggles against Rhino, who eventually overpowers him. Miles intervenes and defeats Rhino with a new bio-electric ability, later dubbed "Venom Blast". Leaving Rhino in Roxxon's custody, Spider-Man informs Miles that he will be assisting his girlfriend, Daily Bugle reporter Mary Jane Watson, with her assignment in Symkaria for a few weeks as her photographer, and entrusts him to look after the city in his absence.

While investigating a break-in at the Roxxon Plaza, Miles clashes with the Underground, who have a vendetta against the company. Returning home to celebrate Christmas with his mother and Ganke, Miles is surprised to learn that Rio also invited Phin, with whom he has not spoke to in over a year, to give them a chance to get reacquainted. While attending one of Rio's campaign rallies, Miles witnesses the Underground attacking the Roxxon guards present, and tries to stop the conflict before it escalates. He soon discovers that the Underground are seeking Roxxon's experimental power source, Nuform, and that Phin is their leader, operating as the "Tinkerer". After further investigation, Miles learns that Phin wants to avenge the death of her brother Rick, who was poisoned while working on Nuform, and killed by Simon Krieger after attempting to sabotage the project. With assistance from the Prowler, who deduces his identity and later reveals himself as Aaron, Miles discovers Phin's plan to ruin Roxxon by destroying their plaza with Nuform to highlight its disastrous side-effects, which Krieger had been covering up.

After betraying Phin's trust in order to gather information on the Underground, Miles is eventually forced to reveal himself as Spider-Man to her, souring their friendship. Rio also learns Miles's identity, but supports her son. Miles tries to reconcile with Phin, but Roxxon abducts them with the aid of an enhanced Rhino. Miles and Phin escape, but the former learns that Aaron has also been spying on him for Roxxon, and that Krieger modified the plaza's Nuform reactor to destroy Harlem if Phin's plan succeeds. After defeating Rhino, he taunts Phin about Rick's death. She almost kills him, but Miles intervenes and the two fight before Phin knocks him out and escapes. While trying to stop her, Miles is captured by Aaron, who takes him to an underground cell to prevent him from being killed like his father Jefferson Davis, but Miles escapes and defeats his uncle, explaining that he cannot turn his back on people when they need him.

While the Underground and Roxxon fight on the streets and Phin executes her plan, Aaron, inspired by his nephew's words, helps Rio evacuate Harlem, giving Miles a chance to confront Phin and stop the Nuform reactor before it goes critical. Unable to reason with her, Miles fights Phin before attempting to absorb the Nuform's energy to negate the blast. With Miles unable to contain it, a remorseful Phin sacrifices herself by flying him to a safe distance above the city so that he can release the energy before it kills him. Miles plummets to the ground and his identity is revealed to a small number of Harlem citizens he helped as Spider-Man, who promise to keep his secret.

Four weeks later, Roxxon has been dealt numerous lawsuits and Krieger has been arrested following Aaron turning himself in and testifying against them in exchange for a reduced prison sentence. Spider-Man returns from Symkaria and praises Miles for his growth and heroism before they head off to fight crime together.

Meanwhile, Norman Osborn orders a reluctant Dr. Curt Connors to release his terminally ill son Harry, who regains consciousness, from stasis in spite of his unstable condition. Sometime later, Miles leaves a science award he won with Phin atop Trinity Church in her memory.

Development

Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales was developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.[5][6][7] Sony vice president Simon Rutter told The Telegraph that the game is "an expansion and an enhancement to the previous game".[8] However, Insomniac later called the project a standalone game, stating that it is "the next adventure in the Marvel's Spider-Man universe".[9] It is smaller in size and scope than Spider-Man, and has been compared to Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, a game which served as a standalone expansion that was smaller in size and scope than a mainline Uncharted title.[8][9][10]

The game features "a new story, with new set-pieces, fresh villains, and unique quests".[3] For the PlayStation 5 version, the game takes advantage of the console's increased processing power, dedicated ray-tracing hardware, custom solid-state drive storage, Tempest Engine and DualSense controller to support features such as advanced haptic feedback, real-time ray tracing effects, 3D spatial audio and reduced loading times.[11][12][13] The PlayStation 5 version of Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales supports high dynamic range and an optional "performance mode" that allows the game to run at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second.[14][15][16]

On October 9, 2020, Insomniac Games announced via Twitter that the game had "gone gold", meaning that physical copies of the game were ready to be produced, with any further development being patched into the game through software updates.[17]

Music

John Paesano returned to compose the musical score for Spider-Man: Miles Morales after composing 2018's Spider-Man.[18] Unlike the 2018 game's music which was more orchestral-based, Miles Morales' soundtrack mixes orchestral themes with hip hop music. Three original songs were created for the soundtrack: "I'm Ready" by Jaden Smith,[19] and "Where We Come From" and "This Is My Time" by Lecrae.[20]

Release

The game was announced on June 11, 2020 at the PlayStation 5 reveal event as a launch title.[5][21][22] It released worldwide on November 12, 2020 for PlayStation 4, with the PlayStation 5 version also releasing in North America, Australia and New Zealand on that date; a week later, it released worldwide for the PlayStation 5.[7][23] The game is available in numerous editions. The standard edition includes only the base game and is available for both consoles, with the PlayStation 4 version supporting a free upgrade to the PlayStation 5 version. The Ultimate Edition is available for the PlayStation 5, bundling together the base game and Spider-Man: Remastered.[7] Launch variants of all editions were available in North America, and these variants feature instant access to the following; the T.R.A.C.K. suit and Miles' suit from the 2018 animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, three extra skill points and a Gravity Well Gadget. International retailers delivered this content separately as a redeemable code. All of these bonus items are available throughout the course of the game to those who did not receive the pre-order bonuses.[24][25][26]

Tie-in media and merchandise

On October 7, 2020, Marvel Games revealed a prequel novel, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales - Wings of Fury, which was published on November 10, 2020 and written by Brittney Morris. The novel follows Miles coming to terms with what it means to be Spider-Man. He is left questioning everything when Vulture and his accomplice Starling release experimental tech onto New York City. Also announced was Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales - The Art of the Game by Matt Ralphs, which is set for a release in February 2021. It features a collection of concept art, in-game renderings, and insights from the artists and Insomniac Games.[27]

In March 2021, Funko Pop! Vinyl figures of the Classic and T.R.A.C.K. suits from the game, are set to be released, with the latter of the two having a limited edition chase variant in which Miles is unmasked.[28] A further selection of the 2020, Bodega Cat, S.T.R.I.K.E, Advanced Tech, Purple Rein, Crimson Cowl, Winter and Programmable Matter suits are set to be released in April 2021, with the last two having exclusive variants available at Hot Topic and GameStop respectively.[29][30]

Reception

Spider-Man: Miles Morales received "generally favorable reviews", according to review aggregator Metacritic.[32][31]

Jonathon Dornbush of IGN enjoyed the new PS5 enhancements of the game and the more compelling side content.[39] Destructoid's Chris Carter praised the game's story and Miles' new abilities.[40] Andrew Reiner of Game Informer appreciated the improvements to combat and the new area of Harlem.[41]

Sales

The PlayStation 4 version of Spider-Man: Miles Morales sold 22,882 physical copies within its first week on sale in Japan, making it the eighth best-selling retail game of the week in the country. During the same week, the PlayStation 5 version was the tenth best-selling retail game in Japan, selling 18,640 physical copies.[42]

Spider-Man: Miles Morales was also the best-selling physical PlayStation 5 launch game in the UK.[43] In Germany, the game sold over 100,000 copies in its launch month,[44] and 200,000 copies by the end of December 2020.[45]

As of December 18, 2020, the game has sold a combined total of 663,000 digital copies across both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 platforms.[46]

As of December 31, 2020, the game has sold 4.1 million copies.[47]

Awards
Date Award Category Recipient(s) and Nominee(s) Result Ref.
December 10, 2020 The Game Awards 2020 Best Performance Nadji Jeter as Miles Morales Nominated [48]
Best Action/Adventure Spider-Man: Miles Morales Nominated
Player's Voice Spider-Man: Miles Morales Nominated

References
  1. Schedeen, Jesse (September 18, 2020). "Spider-Man: Miles Morales' Tinkerer Explained - Who Is the Villain of the PS5 Game?". IGN. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  2. Ramée, Jordan (June 11, 2020). "Spider-Man: Miles Morales Announced For PS5". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  3. Horton, Brian (June 18, 2020). "Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales – An update from Insomniac Games". Playstation Blog. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  4. Gartenberg, Chaim (September 16, 2020). "Spider-Man: Miles Morales trailer shows off first look at gameplay on PS5". The Verge. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  5. Dornbush, Jonathon (June 11, 2020). "Marvel's Spider-Man Miles Morales Announced for PS5". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  6. Avard, Alex (June 11, 2020). "Spider-Man 2 starring Miles Morales announced as PS5 launch title". GamesRadar+. Future plc. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  7. Stevenson, James (September 16, 2020). "See the Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales new gameplay demo". PlayStation.Blog. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  8. Skrebels, Joe (June 12, 2020). "Spider-Man: Miles Morales Isn't a Sequel, It's an Expansion". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  9. Sarkar, Samit (June 12, 2020). "PS5's Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a 'standalone game,' Sony says". Polygon. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  10. Schreier, Jason (June 12, 2020). "New Spider-Man Game for PS5 Will Be Separate From Original". Bloomberg. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  11. Tolbert, Samuel (June 18, 2020). "Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales features ray-tracing on PS5, similar scope to Uncharted: The Lost Legacy". Android Central. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  12. Wood, Chandler (August 20, 2020). "Developers Detail Unique Ways They Are Using the PS5 DualSense Controller's Adaptive Triggers and Haptic Feedback". Playstation Lifestyle. Archived from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  13. Locke, Jennifer (July 2, 2020). "Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales for PS5 — Release date, gameplay, trailers, and everything you need to know". Android Central. Archived from the original on November 6, 2020. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  14. @insomniacgames (September 13, 2020). "#MilesMoralesPS5 is realized in 4K HDR on PS5. See reflections with ray-tracing, and improved lighting, shadow, and character detail. #SpiderManPS5" (Tweet). Archived from the original on September 21, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2020 – via Twitter.
  15. Yin-Poole, Wesley (July 20, 2020). "Spider-Man: Miles Morales PS5 has optional 4K/60fps performance mode". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on November 6, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  16. Peters, Jay (December 9, 2020). "Spider-Man: Miles Morales runs at 60fps with ray tracing in new mode". The Verge. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  17. @insomniacgames (October 9, 2020). "We are pleased to announce that #MilesMoralesPS5 and #MilesMoralesPS4 have Gone Gold and will be sneaking into your hearts globally on November 12th! #BeGreater #BeYourself" (Tweet). Archived from the original on October 9, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2020 – via Twitter.
  18. Kennedy, Victoria (November 11, 2020). "Spider-Man: Miles Morales Soundtrack Will Make The Wait For Launch Easier". Screen Rant. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  19. Jaden (November 9, 2020). "I'm Ready". YouTube.
  20. Cluver, Ross (November 16, 2020). "Lecrae Featured on Marvel Spider-Man Game Soundtrack". CCM Magazine. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  21. "Spider-Man: Miles Morales is coming to the PS5 this year". The Verge. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  22. "Marvel's Spider-Man Miles Morales : Release Date & PC Requirements". JoinGames. July 28, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  23. St Leger, Henry; Vjestica, Adam (October 29, 2020). "Spider-Man: Miles Morales release date, ultimate edition, price, trailers and gameplay". TechRadar. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  24. Avard, Alex (September 18, 2020). "First Spider-Man: Miles Morales alternative suit revealed in PS5 pre-order details". gamesradar. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  25. "Insomniac Games on Twitter". Twitter. September 18, 2020. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  26. "PlayStation on Twitter". Twitter. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  27. Paige, Rachel (October 7, 2020). "Two New Companion Books Announced for 'Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales'". Marvel Entertainment. Archived from the original on November 5, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  28. "Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales Gets Its First Funko Pops". Gear. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  29. "Suit Up With New Marvel Spider-Man: Miles Morales Funko Pops". Gear. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  30. "Exclusive Spider-Man: Miles Morales Funko Pops Are Live". Gear. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  31. "Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  32. "Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales for PlayStation 5 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  33. Carter, Chris (November 8, 2020). "Review: Spider-Man: Miles Morales". Destructoid. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  34. Reiner, Andrew (November 6, 2020). "Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales Review – An Electrifying Second Act". GameInformer. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  35. Ramée, Jordan (November 6, 2020). "Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales Review". GameSpot. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  36. Dornbush, Jonathon (November 6, 2020). "Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales Review". Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  37. Stuart, Keith (November 6, 2020). "Spider-Man: Miles Morales review – substitute hero spins his own New York moment". The Guardian. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  38. Silver, Dan (November 6, 2020). "Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales PS5 review – superhero stopgap showcases the speed of PS5". The Telegraph. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  39. Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales Review - IGN, retrieved January 14, 2021
  40. "Review: Spider-Man: Miles Morales". Destructoid. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  41. Reiner, Andrew. "Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales Review – An Electrifying Second Act". Game Informer. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  42. Romano, Sal (November 19, 2020). "Famitsu Sales: 11/9/20 – 11/15/20". Gematsu. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  43. Dring, Christopher (November 22, 2020). "Spider-Man: Miles Morales is PS5's biggest launch game as Call of Duty grabs No.1 UK Boxed Charts". gamesindustry.biz. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  44. "game Sales Awards November 2020" (in German). December 15, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  45. "game Sales Awards Dezember 2020" (in German). January 18, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  46. "Worldwide digital games market: November 2020". SuperData Research. December 18, 2020. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  47. "Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales Sold 4.1 Million Units in 2020". IGN. February 3, 2021. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  48. Stewart, Marcus. "Here Are The Nominees For The 2020 Game Awards". Game Informer. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.