Warning: The following review contains spoilers that reveal significant portions of the game’s plot.

It’s only been two months since the popular, yet controversial, Playstation 5 (PS5) was released and already there have been a few amazing launch titles to start off the 9th generation of gaming. However, the most popular out of all the launch titles for the PS5 is the short but amazing standalone sequel to Insomniac’s Spider-Man, Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Rather than being a full sequel to the first game, gamers play through the story of Miles Morales and his journey protecting New York when Spider-Man is not there. 

Miles Morales is a teenager of Black and Hispanic descent who lives in Harlem, New York who befriends Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man. During the events of the first game, Miles’s father, police officer Jefferson Davis, was killed by Spider-Man villain, Mr. Negative. After befriending Peter Parker, Miles was bitten by the same radioactive spider that granted Spider-Man his powers. In the aftermath of the first game, Miles reveals his powers to Peter Parker and at the same time, Peter reveals to Miles that he is Spider-Man.

Taking place one year after the events of the first game during Christmas time, Miles Morales must take over Peter Parker’s job of protecting the city because Peter is going on vacation for the Christmas holidays with his girlfriend, Mary Jane Watson. While Miles is protecting New York City from crime, he must investigate and put an end to a war between a criminal group known as The Underground led by the Tinkerer, (spoiler alert) who is Miles’s friend Phin Mason, and the corrupt company Roxxon, which is led by corrupt businessman Simon Kreiger. During his fight, Miles teams up with his friend Ganke Lee to inform him of the crime around the city and ( Spoiler Alert) Miles’s uncle Aaron Davis, who is the secret villain known as the Prowler. Also, Miles discovers and develops both old powers and some new powers that the first Spider-Man didn’t have, including venom strike and the ability to turn invisible. For those unknown to this power, unlike Spider-Man, Miles Morales’ venom strike gives an electrical shock when battling enemies and when fixing obstacles.

The game delivers everything that was great about the first game and adds both old and new mechanics to this short but breathtaking adventure. The game brings back the amazing combat that Spider-Man uses to fight his enemies. Also, the game brings back the same web abilities Spider-Man uses to swing around New York City and the same beautiful open world of Manhattan Island to explore, but this time covered in snow during the Holiday Season. Not only that, the gameplay and graphics from the next-gen hardware improve from the Playstation 4 by delivering amazing action gameplay that feels truly cinematic and realistic. The graphics capture everything from an intense battle against the evil Rhino to saving civilians from a collapsing bridge and swinging around New York City in picturesque detail, precise enough to make film creators of any Spidey film proud. The game also provides Easter Eggs and secrets for fans that foreshadow events in future titles. 

Also, just like in the first Spider-Man game, Miles can change his Spider-Man suit to different Spider Suits from comics, movies, and TV shows including the futuristic 2099 suit, the Animated Suit from the Spider-Man animated series, and the Miles Morales Spider-Man suit from the critically acclaimed animated film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. If gamers want to play this Spider-Man masterpiece but haven’t been able to play the first game, they can buy Spider-Man: Mile Morales: Ultimate Launch Edition, which comes with a voucher code for  Marvel’s Spider-Man in a completely remastered form for the PS5. With another huge Spider-Man sequel to be announced in the near future and many more Playstation 5 exclusives still to come, the next-gen PS5 is off to a great start in the gaming industry.