It’s hard to imagine what Sony Interactive Entertainment would look like today without the inclusion of Marvel’s Spider-Man in its huge catalog of first-party exclusives. Just saying Insomniac Games outdid itself would be a disservice to its excellent attention to detail and commitment to a complete and fulfilling gaming experience.
Today marks the fifth anniversary of Marvel’s Spider-Man. It’s crazy to think how, in just five years, this one game has brought so many fans together and created a whole new universe that is just dying to be explored even more. Let’s take a look back into the wonderful world of the game, how it was conceived before and after release, and what the fans expect going forward.
Read Also: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – Everything You Should Know So Far from Release Date to Gameplay
E3 2016 – The Outstanding Reveal of Marvel’s Spider-Man
E3 may be dead, but the memories made from the events will live on. One such event took place on June 13 at E3 2016, where Marvel’s Spider-Man was officially revealed to the world, accompanied by an amazing trailer that got the crowd excited beyond belief. It’s not that Spidey didn’t have big games in the past, but the prospect of a AAA open-world game where you get to play freely as everyone’s favorite friendly neighborhood superhero was too good to not get excited about.
The trailer sold the game incredibly well. It was short, epic, and spectacular. And who can forget hearing Yuri Lowenthal’s amazing Spider-Man voice for the first time. There was some skepticism from some fans though. Most were found asking themselves, “How much of the trailer is actually gameplay?”. It was a completely reasonable thought to have, but little did we know that what Insomniac showed was almost all active gameplay.
Between the reveal and the release, there were numerous promotions, like the ‘Be Greater’ promo, as well as a complete demo showcase of the game at E3 2017. At that point, the gaming community erupted in excitement and patiently waited for the game’s release in 2018.
The Release of Marvel’s Spider-Man
Early critic reviews began coming in, and they were beyond positive. Critics praised the gameplay, story, and awesome web-slinging mechanics. Currently the game sits at a whopping 87 on Metacritic. And so the hype was on.
On September 7, 2018, Marvel’s Spider-Man was released to the world exclusively on the PS4, and fans all around the globe could not be more happy with how the game turned out. It really was the Spidey game fans had been hoping for. The gameplay was fast, filled with quippy dialogue, and energetic. The story had epic as well as emotional beats spread all throughout the game’s seventeen-hour main quest. And side content, such as acquiring new suits, helping people throughout the city, and finding collectibles, was all incredibly enjoyable.
The gameplay was particularly praised. Not only were the animations incredibly fluid, but the system had an insane level of depth. There were a bunch of different gadgets you could use and combine with awesome combos to build up your Focus bar and land an execution. Throwables like trash cans and debris gave the game a more grounded feel. Even the enemy variety was pretty commendable, as members of different factions utilized different weapons.
The story focused on a more grown-up version of Peter Parker, who had been doing the Spidey gig for quite a few years now. Insomniac managed to engross the player in Peter’s story without having to set up an origin. Characters around Pete, like Mary Jane, Miles Morales, Aunt May, and Otto Octavius, were all really likeable, and you couldn’t help but feel for Peter’s grief at the end of the game.
Taking all this into account, the game exceeded the very high expectations and delivered the complete package and then some.
Also Read: PS5 Scores Much-Needed Win Against Xbox as Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Beats Starfield in 1 Area
Aftermath – What Becomes of the Marvel’s Spider-Man Franchise Now?
Marvel’s Spider-Man was a huge success among fans and critics alike. The game performed so well financially that Insomniac and Sony made multiple DLCs, all of which got positive acclaim. Of course, the next big thing that came out after the release of this game was Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Though not as highly praised as its predecessor, Miles’ story was still well worth the experience. You could also get a remastered version of the original game with Miles Morales if you got the Ultimate edition, which was the significant PS5 upgrade that fans had been waiting on for quite a while.
And now, in 2023, we’re only about a month away from the release of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Everything they’ve shown from that game has got every Spidey fan excited to the brim. It looks phenomenal, and we cannot wait to get our hands on it. And we all have the original Marvel’s Spider-Man and Insomniac Games to thank for it.
Did you enjoy Marvel’s Spider-Man? Are you excited for the sequel? Let us know in the comments!
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