Spider-Man: Miles Morales — A Thrilling Swing Through Harlem
- Yash Reddy
- Jul 26
- 2 min read
Introduction: This Christmas was one to remember for many years. I finally unwrapped a PS5! I couldn’t wait to dive into the incredible world of next-gen gaming, and the first game I played was Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Being a fan of Spider-Man, but most importantly open-world games, I felt this game was meant for me. Now that I’ve spent hours swinging through Harlem as Miles Morales, here’s my review of this amazing game.
Graphics and Experience: I was blown away the first time I launched Spider-Man: Miles Morales. The graphics were out of this world, especially on the PS5 with “ray tracing” technology. Snow is all over the roads of New York City, adding to the holiday festivity. The DualSense controller with haptic feedback and strong vibration added a whole new layer of engagement while feeling the subtle “thwip” of Miles’ webs while casually swinging around NYC. First Mission: very engaging; Miles fighting alongside Peter Parker in an action-packed battle showed me the game’s tones: emotional, action-packed, and fast!
Game Play: What I enjoyed most was how smooth and responsive the game play was. Swinging through NYC is an experience unto itself: fluid, fast, and so much fun! Miles has powers that truly make him different from Peter, like his bioelectric venom attacks and camouflage ability. These powers add an advantage to combat; thus, fights feel exhilarating.
Side quests are as engrossing as the main storyline: everything from saving Harlem residents from crime to chasing after stolen pigeons makes the city feel alive. The collectibles I have taken so much time to get, like the tech parts he adds in his collection to help him make the game, are very customizable. Time capsules add those personal touches to connect with his story.
Storyline: He is so relatable because of is a teenager and a superhero. His family, friends, and community help shape the whole story of this game into one that feels somewhat realistic but emotionally genuine. I enjoyed his friendship with Ganke and his strong relationship with his mother, Rio. I can relate to being a teenager doing everything that Miles is, aside from being able to be a superhero just casually swinging through New York.
The villains were also a great part of the story. The conflict between Miles and the Tinkerer is emotional and complex, giving the story depth. Without spoiling anything, the ending is both action-packed and touching — it left me sitting there just thinking about it for a while. It got me thinking about how much attention to detail the Insomniac Games and Sony game makers put into this creation.
What I Think Could Be Better: The game is pretty short. I beat the main story in around 10 hours, but the side missions and post-game challenges helped to make the game feel pretty long. Still, I wished there was a bit more story content.