Spider-Man: Miles Morales PS5 Review - 6 Ups & 4 Downs

2. Most Combat Upgrades Don't Change Anything

Between the gadget upgrades and skill-based unlocks like returning rockets to senders, ground pounds or aerial combos, Peter Parker's Spider-Man was a completely different beast to control by the end of 2018's game, versus the beginning.

In Miles Morales... not so much.

Somewhat indicative of how much this is an interstitial "tagged on" release (even if Insomniac say otherwise), yes you have new Venom and Camouflage powers, but the skills you unlock in each branch are based around percentage damage upgrades, damage reduction or hitting two guys instead of one with a charged-up punch.

Insomniac were likely caught between a rock and a hard place. They didn't have time to add whatever "next level" of Spidey combat is coming with Spider-Man 2, and they couldn't overhaul everything because this is still a continuation from what went before.

Ultimately a mass audience of Spidey fans who played the original are going to be leaping in on new systems, so they split the difference. Venom and Camo moves on top - which are great and flashy as hell - but you'll be using them in the same way after 30 hours as 30 minutes.