Spider-Man PS4 Review: 6 Ups & 1 Down

3. Combat Feels Great, Taking JUST The Right Amount From Arkham

Gameplay wise, there are a lot of similarities between Spider-Man and Batman: Arkham. However, while it’s true that stealth and combat work much the same, Insomniac have only modelled their system on the genre’s best, and they’ve even added enough tweaks to make it feel unique too.

While Arkham’s system emphasised power and gadgetry, Spidey’s focuses on verticality, movement, and environmental interaction. The more abilities you unlock, the more satisfying it is to play, with various web-based gadgetry also doing much to set this Spidey game apart from its predecessors.

Taken together, and you have a system that truly lets you embody the spirit of the friendly neighbourhood hero, much the same way Rocksteady did with Batman, only different. You'll be chaining together combos in know time at all, weaponising the environment, integrating gadgets and striking from the shadows.

For all intents and purposes, for the duration of this game, you are Spider-Man. The experience as a whole can only be compared to Arkham because it's just as successful; not because it imitates, but because it innovates.