The Future of Web-Swinging — Building on the Strengths of Spider-Man: Miles Morales | Video Essay

Immediately upon release, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales was hailed by popular consensus as containing the best web-swinging mechanics in a Spider-Man game yet, handily displacing Insomniac's first Spidey game with a variety of new animations and mechanics. But what do these innovations tell us about the future of web-swinging?

Well, hit the play button, and I'll talk non-stop for 20 minutes to answer that very question!

0:00 Intro
1:19 1 - Fluidity
2:39 2 - Expressiveness
6:45 3 - Depth
9:07 4 - Stakes
11:01 Part II: The Proposal
16:02 The Proposal: Room for Improvement
18:26 Conclusion


Full-size PNG of "Marvel's Spider-Man 2" custom cover art available here:   / marvels_spiderman_2_custom_cover_art  


MUSIC USED:

From Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales (Original Video Game Soundtrack) by John Paesano:
- New York's Only Spider-Man
- Spider-Training
- Won't Give Up
- Rhino Rampage
- Be Yourself
- All In
- Trying to Protect You
- Worst Enemies
- Make It Right
- Don't Give Up

Other Music:
- "Club Foot" (Kasabian, 2004)
- "Alive" (Warbly Jets, 2016)


CAPTURED FOOTAGE:

Gameplay footage from Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered (Sony/Insomniac, 2020); Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (Naughty Dog/Sony, 2016); Batman: Arkham Knight (Rocksteady/WB Interactive, 2015) captured on PlayStation 5.

Gameplay footage from Spider-Man: Web of Shadows (Shaba/Activision, 2008); Spider-Man 3 (Treyarch/Activision, 2007); Tony Hawk's Proving Ground (Neversoft/Activision, 2007); Tony Hawk's Project 8 (Neversoft/Activision, 2006); Tony Hawk's American Wasteland (Neversoft/Activision, 2005); Spider-Man 2 (Treyarch/Activision, 2004) captured on Xbox 360.


ADDITIONAL FOOTAGE USED:

- Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales - Announcement Trailer | PS5:    • Видео  
- Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales - Gameplay Demo | PS5:    • Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales - ...  
- Spider-Man's Composer on Crafting Miles Morales' Melodic Identity (Gizmodo): https://io9.gizmodo.com/spider-mans-c...
- Answering Spider-Man’s Lingering Questions (Game Informer):    • Answering Spider-Man's Lingering Ques...  
- Intro Videos from Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1-3 (Neversoft/Activision, 1999-2001)
- Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+ 2 - Official Xbox Series X Gameplay:    • Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+ 2 - Officia...  
- Imbalance (THUG Pro) (BrandNewByxor):    • Imbalance (THUG Pro)  
- thugpro guide (Flippy):    • thugpro guide  
- HELICOPTER JUMP | Tony Hawk's Underground | Part 10 (MCEditor):    • HELICOPTER JUMP | Tony Hawk's Undergr...  
- BEATING ERIC + EXTRA LEVELS | Tony Hawk's Underground | Part 19 (Finale) (MCEditor):    • BEATING ERIC + EXTRA LEVELS | Tony Ha...  
- The 100 Best Games of All Time In 10 Minutes (IGN):    • The 100 Best Games of All Time In 10 ...  
- Spider-Man (PS1) Walkthrough Part 1 - Bank Heist (X-Gamer):    • Spider-Man (PS1) Playthrough Part 1 -...  
- awesome easter egg in spiderman 2000 (speciefic demon):    • awesome easter egg in spiderman 2000  
- THPS2: Spider-Man - Skate Heaven (Sudonim McPhaykneighm):    • THPS2: Spider-Man - Skate Heaven  
- THPS1+2 - 402 million point combo (Warehouse demo) (prevzzy):    • THPS1+2 - 402 million point combo (Wa...  
- Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 - Legendary Combo Contest Winners | PS4:    • Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 - Legendar...  
- prev - New Jersey 2006 Million Point Combo (THUG Pro 2019) (THPSVideos):    • prev - New Jersey 2006 Million Point ...  
- Tony Hawk American Wasteland East L.A Combo (NJzSnipe):    • Tony Hawk American Wasteland East L.A...  
- World's Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 (PS2) Highest Score Ever! 6 Billion Points by Brazbox (Brazbox):    • World's Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 (PS2...  
- idunno - 1911 Million Point Combo Barcelona (THUG Pro 2018) (THPSVideos):    • idunno - 1911 Million Point Combo Bar...  
- 145mil Improv Manhattan (Guy2K THPS):    • 145mil Improv Manhattan  
- THPS1+2 - Burnside 236 million point combo (prevzzy):    • THPS1+2 - Burnside 236 million point ...  
- Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019 Movie)
- PS5 Teardown: An up-close and personal look at the console hardware:    • PS5 Teardown: An up-close and persona...  
- PS5 Hardware Reveal Trailer:    • PS5 Hardware Reveal Trailer  
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart - Announcement Trailer | PS5:    • Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart - Announc...  

Excerpts used from “Concrete Jungle Gym: Building Traversal in Marvel’s Spider-Man” GDC 2019 talk by Doug Sheahan (Lead Gameplay Programmer, Insomniac). PDF available at: https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1026422...


By the way, I'm doing a big retrospective series on Treyarch's Spider-Man 2 (2004) next, with the first part coming fall 2022. Hopefully all the parts will be finished by the game's 19th anniversary!