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