Marvel's Spider-Man review – a perfect superhero in an imperfect world

PS4; Insomniac Games/Sony
Spidey swings through the canyons of Manhattan in eye-popping style, but the set-piece supervillain showdowns are confused and messy

Marvel may have dominated superhero cinema since the first Avengers movie, but in the land of video games, DC remains king. Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009) still represents the high-water mark for superhero gaming. Its near-perfect balance of sneaking around behind goons' backs, puzzle solving, and pugilistic combat outclasses even its larger, more ambitious sequels.

Now, though, the caped crusader has a worthy rival from the Marvel camp in the form of Insomniac Games' Spider-Man. Many years and millions of dollars have been invested in Insomniac's tribute to the web-slinger from Queens, and the result is undoubtedly the finest portrayal of a virtual superhero to date. Yet while Spider-Man shines, the world around him struggles to give him exciting ways to exercise his powers.