5 Things to do Other Than Playing the Main Story in Spider-Man PS4
Insomniac’s Spider-Man is finally upon us. I’ve spent more than forty hours with the game and have loved every second of it. In doing so, I’m reasonably certain I’ve seen every nook and cranny of what the game currently has to offer. So, from discovering easter eggs to giving high fives, we’ve compiled a list of five things to do other than playing through the story. This isn’t to undermine the excellent narrative and performances present in this masterpiece, but rather a way to explore all there is to do around the playground that is New York City. Let’s dive in. Literally!
1. Indulge in City Activities
Honestly, this one essentially sums up everything. From stopping crimes, collecting backpacks, completing research stations, challenges, enemy bases, and more, the big apple will keep you busy for hours on end. A much as I adore the story, I wound up losing track of time while engaging in side activities due to Spidey’s incredible traversal. The activities are wonderfully varied, and it’s too much fun to swing around the city. I CAN’T STOP.
2. Complete Side Missions
Though they aren’t bound to narrative progression, side missions begin to appear as you move forward through the story. Naturally, I couldn’t resist and swung straight to them the moment they showed up. I won’t spoil them here, but I can assure you they’re worth participating in at any time. And as a bonus to their stories and characters, the rewards received for completing them are well worth it.
3. Be a Friendly Neighborhood
For the first time in the history of Spider-Man games, you can interact with the city’s citizens. Between giving high fives and selfies, you can genuinely be the friendly neighborhood the world has come to love. There are those who harshly judge you while passing by, but I’m sure they mean well. If you need an incentive to greet the street dwellers, bare in mind you earn a trophy for doing so.
4. Take Some Sweet Pics
If there was ever a game that deserved a photo mode, it’s most definitely this one. Sadly, photo mode was reserved for release day. So, I wasn’t able to take advantage of it during my first forty hours. Thankfully, the game is now available to us all, and I’m sure we’ll regularly be sharing some gnarly photos of the web head from here on out. After all, Peter’s a talented photographer, and photo mode’s another way to immerse yourself in the role while dealing with criminals and swinging around.
5. Create Your Own Challenges
By now we’re all well aware of the magnificence of Spider-Man’s traversal. I’ll be dropping in to swing around for pleasure long after the game has run its course. Frankly, swinging around Manhattan is practically a drug. A few of us here at COG have discussed how we enjoy attempting to make Spidey look as cool as possible while traversing the city and creating specific challenges for ourselves while we’re at it. For example, swooping high into the air and attempting to land in the middle of a helicopter pad is a fun one, or swinging low and darting through various bridges and tunnels. There’s a myriad of ways to traverse the concrete jungle, and now that the game’s in the hands of millions, we’re sure to see some amazing feats in the coming weeks and months ahead.
Insomniac’s Spider-Man is a masterclass in not only superhero games but video games in general. I thoroughly adore it. It’s a dream come true. We hope you enjoy our list of five things to do other than playing through the main story. For more on Spider-Man, you can read our full review here, or check our six tips for combat.