If you’re a fan of Spider-Man and also love video games, then today’s text is made just for you!
I started reading Spider-Man comics when I was a kid, so I’ve followed several transitions in the comics, countless epic editions, some sinister villains — and some not so much. Some comic books even moved me deeply (Spider-Man: Blue), and the main point that really connects to today’s text is: I witnessed the creation of Miles Morales and also had the chance to play his game — an exclusive for PlayStation — a standalone DLC that achieved a lot with very little (but we’ll talk more about that soon).
The goal of video games is to experience that world, even if just through fantasy, with several elements that help immerse us in the story — and Spider-Man: Miles Morales follows that logic perfectly, delivering a game of incredible quality. But first, let’s get to know more about the character before his arrival on consoles… Let’s go!
The Creation
It’s always good to learn a little more beyond the screens and video games, isn’t it?
The background of our character is quite interesting, which is why talking about his creators is essential to fully understand the context — and as a big fan, I can’t let any details slip by.
Miles Morales was created by a duo, both comic book artists: Sara Pichelli and Brian Michael Bendis, each with their own unique journey before this successful collaboration.
Sara, an Italian artist, never actually planned to work in comics. Early in her career, she struggled to land the jobs she wanted — some opportunities, according to her own account, simply didn’t captivate her.
However, in 2007, she decided to apply for a Marvel contest for writers and artists. Unexpectedly, she managed to secure a spot on a creative team, gradually building a name for herself until, in 2011, her path crossed with Brian’s.
(Side note: in your original text, you were right — that part needed a little clarification. Here I made it clear that her career led to them eventually crossing paths.)
Meanwhile, Brian began his journey freelancing and illustrating for his local newspaper, despite always dreaming of being a comic book artist and telling his own stories.
His submissions were rejected by several companies many times, but he never gave up.
It’s important to highlight that his true specialty was always writing, and after being hired by a publisher and getting one of his stories published, he was eventually invited to join Marvel’s team of writers, where he achieved great success.
After about a year of this duo working together and developing high-quality projects, the first appearance of Miles Morales was finally introduced to the world of comics.
At first, the idea of a new Spider-Man felt quite random to me — and honestly, I was a little skeptical and resistant.
But the artwork quickly captivated me, and I grew really fond of this new character.
The Rise of the New “Spidey”
Miles Morales made his first appearance in Ultimate Fallout, where he was already acting as Spider-Man.
This series of stories deals with the aftermath of Peter Parker’s death.
Naturally, the fanbase didn’t initially accept the introduction of a new replacement hero very well — especially after the death of such an iconic character — it was a tough pill to swallow.
However, what surprised everyone was the strength of the creators’ proposal: the new character brought incredible traits, and the storyline added a lot by tackling important social issues and essential discussions.
The Main Story
Have you ever gotten confused by all the different Marvel universes? Yeah, I know how that feels. It may seem complex, but it’s actually a way to avoid conflicts between storylines and create endless possibilities for new ones.
But then, which Marvel universe does Miles Morales belong to?
Miles Morales’ main story takes place in Marvel’s Ultimate Universe. And, of course, there’s a whole background behind his suit as well.
Like Peter, Miles was bitten by a radioactive spider — but this time, the hero’s journey takes a bit longer to unfold.
Fear and insecurity were clearly present in the new Spider-Man.
His initial denial of his powers irritated me a little, but it was understandable. After all, he just wanted to be a normal kid following his routine.
“With great power comes great responsibility” — that iconic phrase had never made so much sense.
In the story, Peter Parker dies fighting the Green Goblin.
Feeling guilty for neglecting his own powers, Miles ultimately decides to become the new Spider-Man after this great tragedy.
Losses are common in superhero stories.
Just like Uncle Ben’s death shaped Peter Parker, Miles also had to deal with significant emotional challenges — and for a teenager, the intensity is enormous.
We see this very clearly as his character develops, particularly through his relationship with his uncle Aaron (The Prowler).
Aaron, who was a huge reference figure for Miles, knew about the boy’s burden and initially tried to help him — but being a villain himself, his real intention was to have Miles assist in his criminal activities.
Once Miles realized this, he severed ties with his uncle.
In a tragic twist, Aaron dies due to a malfunction in his own Prowler suit.
As more issues were released, Miles’ character development slowly won over the audience, proving his value step by step.
Through several crossovers within the Ultimate Universe, the adaptation to the new Spider-Man happened naturally.
The Spider-Verse
In 2018, we got the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse animated movie — and it was absolutely perfect.
Honestly, it ranks in my top 3 favorite animations of all time!
The movie even won an Oscar — can you believe it?
But what exactly is the Spider-Verse?
It’s an adaptation of the original story, showing Miles’ origin in Brooklyn and his journey toward becoming the new Spider-Man.
The animation features other Spider-people from different universes, and together they create a thrilling, emotional story full of incredible adventures.
And the soundtrack is outstanding, featuring artists like Post Malone, Swae Lee, and more — tracks that perfectly complement the movie’s tone.
The film involved 140 animators, had a budget of $90 million, and grossed $350 million at the box office.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was a huge success!
If you haven’t watched it yet, you’re seriously missing out!
The Game: Spider-Man – Miles Morales
The plot undergoes some significant changes for the game version.
In the first game (Spider-Man for PS4), we already see a brief appearance of Miles — during a crucial moment when his father dies in an attack at City Hall.
This already shows a different direction compared to the comics.
Now, in the standalone DLC focused on young Miles, Peter Parker is still alive, and that’s a major highlight.
Both heroes maintain a mentor-apprentice relationship.
After Miles’ father dies, his bond with Aunt May and Peter strengthens.
The game shows that Miles was bitten by a spider and, unsure of what to do, turns to Peter — eventually discovering his identity as Spider-Man.
Thus, Miles begins training as a hero under Peter’s guidance.
The classic dilemma of balancing personal life with superhero duties is strongly felt throughout the game.
However, as the gameplay progresses and new circumstances arise, we clearly see Miles’ growth as a hero.
Peter plays a huge role in this development, assigning tasks that help Miles gain the necessary experience to embrace his destiny.
As for the game’s story, I found it short and not very deep.
It feels like just another adventure filled with familiar clichés — understandable for a DLC, with around 7 hours of gameplay following the main storyline — but we always hope for a little more, right?
Review
Regarding the base game, I have no criticisms — I truly enjoy the gameplay mechanics and all the cinematic scenes.
However, as a fan, I felt the DLC lacked more immersive main missions.
The shallow and predictable story left me a bit frustrated.
The game delivers what a DLC promises, but considering the price — R$249,00 (digital version) — it feels overpriced for what it offers.
Still, the game maintains great RPG elements, fun side missions, and classic villains.
It also keeps the idea that different suits offer gameplay advantages, making it exciting to unlock new outfits during your playthrough.
The combat is still enjoyable — I liked it — but there aren’t many bosses to fight, and there are only a few “major” battles, leaving you wanting more.
The storyline’s motivation is simple, but I really loved the voice acting, graphics, and the chance to explore Miles’ new powers.
As I mentioned in previous posts, I didn’t play it on PS5 — my experience was based on the PS4 version.
Even without enjoying the full potential of the next-gen version, I still had a great experience.
There were a few minor bugs, like delayed dubbing and random language changes, but nothing that ruined the gameplay.
In the end, I had very high expectations because of my history with the character — and maybe that influenced my perspective a bit.
Still, they delivered what they promised… at a ridiculously high price.
Marvel’s ability to develop a character who addresses important social themes is extremely valuable in today’s society.
And Sony’s care with the movies and Miles Morales’ game deserves applause, especially considering how often adaptations fail in cinema and console games.
The DLC opens up opportunities for future releases, and the continuation of this game is already a reality — which is absolutely exciting!
It’s always a pleasure to bring you more content!
But what about you — have you played Spider-Man? Have you watched the animated movie or read any of the comics?
Tell us in the comments!
See you in the next post! 🚀
