STACK #229 November 2023

GAMING REVIEWS

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MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN 2

ACTION ADVENTURE MULTIPLAYER

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This much-anticipated PS5 exclusive gives players control over both Peter Parker and Miles Morales and delivers a web of improvements over previous series entries. Wisely, developers Insomniac have honed an already solid gaming experience, while also bolstering the story’s depth. As well as

numbering goodies, and baddies. Added to the arsenals of both Spider-Men is a set of Web Wings. These can be spread while swinging across town, setting in motion a glide mechanic that can get you from A to B quicker than ever. Meanwhile, if you thought that the Spider-arsenal was bulging at the seams in the first two games, then what’s in store here will blow your mind! Being a PS5 exclusive, some of the DualSense’s best features are harnessed. There’s some of the most subtle use of haptic feedback yet, and the adaptive triggers get their times to shine in various locations. Then there’s the console’s SSD – you’ll scarcely notice any loading downtime when playing. Insomniac have delivered a game that rewards players handsomely at almost every turn – this really is the type of experience that we got a PS5 for. Marvel fandom is not a prerequisite, as this is an incredibly human story... just one that also features superpowers, and numerous bonkers baddies! AF

playing as the two Spideys, we also get further involved in their personal lives, and those of people in their orbits. With the addition of the boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn, the map has grown sizeably, offering a whole lot more to explore, with the city now even more of a living, breathing entity. Proceedings kick off quickly, with players plummeted into a gritty boss battle with Sandman. That’s just the prelude to the opening titles, setting us up for the jampacked experience that lies ahead. A smorgasbord of familiar faces from the classic comic book series variously star,

TWO CAN PLAY? While a single player experience, playing as both Spider-Men works in many ways. Some challenges are for either Peter Parker or Miles Morales to face, others can be tackled by either Spidey, while some will involve both simultaneously.

FORZA MOTORSPORT

RACING MULTIPLAYER

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It’s been seven years in the making, so racing fans have high expectations for the new Forza Motorsport.

The series has always aimed at a spot somewhere between arcade and full-on sim, and this tradition lives on, with this 2023 model delivering 20 circuits at

launch, plus around 500 cars, with promises of more of each to come. Those tracks all come with dynamic weather systems that certainly give the latest Xbox a workout in the graphics department. The initial thrust in Forza Motorsport is towards solo play, with a sizeable campaign for those going it alone. The Builder’s Cup presents various series in which racing mettle is tested against 23 AI opponents, kicking off with a minimum three-lap practice before moving on to the main event. Tracks are divided into sectors, and you’re rewarded with XP for bettering your times, as well as levelling

up the vehicle that you’re racing as you go. Points can be used to improve your car in what is an almost RPG like fashion. Those into multiplayer face timed races – there’s no

AYE, AYE, AYE, AI! Those familiar with the Forza Motorsport series will know well the corner log jams where cars just play smash-up derby, and AI racers still exhibit some rather frustrating

dive into a lobby, match and go. Instead, races are scheduled regularly, so you may be in for ten minutes of practice while waiting. Once playing, it can be a more fun experience racing against actual humans. There’s a standard set of rules, including penalties for going off track, fuel consumption, and tyre wear, adding extra layers of strategy. Under the bonnet, the physics engine has been tweaked and is brilliant in play, with some of the most natural driving feel that we’ve experienced when flinging a racing car around a track via a gamepad. Plugging in a wheel and pedals combo just adds to the experience. While the selection of tracks, cars, and races may seem limited for now, developers Turn 10 have given us a decidedly solid, expandable platform to kick our Forza Motorsport experience off with. AF

traits at times. This includes the lead car

taking off into the sunset and being near impossible to catch. Race on!

58 NOVMBER 2023

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