Marvel’s Spider-Man PS4 Director On The Difficulty Of The Web-Slinging Mechanics

If you thought the web slinging was cool in Marvel's Spider-Man PS4, you may be interested in learning just how long that process took!
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Marvel’s Spider-Man for the PlayStation 4 was a huge hit for the Sony platform, being hailed for how incredibly the team over at Insomniac Games handled bringing our favorite webbed hero to life. From the fluid game mechanics, to the thrilling story, there was no part of the PS4 exclusive that wasn’t absolutely stunning. That being said, that same stunning experience was anything but easy to accomplish.

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Game Director Ryan Smith recently took to the stage for GameLab in Barcelona this week to talk about the developmental cycle for our beloved Marvel title but it was his hit points about the web-slinging feature that captured our attention the most. One thing that was a consistent selling point for the open-world game was how fluid and effortless the slinging effects were, something that took over 3 years to perfect. That, and those damned corners in-game: 

“Carrying momentum through transitions–that was something where, when we unlocked some of that momentum transfer between big swings and different places you can leap off in a swing, that was a huge game changer for us. Adding an expressive camera that makes you feel like you are Spider-Man–how would you feel during those swings, during the dive, and how can we emphasise that with the camera? All of that was developed over the space of two or three years, finding those opportunities based on the prototype we had.”

With such a variation of momentum seen in the game, nailing those physics mechanics was absolutely imperative when it came to getting the game ready for launch. Luckily, they pulled it off flawlessly and the title was a huge hit for Marvel fans everywhere. 

Source: VG247, PSLifeStyle


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About the Author

Liana Ruppert

With an arguably unhealthy obsession with Dragon Age and Mass Effect, Liana is wildly passionate about all things in the gaming community. From shooters, to RPGs, if it's out - she's playing it. A medically retired US Sailor and now full-time hoarder of gaming collectibles, Liana's passion for everything in the gaming industry is palpable. Also, if you lose her in a crowd, just casually mention any BioWare game and the crazy pterodactyl screech will without a doubt follow. You can follow her on Twitter @DirtyEffinHippy or email her for editorial inquiries at [email protected]!