In the summer of 2016, game developers Insomniac Games released a short and unexpected teaser for their brand new game, Marvel’s Spider-man. A long 26 months later, on September 7th, the highly anticipated game released to critical acclaim.

To give context to the uninitiated, the rights to Spider-man video games belonged to Activision from 2000 to 2014. The quality of their games was… inconsistent, to say the least. In their later years, it was clear Activision was putting out unfinished and uninspired games simply to renew their precious license. However, they also published Spider-man 2, which was previously considered the quintessential Spider-man experience. Previously.

Insomniac Games is known for their free-flowing, action packed games, e.g. Sunset Overdrive, Ratchet and Clank, and the Spyro franchise. Insomniac and Spider-man seemed like a match made in heaven, and fans were ecstatic to learn that they had acquired the rights from Activision. Insomniac certainly lived up to the hype. After one week, Marvel’s Spider-man has already surpassed PlayStation’s previous 2018 hit, God of War, with more than twice the amount of debut weekend sales. This means Spider-man is now the fastest selling game of the year and is well on its way to becoming one of the best games of 2018.

The game combines the best qualities of past Spider-man games with a healthy dose of pure “Insomniac” fun. Swinging around the massive in-game city feels incredible. It’s a unique and therapeutic experience that’s almost worth the $60 price tag on its own. The combat feels just as good, allowing you to bounce around rooms full of enemies, spin webs, use creative gadgets, and throw punches in true Spidey form. The game makes you feel like a superhero. In addition to spectacular gameplay, Insomniac also crafted an outstanding original story. Their dedication to the character is apparent in the way they combined Peter Parker’s story with his alter ego, as all great Spider-man stories do. You don’t just feel like Spider-man, you feel like Peter Parker. The story is brilliantly paced and executed, with plenty of twists and references to the comics along the way.

Marvel’s Spider-man is a must-have for gamers and superhero fans alike. It has done the unthinkable in revitalizing a once-tired franchise that many had simply given up on. My friends didn’t understand my excitement in the months and weeks leading up to the release, saying, “Who cares about Spider-man games? They’re never good.” This Spider-man game broke the mould and is certainly worth caring about. Hopefully, Insomniac will continue to expand their Marvel gaming universe; rumor has it that this is only the beginning of a Marvel Cinematic Universe-esque franchise of games. Until then, I’ll be swinging through the mean streets of New York City.