Spider-Man PS4 is fun to play. Even without the additional skills or talents to upgrade his abilities, Insomniac has achieved some grade-A wizardry with how fun Spidey is to control. But Peter Parker is always one to learn new abilities. If you want to look at how you’ll be building your wall crawler when Marvel’s Spider-Man is out, check the full list below.
One thing that sticks out is that some of these talents very much encourage you to play like Spider-Man. Some of them seem like they exist purely for fun, as opposed to min/maxing. We’ve seen the Air Tricks skill in recent footage, for example. It doesn’t give you much extra XP at all. But are we going to get it? You betcha.
According to community manager James Stevenson, it should be quite common for players to unlock all of these skills before endgame. So while the Spider-Man PS4 skills list may not carry much in the way of tough decisions – moreso just growing into a mature Spider-Man – you’ll still have choices to make with regards to suit abilities, suit mods, and gadgets.
The skills in Marvel’s Spider-Man are divided into three trees: Innovator, Defender, and Webslinger. We’ve grouped together the skills that are hierarchical, starting with the first in the series at the top. Many of them are more powerful versions of the previous skill.
This more mature, 2018 version of Spider-Man on the PS4 will gain talents quite quickly as he levels up. Whether you’re doing story missions or chasing down the six kinds of mission token in Manhattan, you’ll get the necessary XP to purchase more skills.
Swinging around town doing various missions will let you unlock other tools that can help. Combining skills with your suits (and their abilities), suit mods, and gadgets, you’ll have a build for how you want to play Spidey.
Innovator Skill Tree
Hazard Zone: Clears the area during a web throw.
Spin Cycle: Rapidly press Triangle during the throw to continue spinning enemies.
Wrecking Ball: Brute enemies can be grabbed and thrown when webbed affecting enemies over a wide area. Thrown objects damage all nearby enemies.
Extended Perch Takedown: Increases Perch Takedown range (similar to vent takedown).
Scare Tactics: Stealth Takedowns generate much more Focus.
Surprise Attack: Upgrades Web Strike (Triangle) Takedown move so nearby enemies are knocked back.
Pistol and Baton Yank: Hold Triangle to yank small arms like pistols and batons right out of enemies’ hands.
Rifle, Shield, Launcher Yank: Heavy arms like rifles, shields, and launchers included.
Yank and Throw: Hold Triangle to hurl yanked weapons back at enemies with concussive force.
Rocket Return: Press L1 and R1 to throw rockets back at enemies.
Defender Skill Tree
Perfect Dodge: Press Circle just as your spider sense turns blue to counter enemies with a web shot to the face. Generates bonus focus.
Perfect Hit: Press Square just as an attack lands to generate bonus focus.
Combo Booster: Improves Focus gained at higher combo counts.
Vengeance: When below half health, attacks generate Focus faster.
Dodge Window: Increases timing window for Perfect Dodge and Web Shot counter, making it easier to accomplish.
Last Stand: Slows time just before you take a fatal hit, giving you one last chance to dodge. Can only be used once per combat encounter.
Payback: Press triangle after Perfect Dodging rifle and pistol enemies for an instant Takedown.
Chain Finisher: Immediately perform a second Finisher on basic enemies.
Throw: Press Square, then hold Triangle to grab and throw an enemy in any direction.
Ground Strike: After leaping off an enemy or from air combat press Square + X to smash the ground with explosive force.
Epicentre: Ground Strike has a larger blast that can knock enemies down when used from higher elevations.
Webslinger Skill Tree
Swing Kick: Hold square while in the air to Swing Kick enemies and send them flying.
Quick Zip: Web Zip a second time without losing altitude.
Point Launch Boost: Press X on contact with point to massively boost Point Launch distance.
Long Strike: Increases damage and range of Web Strike.
Air Marshall: Air attacks deal additional damage and generate more focus.
Air Yank: Hold Triangle while in the air to yank enemies upwards and enable air combat moves.
Bunker Buster: Swing Kick will now knock over shield enemies.
Blast Off: Air Launch attacks knock back nearby enemies. Has a short recharge between uses.
Air Tricks: Hold Triangle + Circle and press L in a direction to perform aerial tricks to earn extra Focus and XP.
Quick Recovery: Press X during a roll after landing to launch back into the air.
Charge Jump: Hold R2 + X while running or standing to build up charge, then release X for a huge leap.
It very much seems like these are all pieces of a combat system that’ll be fleshed out towards endgame. More about enhancements than new abilities outright. That’s where the gadgets come in.
Pay special attention to the talents that bring you in and out of air combat. Those skills will be crucial in the Spider-Man PS4 combat system. Much like the Devil May Cry series, you’re a lot less vulnerable in the air, so you’ll be trying to maximise that time. But if you do go down, you may as well do it with the Ground Strike skill or something similar.
We’ll have more experience with these skills later in the month.
