Spiderman on Ps5 looks better than PS4 - and looks worse

Spiderman on Ps5 looks better than PS4 - and looks worse

A few days ago, Insomniac released a gameplay video of the PS5 version of Spider-Man: Remastered. The biggest news was that Peter Parker's face model had been drastically changed, and fans were not happy. But aside from the frenzy over the face, the video provided a lot of information about how the PS5 version of Spider-Man differs from its PS4 predecessor. For the most part, the game looks at least a little better, but depending on your color grading choices, the game could look a little crappier than before.

This analysis comes from a YouTube comparison video produced by ElAnalistaDeBits. As the name implies, the channel distributes gaming videos in Spanish, usually focusing on comparisons between the original game and a recent remaster. In the case of Spider-Man, the creators took a video provided by Insomniac and tried to recreate the scene using Spider-Man on PS4. The result showed where the PS5's graphical strengths lie.

First and foremost, the lighting in Spider-Man: Remastered is more subtle. This is likely due to the PS5's ray-tracing capabilities, which make the simulated light paths more realistic. This is especially noticeable in the scene where Doc Octopus and Peter are conversing in the lab, where the contrast between light and shadow on Doc Ock's face and body and on the whiskey bottles and mugs has been improved.

Later in the video, Spider-Man is shown clinging to a glass window, and the ray-tracing feature looks even more impressive as both he and the park across the street are perfectly projected. In the original PS4 version, there is still a reflection in the window, but it is dark and barely visible.

Rendering distances and textures are also better, as ElAnalistaDeBits demonstrates with the New York City skyline and background objects. A particularly striking example is the conversation between Doc Ock and Peter as they look at the TV in the background; in the PS4 version, the TV is white and blurry as Doc Ock passes by, but in the PS5 version it is much sharper and in focus.

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But perhaps the most impressive change is the performance mode. In this optional mode, the graphics are slightly compromised (e.g., ray tracing) in order to raise the frame rate to 60 fps. This makes Spider-Man's movements more true to his comic book origins, giving him a sense of fluidity and urgency, as if he were a Steve Ditko panel brought to life. It would be worth trying the performance mode in the main game to see what graphical sacrifices are necessary.

On the other hand, the PS5 version has some odd graphics that were not present in the PS4 version of Spider-Man. The entire game is kind of tinted, making outdoor scenes look too gray and indoor scenes too blue. Also, depending on how attached Peter's new face is to the original model, there is no denying that it is somewhere between "grating" and "horrifying."

Ultimately, however, according to this video, the differences between the two versions seem to be fairly trivial. Yes, the new version is sharper and brighter, but how many gamers will pay attention to such subtle details during a chaotic battle scene or a fun web-slinging session? Performance mode, on the other hand, may be the setting that really deserves attention.

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