Getting Started

Introduction

Welcome to Marvel's Spider-Man! This guide is designed to help brand-new players overcome the initial learning curve and start swinging through New York like a pro. Whether you're playing on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 (Remastered), or PC (Remastered), the core experience is the same. This guide covers the critical first hour, explains controls across all platforms, breaks down the user interface, lists your top early priorities, warns against common mistakes, and provides a clear day-one checklist.

Important: There is no character creation in Marvel's Spider-Man. You play as Peter Parker, a 23-year-old superhero who has been Spider-Man for eight years. You cannot customize his appearance, gender, or backstory. However, you can unlock and equip alternative suits (cosmetic only) as you progress.

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First Hour Walkthrough (Spoiler-Free)

The game opens with a cinematic of Spider-Man taking down Wilson Fisk (Kingpin). This serves as an extended tutorial. Follow the on-screen prompts to:

1. Basic movement: Move the left stick to walk, press X (PS) / A (Xbox/PC) to jump.
2. Swinging: Press and hold R2 (PS) / RT (Xbox/PC) to shoot a web and swing. Release to let go. Swing by holding R2/RT and pulling back on the left stick.
3. Wall crawling: Press R2/RT near a wall to attach, then move. Press Circle/B to drop off.
4. Combat tutorial: You'll face Kingpin's goons. Learn basic attacks (Square/X), dodge (Circle/B), web strike (L1+R1 / LB+RB on PC defaults), and finishers.
5. After defeating Fisk: The game transitions to an open-world intro. You'll receive a call from Mary Jane. Follow the objective marker to your apartment in Queens.
6. First free-roam section: You'll be tasked with swinging across the borough to reach your apartment. Take time to practice swinging without hitting buildings. The game will introduce point-launching (press R1/RB while swinging to launch from a web zip) and the web zip (aim at a point with L2/LT, press R2/RT to zip).

By the end of the first hour, you will have unlocked the basic traversal and combat system. Don't rush – the game expects you to learn by doing.

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Controls (All Platforms)

Controls are nearly identical across PS4/PS5 and PC (using a PlayStation controller). Xbox controllers map differently. Below is a reference table.

Tip for PC players: The game supports rebinding. If you find the default awkward (e.g., swing on left mouse), you can change it in Settings > Controls.

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UI Overview

The Heads-Up Display (HUD) is minimalist but informative.

• Top-left: Health bar (red) and Focus bar (blue). Health is your life; Focus charges as you fight or dodge, used for healing (hold Up on D-pad) or special takedowns.


• Top-right: Mini-map showing nearby objectives, crimes, and collectibles.


• Bottom-left: Objective tracker (current main mission or side activity).


• Bottom-center: Gadget and suit power indicators (when unlocked).


• Left side (temporary): Context prompts like "Press R1 to Web Zip".


• Center (temporary): Combat prompts (e.g., "Counter" or "Dodge").


After completing the prologue, you'll also see a Fast Travel icon on the map (requires unlocking districts).

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Essential Early Objectives



Once you're free in the open world (after the prologue), the game's main quest is your priority, but you'll quickly get overwhelmed by side activities. Here's the order of importance:

1. Main Missions (gold icons): Always progress the main story first. They unlock new gadgets, suit mods, and abilities.
2. Research Stations (green icons): Complete these early for valuable Tech Parts and XP. They teach advanced traversal.
3. Faction Strongholds (blue icons): Unlock after a few story missions. Good for combat tokens and XP.
4. Backpacks (white icons): Scattered everywhere. Collect them for Backpack Tokens used to craft suits and upgrades.
5. Base Random Crimes (flashing police lights on map): Not mandatory, but they reward XP and tokens. Do them if you pass by.

What to avoid in the first few hours:

• Trying to clear every single crime and collectible before advancing the story. The game gates some upgrades behind story progression.


• Buying every suit immediately. Focus on one or two suits with useful abilities (e.g., the Advanced Suit you get from main story is great; later suits like Spider-Punk or Secret War have specific combat advantages).


• Ignoring gadget upgrades. Gadgets are powerful; invest in Web Bomb and Impact Web early.

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Early Resource Priorities

You earn three main currencies: Tokens (Backpack, Base, Research, etc.), XP (levels unlock suit mod slots), and Tech Parts (for upgrades).

Golden rule: In the first 5 hours, focus on increasing your health (Suit Tech) and web shooter capacity (Gadget Tech). This makes combat much easier.

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Common Beginner Mistakes

1. Button mashing in combat. Spider-Man's combat is rhythmic. Mash Square and you'll miss windows for dodges (Circle). Wait for enemy attacks and dodge, then counter.
2. Not using dodge. You can dodge any attack (including projectiles) with well-timed presses. Early enemies telegraph attacks with a white flash. Press Circle/B just as the flash appears.
3. Swinging too low. If you hold R2/RT too long near the ground, you'll skim the street. Aim high – look up with the right stick and release the swing to gain height.
4. Ignoring the minimap crimes. While not essential, you lose potential XP and tokens. But don't chase every single one.
5. Not upgrading gadgets. Gadgets are powerful crowd-control tools. The Web Bomb (unlocked after the first Research Station) can web multiple enemies. Use it.
6. Trying to brute-force stealth encounters. Some missions require stealth. Use the environment – zip to perches, take out enemies from above. If detected, run and hide until the search meter drops.
7. Skipping Photo Mode misses nothing but you can capture cool moments. No gameplay impact.

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Day-One Checklist

Complete these tasks in order to build a strong foundation:

• [ ] Finish the Prologue (Kingpin fight) – Get through the tutorial.


• [ ] Swing to your apartment – First free-roam; practice swinging without crashing.


• [ ] Complete the first main mission "The Day After" – Unlocks the open world properly.


• [ ] Visit the Research Station nearest your apartment (green icon) – Complete it for Research Tokens and a new gadget (Web Bomb).


• [ ] Collect at least 5 Backpacks (white markers) – Use the map to find them. Unlock the Advanced Suit from story first, then craft a second suit like the Negative Suit (gives focus boost).


• [ ] Unlock the first Base (faction hideout) – As soon as it appears on the map (after maybe 2 main missions), complete it for Base Tokens.


• [ ] Upgrade Web Shooter Capacity to at least 20 webs (costs few Tech Parts).


• [ ] Upgrade Health once (Suit Tech tree) – Gives a second health segment.


• [ ] Spend 30 minutes just swinging – Practice point-launching (R1/RB) and wall crawling to get comfortable.


• [ ] Turn on Auto-Swing Assist (if you struggle) – In Settings > Controls > Auto-Swing Assist. It makes swinging easier but less manual. Beginners often benefit from it.


Optional but recommended:

• Complete the first Landmark Photo (blue camera marker) – Easy XP.


• Fast travel to a different district (requires unlocking the district by completing a few crimes) – Fast travel is instant; use it to save time.


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Additional Tips




• Pause often – The game has no strict time limits. Explore menus.


• Read the Suit Mod descriptions – Some mods like Kinetic Flippers (increases wall running speed) are incredibly useful for traversal.


• Save manually – The game autosaves regularly, but you can also save from the pause menu. Do this before a boss fight (you'll know when).


• Play on Friendly Neighborhood difficulty if you're new to action games. You can change difficulty anytime in settings.

Now go swing, web-sling, and save the city. With this checklist, you'll be a proficient Spider-Man in no time!