Andrew Reiner and creative director Brian Horton discuss Miles’ powers in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
transcript under the cut
[The video opens with music from the game playing over the Game Informer logo.]
Andrew Reiner: And Miles is uh, a year into being... a Spider-Man, right? Like, not even a hero yet. Right? Like, he's just kinda learning the ropes. Uh, we see a big beat at the beginning of this game where he develops a new power. Can you kinda talk about that moment a little bit?
Brian Horton: Yeah, we wanted to make sure none of Miles' iconic powers manifested offscreen. Right. That's something we wanted to see. So, we knew he was gonna be getting used to being a webslinger. You know? He wasn't going to have the same prowess as Peter Parker, but we knew he was going to at least be at a place where he could swing and he could do the combat and, uh, basically a lot of the same functions that Peter has.
So what we wanted to do was create these emotional moments - these moments that sort of forces Miles to change. 'Cause we really see this as a coming of age story and he's going to grow as a character. And this is one of those seminal moments where Peter is uh, on- on his back foot. He's- He's having a hard time, and he's down. And Rhino has got him on the ropes. And Miles just has to summon something from within, to protect his mentor.
And that's when the bioelectricity surges through his body, and then we have this really iconic punch that- that Miles lands on Rhino. And that changes his trajectory of becoming his own Spider-Man.
[As Horton speaks, gameplay begins to show what he’s describing; Miles is standing outside when his spidey sense goes off. He turns in time to see Peter fly through the wall of a nearby building. He hits another wall and collapses, with his suit tattered. Miles runs to his side, but Peter stays slumped on the ground. Meanwhile, Rhino begins to slowly approach from the hole in the wall created by Peter’s body. Then Horton stops speaking, making way for the game’s audio:]
Peter: *groans*
Rhino: This Spider-Man is broke. I would like to exchange for new one. Ah. This one will do. *shouts as he throws himself into a battle stance*
Peter: *weakly* Miles. Get outta here.
Rhino: *grunts, preparing to fight*
Miles: No. Back- The hell- Up!
[Miles’ hands begin to crackle with bright yellow electricity. And as he shouts, him and Rhino charge towards each other. Miles leaps into the air and, with a flash of light, delivers a powerful blow to Rhino’s face. Rhino collapses with great force, and Miles proceeds to examine his own hands. Horton speaks again.]
Horton: Peter trusts Miles, and what Miles has to learn is: "I have a suit, but what does it really mean to be a hero?" And that's what our journey's about. He has skills, he has the powers. But he has to figure it out what his version of that- of that mantle really means to him.
[The video cuts to black and the music plays again.]
