We aren’t sure if Sony’s decision to launch Marvel’s Spider-Man on PS4 the same week as The Avengers: Infinity War’s home release was intentional or not, but it’s a smooth move nevertheless.

Not that the gaming consuming public needed any more persuasion to buy Spider-Man – it has been one of the most anticipated releases around since its E3 reveal over two years ago. Hopes were high that it’ll become not just the greatest Spider-Man game of all-time, but also the best superhero game ever.

While it allegedly has a few minor shortcomings, such as the standard assortment of busywork between missions and too few boss battles, it unquestionably lives up to the hype. Critics are most englamoured by the fluid way Spidey moves and controls, making even the simplest of tasks a pleasure.

Scores so far are a mixture of 10s, 9s, and 8s. The Metro meanwhile opted for 7/10, stating that it fails to push the superhero genre forward.

Activision has also timed Destiny 2: Forsaken perfectly. Or rather, they picked the best possible time to give away Destiny 2 as a PS Plus freebie, expanding the user base by millions. Millions of new customers that may very well go on to purchase this new DLC.

There are no reviews of Forsaken live yet – which could be down to poorly timed server maintenance – but both Polygon and Destructoid have chalked up early impressions. “Forsaken feels like the transformative expansion for Destiny 2 that The Taken King was for Destiny,” said Polygon.

Team 17’s lavish looking 2D puzzle platformer Planet Alpha is going down reasonably well so far, gaining 7s and 8s, while Dragon Quest XI has taken some by surprise, gaining scores as high as 10//10. We’ve rounded-up reviews below.

Konami’s remake of ZONE OF THE ENDERS: The 2nd Runner on PS4 should also be worth a look. Friday sees the return of V-Rally as well, a racing series that’s been off the road since 2002. Can a new developer do the franchise justice? The studio’s revival of Flatout turned out surprisingly well, so we’re hopeful.

New release showcase:

Marvel’s Spider-Man

Reviews:
9.5 – GameInformer: “Excitement is delivered consistently from the outside of play right up to the last story frame, which is a real shocker that contains a reveal that will make the wait for the sequel almost unbearable”

9.5 – God is a Geek: “Everything I hoped it would be and more. Marvel’s Spider-Man provides us lots to do, a great story, and some of the best visuals available on the PS4”

9/10 – Destructoid: “Spider-Man isn’t just a great superhero game, it’s a proof of concept for Insomniac as a company. This project shows that they can basically handle pretty much any universe, because if you can accurately recreate Peter Parker’s nimbleness and gentle heart you can do anything: and with multiple teasers at the end, I think they’ll get that chance”

9/10 – GameSpot: “Insomniac has created a superior Spider-Man experience that leaves a lasting impression, one that has you longing for just one more swing around New York City, even after the credits roll”

4/5 – The Telegraph: “Insomniac’s take on Spider-Man has its caveats, with its raft of distractions following a little too closely to what has gone before. But its dedication to and understanding of its leading man make for a thrilling and satisfying slice of comic-book entertainment”

7/10 – The Metro: “The best Spider-Man game ever made… but only just, since it fails to move the superhero video game genre forward in any important way”

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age

Reviews:
10/10 – Forbes: “While it is a massive and overly traditional role-playing game, do not let these elements dissuade you from trying it out. Stick with it and your patience will be hugely rewarded”

8.8 – IGN: A massive, masterful, “traditional” RPG that focuses more on combat mechanics, loot, and exploration than story.

8.5 – EGM: “Its story, gameplay, characters, and visuals all work to blend timeless series elements with newer-era genre refinements, and most of the time, the results are great”

Planet Alpha

Reviews:
9.0 – PlayStation Lifestyle: “There’s no filler, no cheap puzzle solutions, no game-breaking glitches, no gratuitous lean towards overused narrative crutches. It’s just a platformer, but one that emanates a graceful radiance of character and color”

7/10 – Push Square: “Planet Alpha is an enjoyable sci-fi indie, one that is undeniably stunning and engaging thanks to a unique day-night dynamic and interesting puzzles. Its major downfall is the glaring predictability of the story, but most players will be over the moon with what this game has to offer”

7/10 – GameSpot: “There’s great pleasure in just existing on this planet, in navigating its harsh terrain and admiring its vistas, and the sheer beauty of it all makes the game’s shortcomings easy to bear”

New digital multi-format releases:

Destiny 2: Forsaken
V-Rally 4
Immortal: Unchained
Moonfall Ultimate
Dimension Drive
Ninjin: Clash of Carrots
Claws of Furry
NASCAR Heat 3
FullBlast
NBA 2K19 20th Anniversary Edition
NBA LIVE 19: THE ONE EDITION
Sigi – A Fart for Melusina
Spacelords
Claybook

New on PSN:

Slime Rancher
Atari Flashback Classics Vol. 3
ZONE OF THE ENDERS: The 2nd Runner – MARS
SNK HEROINES Tag Team Frenzy
Boundless
Blade Strangers

New on Xbox One store:

PUBG – Sanhok Edition
Elea – Episode 1
King’s Guard TD
Dead Age
Out of the Box
Shalnor Legends: Sacred Lands
Arcade Islands: Volume One

New Nintendo retail releases:

SNK Heroines Tag Team Frenzy
YO-KAI Watch Blasters
Cat Quest

Next week: Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Revenant Dogma, Neonwall, EA SPORTS NHL 19, NBA 2K19, ADIOS Amigos, Nefarious, Nintendo Labo: Vehicle Kit, Black Clover Quartet Knights, Construction Simulator 2 US – Console Edition, and Fishing Sim World.