An influx of new Marvel games confirms the brand's desire to enter a space it has only dabbled in prior. Insomniac's Spider-Man seemed to open the floodgates for more projects from the veteran comic publisher. It's hard to think of well-known characters that have yet to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and with his appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Charlie Cox' Daredevil slotted into the film franchise easily following the success of his Netflix show. In gaming, Daredevil has been largely absent, but modern advances in technology means he could be the catalyst of something great.
Daredevil is a character who has heightened senses thanks in large part to his lack of sight. He may not see what he faces during patrols of Hell's Kitchen in New York City, but his awareness is off the charts. Being so grounded in humanity as a character, the narrative potential of Matt Murdock's crime-fighting escapades is endless. Mechanically, he could show off the PlayStation 5's haptic feedback in a way that doesn't feel gimmicky or half-hearted.
Daredevil Could Carry His Own Game
Superhero games often struggle with scale, and finding the right number of over-the-top set pieces that can be used before turning into a glitzy mess. Comics are packed with fights, explosions, and action, but their best moments often come from quieter times, smaller scale, and more of an emphasis on character development. Spider-Man: Miles Morales was delightful in-part because much of the story didn't have world-ending consequences; instead, Spider-Man was fighting for the fate of Harlem. Daredevil has similarly never been one to face galactic threats, instead making a big change in a small place.
Chip Zdarsky's latest comic run shows Murdock struggle to contend with his own abilities and sanity after experiencing something tragic. It's a strong reminder that he's human, and can be prone to ill-timed mistakes that have a more personal impact. Plenty of people want to see a Daredevil game, the hardware is available to make it look and play great, and the PlayStation 5 has the capability to make fans feel like they're Daredevil in a more literal sense.
Daredevil May Be the Best Character to Help PS5 Haptic Feedback Shine
Mechanically, Daredevil could be used to explore all-new gameplay quirks or more well-known features like The Last of Us' Listen Mode. Knowing how it feels for Daredevil to sense his friends, enemies, and environment is crucial in separating him from other generic action heroes, and the PS5 DualSense's haptic feedback is the closest thing players could have to feeling the action on-screen. Having mechanical elements that feed into the story would only add to the immersion, and Daredevil's heightened senses make it clear how the PlayStation 5 can be used over its competitors.
Astro's Playroom is available for free on all PS5 consoles, and is still the best example of haptic feedback used to maximum effect. Double jumping, using a slot machine, and carefully controlling a bow and arrow are made much better by the DualSense controller's functionality. Sony struggled with controller innovations on the PlayStation 4 as few developers used the center touchpad for anything more than a button to access the map, inventory, or pause screen. The console manufacturer can't let this happen to the PlayStation 5's advancements as well, so Daredevil could be haptic feedback's savior - much like he is the protector of Hell's Kitchen.
