Four Performance-Enhancing PC Peripherals

If you’re dying to find out the fate of Peter Parker after the mind-blowing finale of Avengers: Infinity War, this game won’t end your suspense. Spider-Man for the PlayStation 4 operates independently of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (or MCU, as the kids call it). But that’s hardly a bad thing. The MCU is a licensing warren that limits which characters can legally appear in which movies from which studios. This game’s makers at Insomniac, on the other hand, have access to the entire society of Spidey villains and allies. And they’ve crammed most of them into an epic tale written by comic and television veterans. No less than nine classic villains — including Doctor Octopus, Kingpin, and Rhino — attempt to squash Spider-Man during the course of this story. Fortunately, the webhead gets a hand from the Avengers, Daredevil, the Black Cat, and other allies. If this were a comic or movie, it would be a multi-installment blockbuster event.

But while the story draws you in, the gameplay keeps you hooked. Spider-Man begins deep into Peter Parker’s crime-fighting career. He’s at the top of his game and master of his powers, all of which are well implemented here (right down to the danger-warning Spidey sense). The game is set in a wide-open Manhattan that you can explore with the most fully realized web-slinging system ever seen in the interactive Spider-verse. Swing from building to building with the greatest of ease, dash up skyscrapers, web-line to distant objects for a slingshot-like speed boost, and twist and tumble inches from the windows or the pavement. It’s exhilarating. Combat with gangs of foes adheres to the brutally elegant style set by the Batman Arkham games, except battles here are punctuated with Spidey’s trademark quips and in sync with his nonlethal creed (unlike the darker DC characters, Spider-Man does not kill).
This game isn’t just faithful to the source material; it’s pure hero worship.

Blackwidow X Chroma Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (Razer, $150)
Musicians rock equipment that performs as well as it looks, so why not gaming maestros? The BlackWidow Mechanical Keyboard glows like a control panel on the U.S.S. Enterprise while offering satisfyingly tactile keystrokes with its ultra-durable mechanical switches (rated to survive up to 80 million jabs). The precise keys make for faster reactions in the heat of online combat.

Arctis Pro Wireless Headset (SteelSeries, $330)
Hearing is believing with the Arctis Pro, the best-sounding Bluetooth headphones for just about any purpose, not just gaming. Premium drivers let you hear foes sneaking up on you, while the spare battery keeps the headset juiced — and you ready to play. A built-in mic filters out background noise so you can whisper orders or taunts without waking up your roommates or family.

AG322QCX 32-inch Curved Monitor (AOC, $400)
When it comes to competitive online games, what you can’t see can kill you. AOC’s 32-inch curved monitor offers the right balance of beauty, performance, and price, with 2560 x 1440 resolution to sharpen distant details and lightning-quick 144Hz refresh rate so you won’t suffer visual lag. The slight curve of the widescreen helps you detect opponents sneaking into your peripheral vision.

Lancehead Tournament Edition Mouse (Razer, $80)
It’s gaming tradition to blame your gear whenever some punk player drops you with a headshot in an online shooter. But your gripes are only justified if you don’t wield a precision mouse like the Lancehead, which packs one of the fastest, highest-resolution sensors in the world. If you miss with this thing, it’s all on you.