From the stellar collaboration of Sony and Insomniac Games emerges the much-awaited sequel to their highly celebrated PlayStation 4 hit, Marvel’s Spider-Man, and the PlayStation 5 spin-off, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
Titled Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, this imminent successor carries a compelling promise: a breathtaking immersion into an epic narrative, replete with familiar faces, ominous villains, and an exciting new game world. As the narrative unfurls, the game offers not just a grand spectacle of action but an exploration of the heroes’ inner demons, heightening the narrative tension.
In Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s recently unveiled full story trailer, we meet our favorite web-slinging duo: Peter Parker and Miles Morales. Together, they gear up to face new adversaries, most notably Kraven the Hunter and the ominous Venom. In this narrative labyrinth, Peter and Miles grapple with Venom’s emergence and the cryptic motives of Kraven. This intricate dance of plotlines is sure to keep gamers on the edge of their seats, as they join the heroes in decoding Kraven’s purpose in New York and the implications of Venom’s arrival.
Surprisingly, the game takes a detour from conventional Spider-Man lore. While Venom, arguably Spider-Man’s most iconic villain, is usually played by Eddie Brock, Insomniac is hinting at a different host: Harry Osborn, Peter’s childhood friend.
This deliberate deviation from the established canon further emphasizes Insomniac’s attempt to weave a unique narrative. In particular, Osborn’s arrival following the post-credits scene in Marvel’s Spider-Man paves the way for his portrayal of a “darker” version of Peter Parker and Spider-Man, which, technically, Venom is supposed to be.
But, while Insomniac all but confirms the identity of the human host behind the horrifying inversed Venom mask, it’s hiding the origins of the symbiote. The new trailer teases a possible extraterrestrial link, but you’ll never know. Is the symbiote the creation of Norman Osborn to save his child, Harry? Or, is it an alien organism, much like how it is in the traditional Spider-Man story? Maybe it’s both?
Regardless, the arrival of Venom along with Lizard and Kraven all making life more difficult for New York’s pair of friendly neighborhood web-slingers have fans excited for what’s coming in October.
Also noteworthy is the performance of Tony Todd. The actor’s signature baritone voice lends perfectly to the role of Venom, perfectly encapsulating the feeling of what a reverse Spider-Man should look and sound like.
More than a presumably darker and more sinister story and well-casted voicework, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will revamp the mechanics of the original pair of game as well, furnishing our heroes with enhanced combat capabilities. Bryan Intihar, the game’s creative director, encapsulates the Spider-Men as “acrobatic improvisers”. The game reflects this improvisation by arming Peter and Miles with new combat abilities: Peter’s Spider-Arms and Symbiote power, and Miles’ bioelectric Venom power. Alongside new Spider-Gadgets like the Web Grabber, these enhancements pave the way for a multitude of exhilarating combat opportunities.
Complementing the combat features, the game expands into previously unexplored areas of New York City, including parts of Brooklyn and Queens. An addition that has piqued interest is the introduction of the Web Slings, enabling players to traverse the city at high speeds, delivering a thrilling gaming experience.
What sets Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 apart is its exploration of internal darkness, accentuated by the introduction of the Venom storyline. The symbiote forces the two heroes to confront their inner demons, transforming them, specifically Peter Parker, internally and externally and setting the stage for potential personal losses. This exploration of dark themes is reflected in the game’s aesthetic choices, such as the limited-edition PS5 bundle featuring console covers and controllers designed to mirror the symbiote’s influence.
Insomniac Games has proven in recent years that different is good. After several studios took their turns with attempts at a handful of Spider-Man games that took heavy inspiration from the comic books, its unique tale has gotten fans excited for the narrative potential of a “different” story for who’s easily the most popular superhero in the world.
The set-up of Harry Osborn being Venom, the prevailing theory right now is the sequel’s story will set up a third installment where Spider-Man will square off with the Green Goblin.
We’ll find out soon enough if this is indeed the direction that Insomniac is taking when Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 comes out on October 20.
