Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 continues to captivate audiences with its expansive universe, storylines, and gameplay. But what if there were elements to this epic tale that were conceptualized, explored, and eventually discarded? The revelation of a cut “Venomized” version of the game’s opening boss fight, the Sandman, is one such intriguing tidbit.
Insomniac Games hit the ground running with the sequel. After establishing the narrative with the first two entries, the sequel took audiences on an adrenaline-fueled showdown between Peter Parker, Miles Morales, and a mountain-sized Sandman wreaking havoc across New York. The result? Sandman’s swift incarceration, leaving the game’s spotlight to Kraven the Hunter and Venom. However, as revealed in a spoiler-laden episode of Beyond, as presented by IGN, one of the alternatives was to have the alien symbiote merge with the Sandman himself.
Insomniac’s senior creative director, Bryan Intihar, unveiled this potential narrative thread, which may or may not have occurred so early on in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.
Mind you, this proposed amalgamation wasn’t something pulled out of thin air but rather rooted in Marvel lore. The Venom symbiote possesses the uncanny ability to merge with any entity, thereby amplifying its host’s capabilities. The symbiote’s versatility has played a pivotal role in many storylines, making the idea of a union between Venom and the Sandman both feasible and fascinating. Despite the allure of this Venomized Sandman, why did Insomniac ultimately decide against its inclusion? Intihar clarified that the decision wasn’t borne out of constraints imposed by Marvel, the primary rights holder to the Spider-Man franchise. Instead, it stemmed from practical considerations surrounding the game’s production.
The challenge of designing and integrating the Sandman, with his unique powers and dynamics, into the gameplay was already a colossal endeavor. Adding the layer of Venom’s intricate design and mechanics would have further compounded this challenge.
TLDR; the idea of the “Venomized” Sandman was limited by the technology of our time.
All jokes aside, Intihar described the thought process candidly:
It was hard enough to make Sandman… Like I mentioned, there was a discussion to a point where it’s a concept image of Venomized Sandman. Super cool idea. We were never going to get it done at the quality we wanted to, and it was enough of a challenge to make regular Sandman cool.”
This sentiment proves the enormous care and precision that went into crafting every element of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. The game’s ambitions were vast, and with an already demanding production schedule, certain ideas had to be shelved, no matter how captivating they might have been.
This revelation offers a glimpse into the multifaceted world of video game development, where even the most creative and wild ideas sometimes don’t see the light of day, primarily due to time constraints and the overarching commitment to maintaining the highest quality. Intihar’s disclosures also reflect the immense dedication and hard work invested by the Insomniac team. Crafting an encounter as dynamic as the one with Sandman, particularly within the constraints of an expansive open-world setting, was in itself a monumental accomplishment.
While the Symbiote-powered Sandman remains confined to concept art and brainstorming sessions, its very existence adds depth to the creative processes that underpin such blockbuster titles. The idea might have been left on the cutting room floor for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, but as Intihar hints, “maybe one day.” With Venom now firmly entrenched in Insomniac’s Spider-Man universe, the future holds numerous possibilities. Whether it’s a resurgence of the Venomized Sandman or the introduction of other symbiote characters, fans have a myriad of potential adventures to look forward to.
Maybe in Marvel’s Spider-Man 3, Insomniac Games will revisit these abandoned concepts, with the Symbiote bonding with the Sandman to help break him out the RAFT. This would certainly make for a banger of an opening, especially if we see Mary Jane Wick take up arms once again all hell break loose with Doc Ock and potentially even Carnage going on a rampage soon afterwards.
For now though, fans can continue hoping that the universal acclaim of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 helps it land a win at The Game Awards in December. For those who haven’t played it yet, it might be wise to wait for the bundle with the PS5 Slim.
