Warning: This article comprises restricted spoilers for Spider-Man 2!
Insomniac’s Spider-Man 2 online game is quick approaching its October 20 launch date, and IGN bought to play a hands-on demo to get a style of what’s to come back (try our in-depth Spider-Man 2 gameplay preview). Being the massive superhero followers that we’re, we couldn’t assist however geek out concerning the story they’re telling with the symbiote, which everyone knows begins with black-suit Spider-Man and ends with Venom. The small chunk of story we performed by was overflowing with all method of references to iconic black-suit Spidey and Venom comics in addition to motion pictures and tv reveals, so right here’s a rundown of all of the Venomized stuff we noticed, and a take a look at how Insomniac is crafting a brand new story from these previous classics.
Before we start, a word on spoilers. Our demo was basically the identical a part of Spider-Man 2 proven within the first gameplay preview the place Peter and Miles chase the Lizard whereas battling Kraven’s goons. The demo started a bit earlier than that motion scene and ended not lengthy after. The demo didn’t include any enormous plot twists, however nonetheless, we can be describing all the things we noticed, so if you wish to go into the sport with a clear slate, then greatest to skip this text.
If you haven’t already, try the primary Spider-Man 2 gameplay preview under, which units the tone for all the things we performed within the demo:
Take Me to Church
Our demo began off with a cinematic the place Peter Parker, already within the black symbiote swimsuit, is confronted by Kraven the Hunter inside a cathedral. This church setting is a signature component of the Venom saga, because it’s the place Peter loses the symbiote and the black goo chooses an at-rock-bottom Eddie Brock as its new host. However, this time round there is no such thing as a Eddie Brock (extra on that in a second), however the scene does embody the essential revelation that the symbiote is weak to loud sounds, as seen when the big church bell is unintentionally struck in the course of the confrontation and the symbiote convulses in ache. Peter is ready to steal an essential vial of liquid from Kraven and escape, however it comes at the price of exposing a significant weak point to his harmful new enemy.
After Peter escapes, Kraven monologues to himself a bit, ending on the proclamation that monitoring down Spider-Man can be his “last hunt.” Any Marvel comedian reader will acknowledge this as a not-so-subtle reference to the traditional storyline Kraven’s Last Hunt, which clearly impressed the story of Spider-Man 2. In that comedian, Kraven pledges to seek out and kill Spider-Man, and seemingly succeeds, earlier than Spidey digs himself out of his grave and returns to defeat Kraven. Notably, Spider-Man wears a black swimsuit in that story, however it’s only a material model, not the symbiote. In the sport, Spidey is bonded with the highly effective symbiote, so Kraven faces a fair greater problem than within the unique story.
Harry Osborn and the Oscorp Particle Accelerator
The subsequent a part of the story sees Peter meet up with Harry Osborn, who was lacking within the first sport, just for the ending stinger to indicate him suspended in black goo inside Norman Osborn’s secret Oscorp lab. We didn’t get to play the start of the story, so it was a little bit of a shock to see Harry is again on his toes–and he already is aware of Peter is Spider-Man! The two are working collectively, seemingly to discover a treatment for no matter terminal illness Harry is affected by. They use the particle accelerator to activate the liquid within the vial Peter stole from Kraven.
As you’ll count on, simply because it seems to be like issues are going nicely, all the things out of the blue goes horribly unsuitable and Kraven’s goons assault the lab. At the climax of the battle, the goons shut in on Harry and are about to assault him, however a restrained Peter, determined to avoid wasting his buddy, unleashes his rage and unlocks a monstrous new potential for the symbiote the place a dozen tentacles come out and assault enemies in all instructions. As these acquainted with how this story goes already know, the symbiote corrupts Peter by making him extremely offended, ruthless, and violent–and that is the primary occasion of that inevitable flip to the Dark Side. Harry is grateful for being saved however is clearly unnerved by what he simply witnessed his greatest buddy do.
Does Harry Osborn Become Venom?
Yes, Peter has the symbiote now, however the going principle is that Harry Osborn finally turns into Venom. Insomniac has already stated Venom’s host is just not Eddie Brock like within the comics, and Harry is the obvious subsequent candidate. It appears as if the symbiote is an experimental treatment for Harry’s illness, however it by some means turns into sentient and winds up bonded to Peter. The symbiote beginning out as an experimental medical remedy is pulled from the Ultimate Spider-Man comedian ebook model of the Venom story.
There’s additionally the truth that the story trailer for Spider-Man 2 (which you’ll be able to view under) begins with Harry saying “We’re going to heal the world,” after which it ends with Venom saying the identical factor. Could or not it’s anymore apparent?
The thought of Harry being Venom as a substitute of Eddie Brock isn’t an entirely new one. In the Ultimate Spider-Man animated sequence, Harry grew to become Venom, as nicely. So it seems to be like Insomniac took inspiration from that present to inform their Venom story.
The Origin of the Venom Symbiote
At one level within the demo, we investigated a lab as Peter and got here throughout a pc displaying an evaluation of a wierd mineral that Oscorp had run by the particle accelerator. A button press prompts a machine to current the mineral, a jagged, black rock with glowing crimson cracks. The story trailer confirmed a meteor strike, so if we’re placing one and two collectively, it appears as if the Venom symbiote got here from the meteor after it was put by the particle accelerator.
The origin of the symbiote has modified a number of occasions over time. It initially got here from a lab on a distant planet in the course of the Secret Wars crossover occasion, however just about all variations since then simplify issues by saying it got here from area, both from astronauts discovering it on a mission to area or from a meteor crashing to Earth. It seems to be like Spider-Man 2 isn’t making an attempt to reinvent the wheel with the place the symbiote got here from.
Spider-Man 3 Black-Suit Costume
The notorious Spider-Man 3 film by director Sam Rami featured the symbiote story on the massive display screen for the primary time, and we noticed Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker don a black model of his Spidey swimsuit. That swimsuit is an unlockable pores and skin within the sport. Many followers wished to put on it within the first sport, however it’s clear that Insomniac was saving all Venom-related goodies for the sequel, and now gamers lastly can swimsuit up in these signature black duds. Awkward avenue dancing not included.
Who’s the Real Monster?
After the Lizard escapes, Peter goes down into the sewers to seek out him. Doctor Curt Connors is outwardly the one one who may help treatment Harry’s situation, so it’s vitally essential that he’s discovered and reworked again right into a human. To complicate issues, the Lizard is shedding his pores and skin, which causes him to develop in dimension and change into much more beast-like, identical to within the Spider-Man “Shed” comedian. When Peter finally catches as much as him, we see he’s change into a large creature with dozens of spikes happening his again. It’s time for a boss battle!
There’s a superb little bit of storytelling that goes on throughout this boss battle. Even although the Lizard is a huge, gnarly monster who may eat a standard man in a single gulp, it’s arduous to not really feel dangerous for him as Peter completely wails on him with thunderous symbiote punches. Lizard didn’t need to change into the Lizard, and he simply desires to show again and go dwelling to his spouse and child. But because the battle goes on, Peter doesn’t appear to care about that as a lot as he does unleashing his newfound energy within the type of brutal symbiote assaults. It’s a not-so-subtle admission that Connors stands out as the large lizard, however Peter has change into the true monster, full together with his very personal gravely Christian Bale-Batman voice.
That’s the place our demo ended, however even after enjoying only a couple hours, it was cool to see how Spider-Man 2 is pulling from so many alternative Venom tales within the Spider-Man franchise’s previous, however remixing them into one thing recent and new. There are a lot extra signature Venom parts that would nonetheless make their method into the story, from the symbiote’s weak point to fireplace and Venom consuming individuals, to acquainted characters corresponding to Carnage and Knull. But we’ll have to attend till Spider-Man 2 comes out to see what occurs.
