Highlights
- A playable prototype of a canceled PS2-era Daredevil game has surfaced online, reigniting fans' interest in the character.
- The game, titled Daredevil: The Man Without Fear, was developed by 5000 Ft. Studios and planned for release on PS2, Xbox, and PC.
- The timing of the prototype's release coincides with fans speculating about a Daredevil appearance in either Marvel's Spider-Man 2 or future Insomniac Marvel games, adding to the character's rising popularity.
A prototype of a canceled PS2-era Daredevil game has emerged online. The Marvel hero already been on fans' minds as many believe a Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Easter egg is hinting toward a Daredevil debut in either a future update or DLC. Even Insomniac creative director Bryan Intihar has been raising eyebrows concerning the tease, simply telling players to "stay tuned."
While fans are speculating about a future appearance for the Marvel Comics vigilante, a blast from the past in the form of a canceled PS2-era game is keeping Daredevil in the news for another reason entirely. This isn't the first fans have heard about the shelved title, as footage from the canceled Daredevil game appeared online a few years back. Now, it appears as though a playable version is available online.
Hidden Palace, a group dedicated to game preservation, reportedly received a prototype of canceled PS2 title Daredevil: The Man Without Fear from an anonymous developer. The prototype was then made playable by a friend of the community referred to as SolidSnake11 and subsequently released as a downloadable file on the organization's website for fans to check out. While Daredevil: The Man Without Fear is just one of several canceled Marvel games from over the years, its nearly completed state makes it an interesting case study as it is now a playable prototype.
According to Hidden Palace, Daredevil: The Man Without Fear is a third-person action game developed by 5000 Ft. Studios. The game was slated to be published by Encore Inc. for the PS2, original Xbox, and PC in the mid-2000s. Unfortunately, reported contradicting notes from Marvel and Sony led to the game's cancelation just before it was completed. The story of Daredevil: The Man Without Fear takes inspiration from the Elektra Lives Again graphic novel from author and artist Frank Miller.
Interestingly enough, the release of the prototype comes at a time when fans are eagerly awaiting word from Insomniac concerning Daredevil and his potential inclusion in the studio's Marvel universe. Gamers have long made the case for developer Insomniac to make a new Daredevil game, but teases and comments from creative director Intihar have recently stoked the fires of speculation online.
Between future Spider-Man games presumably on the way from Insomniac as well as an already announced Wolverine game currently in development, the studio has plenty of Marvel properties to tackle in the coming years. Whether a Daredevil standalone title or future DLC featuring the Marvel protagonist are actually on the way remains to be seen, but it does appear as though the character's popularity is nearing an all-time high.
Marvel
Marvel is a brand associated with a wide array of popular superhero comics, movies, television shows, and merchandise. The company owns the rights to popular characters like The Avengers, Spider-Man, Black Panther, Deadpool, and many more.
