Highlights
- Marvel's Spider-Man 2 retreads familiar Spider-Man storylines from theatrical interpretations, such as Harry being diseased and Peter wearing the symbiote.
- Peter wearing the symbiote allows for dynamic character development and introduces Venom and the possibility of other symbiote-related storylines.
- The inclusion of a red symbiote suit in a Marvel's Spider-Man 3 could bring a new level of excitement and gameplay to the franchise, taking it down a more sinister path.
Insomniac’s take on Spider-Man mythology has been exciting to follow since its initial entry due to the originality behind it. Insomniac didn’t conceive the idea for a Sinister Six, for example, but its composition of the team came with a surprising member in Marvel’s Spider-Man’s Mr. Negative, and Peter’s life as a recent university graduate offered a refreshing perspective of the character. But while Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 also has an original story, it noticeably retreads familiar Spider-Man storylines from theatrical interpretations, such as Harry being inexplicably diseased and Peter adorning the symbiote.
Peter wearing the symbiote affords the character a lot more of a dynamic development in the sequel, and its effect on his mood and tone has already been demonstrated in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s gameplay reveal. This will inevitably result in another host becoming the hulking, symbiote-laced monstrosity known as Venom, and it will be interesting to see how that narrative will come to a close. If Peter or Miles were to eventually wear the red symbiote and become a host for Carnage, for instance, gameplay could be full of graphic, mayhem-inducing abilities.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s Black Suit Already Looks Like a Scene Stealer
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales put Insomniac in a tricky situation of having to come up with satisfying abilities for Peter in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 because of how fun Miles’ bioelectricity and optic camouflage are to experiment with. The black suit resolves that issue by giving Peter an entirely new slew of tendril-based abilities while he’s bonding with the symbiote, and it is still uncertain how he comes into possession of it or why he allows it to bond with him.
It obviously helps to augment his abilities, though, and the look of it is a unique body padding that is distinct to Marvel’s Spider-Man’s universe. It seems that Insomniac reveres the symbiote suit greatly and has gone to wonderful lengths to honor its inclusion, but even aside from that notion it is simply one of the most significant changes to gameplay the franchise has seen yet.
This alone will make players more excited about gameplay with a symbiote-laden Peter than when he’s in his ordinary red-and-blue costume, and may even eclipse Miles’ own abilities in terms of excitement. But since this particular symbiote is not the only one in Spider-Man lore, it would be a fantastic opportunity for Insomniac to innovate with the red symbiote and make it a wearable suit, too.
Marvel’s Spider-Man Introducing a Red Carnage Suit Could Be a Game-Changer
The red symbiote in Spider-Man has almost always been firmly attached to serial killer Cletus Kasady as the pair is psychotic and perfect for one another. This pairing as Carnage has been the lead antagonist of many Spider-Man comic book runs and its association with Venom is one of its most popular threads to pursue.
Of course, there are many other symbiotes that have been given extensive lore recently with Knull and all the niche, obscure world-building that storyline has generated for Marvel, but Carnage is clearly the most popular symbiote besides Venom. It will be interesting to see where Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 concludes and what breadcrumbs it leaves for a possible third entry, and while Norman Osborn becoming Green Goblin seems assured based on the breadcrumbs left already, it would not be surprising to see Insomniac dive fully into a symbiote saga instead.
If it does so, a Marvel’s Spider-Man 3 could introduce the red symbiote somehow and have it bond with Peter or even Miles to fashion together gameplay reminiscent of the black symbiote in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Insomniac shouldn’t rush to this if it isn’t earned, and perhaps the black suit will be the only symbiote to make an appearance in the Marvel’s Spider-Man franchise, but gameplay where Peter or Miles could lash red scythes and hurl other sharp symbiote implements would be terrific and take the series down a much more heinous and sinister path than the black symbiote could.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 launches on October 20, exclusively for PlayStation 5.
