The developers of the upcoming Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 have discussed how they managed to balance the sequel’s darker tone. The game was shown at the May PlayStation Showcase, where fans received ten full minutes of Spider-Man 2 gameplay, which confirmed a number of things that gamers had theorized. This includes the ability to switch between the two playable Spider-Men, Peter Parker once again coming into contact with the insidious Venom symbiote, and a showcase of the various mechanics in the game. One thing fans were discussing after the initial gameplay reveal was the possibility of the darker tones it could take.
Throughout the years when Peter Parker has gotten the infamous Black Suit, it is usually followed by the character’s personality becoming steadily corrupted. Insomniac’s showcase immediately makes it apparent that Peter has been using the Venom symbiote for some time now, with him becoming a more aggressive and frustrated person, as opposed to the amicable and quippy neighborhood hero. The game’s creative director Bryan Intihar and director Ryan Smith comment on this change in tone, explaining how and why they reached it.
In an interview with Eurogamer, Intihar states that with Spider-Man 2 bringing in Kraven, Venom, and Peter bonding with the symbiote, it’s “natural” that the darker elements would be brought to the forefront. Not only that, but these darker elements were intrinsic to the characters and including them was respecting its legacy. That said, the developers state that fans shouldn’t expect Peter to be a constantly moody or jaded hero in this entry, as there will be plenty of charm that the studio is known for.
Since Insomniac Games is known for making games with plenty of heart and humor, Intihar says they really had to find a balance between the darker themes and its characters, looking to deliver something human. While he states the team found it a little “tricky,” they did manage to find that balance. Smith adds this is evident with the Spider-Man 2 showcase, where there was the light-hearted banter between Ganke Lee and Miles Morales; it is then capped by Peter’s more moody aggression near the end.
Despite the promises of levity, Spider-Man’s actor Yuri Lowenthal likened Peter’s reliance on the Venom symbiote to an addiction, to which Intihar agreed. They also stated that the goal with the symbiote was to treat it seriously, with themes of addiction being reflected in how it affects Peter’s personality and relationships with those in the game. Needless to say, it’ll be interesting to see how Insomniac’s character arc for Peter will pan out.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is scheduled to release in Fall 2023 for PS5.
Source: Eurogamer
