Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is shaping up to be a massive game, something confirmed through both leaks and official comments. Venom’s voice actor has teased the game’s large size and dark tone, while rumors have suggested that every single suit in the game will have a Symbiote variant. Insomniac has hired a new writer to work on the game, too, and fans are excited to learn more about how the sequel will evolve the franchise.
However, while the main story has a ton of potential due to its beloved villains and two playable Spider-Men, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will likely have plenty of optional content to enjoy as well. Collectibles, side missions, and open world challenges are sure to be included, though some new additions could also be made. One such addition should come in the form of legitimate endgame content, and one excellent model for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 to copy is God of War’s Valkyries.
Giving Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 A Memorable Endgame
While the original Marvel’s Spider-Man featured plenty of upgrades to unlock as players leveled up Peter Parker, there was little to do with a maxed-out version of the hero. New game plus and the City That Never Sleeps DLCs were fine enough options, but nothing in the main game allowed players to test the strength of their fully leveled character. Games with RPG elements should always have some kind of final enemy to face so that players can see how much they have really mastered the game, but Marvel’s Spider-Man lacked that.
Further, one of the only consistent complaints about Marvel’s Spider-Man was its lack of boss battles. Despite featuring the Sinister Six, four of the members are taken out in two-on-one encounters. Further, the only optional bosses are Tombstone and Taskmaster. If Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 adds a group of elite bosses to the open world once players have completed the main story, Insomniac could be killing two birds with one stone. Not only would the lack of an endgame challenge be solved, but so too would the low boss count from the original game.
Using The Spider Slayers As Valkyrie Stand-Ins
Instead of leaving players who finish Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 with an empty city that has Random Crimes and little else, Insomniac should introduce a new threat. Once Venom and Kraven are out of the picture, Spencer Smythe could appear. The antagonist could be set up during the main campaign, and after the credits, he could deploy his Spider Slayers to take on the two wall-crawlers. These Slayers could be directly modeled after the Valkyries.
God of War’s Valkyries, while having similar looks, all managed to have unique attacks and patterns that made their fights stand out. Aside from being brutally difficult and forcing players to practice so that they make no mistakes, each encounter was memorable in its own way. The Spider Slayers could provide that same level of diversity in endgame boss fights, as there have been 19 different iterations of them in the comics. While not all would need to be used, Insomniac Games could pick and choose which ones to include, with each having its own visual design and moveset.
The original Spider Slayer had tentacles and could climb, but it was also covered in chemical coating that made it resistant to Spidey’s webbing. A boss fight against this slayer would force players to change up their playstyle, as their webs and certain gadgets would be useless. Other Slayers included their own web shooters, beams, and blades, which would make for some more memorable battles. Super strength and claws are other possible attacks, while Slayers with the ability to change their shape and size could be seen.
Insomniac could also introduce its own Spider Slayer concepts instead of pulling exclusively from the Spider-Man comics. A Slayer that is invulnerable to Miles’ electricity powers could be interesting, especially if it is able to use its own Venom strikes in the fight. Likewise, a Slayer that mimics Miles’ cloaking could serve as an imposing enemy. The possibilities are endless, and if Insomniac made sure to keep the fights difficult but challenging like the Valkyries from God of War, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 could have an outstanding endgame. While this is purely hypothetical, as no evidence indicates that the Spider Slayers will actually appear, it is hard not to think about their potential.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is scheduled to release in 2023 on PS5.
