At May 24, 2023, PlayStation Showcase, players got a first look at Marvel's Spider-Man 2's gameplay, with an extended sequence of Peter and Miles chasing the Lizard through New York. As part of the reveal, the trailer also showed Peter Parker wielding the Venom symbiote for the first time, which has big implications for what effects this could have on gameplay.
Since the post-credit sequences for Marvel's Spider-Man and its follow-up Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, players knew that the fan-favorite Spider-Man foe, Venom would appear in Marvel's Spider-Man 2. The game's reveal trailer showed a glimpse Venom briefly, leading some fans to wonder if the game would skip over Peter Parker's time with the symbiote suit.
Peter Parker Wears The Venom Symbiote In Marvel's Spider-Man 2's New Gameplay Clip
The first time fans see Peter Parker in Marvel's Spider-Man 2's new gameplay footage it's clear that this isn't the case, as Peter emerges from a basement wearing the symbiote. Peter then immediately decimates armed troops who have tracked him down using the symbiote's tendrils with moves reminiscent of 2008's Spider-Man: Web of Shadows before going to Miles in tracking down Doctor Curt Connors, who has transformed into the Lizard.
The symbiote enhances Peter's spider abilities in nearly every way when bonding with him, even replacing the need for his artificial web-shooters with organic symbiotic ones, and it's evident that Peter seems stronger and more agile than ever while wearing it in Marvel's Spider-Man 2. However, it does take a toll on whoever wears it, and Peter's personality is noticeably different and more aggressive throughout the footage, which could lead to a clash with fellow Spider-Man, Miles Morales down the line.
How Did Peter Get The Venom Symbiote?
While the symbiote in traditional Marvel lore was an alien species that bonded with Spider-Man before finding its way to Eddie Brock, it's highly likely that Marvel's Spider-Man 2 may be taking inspiration from the Ultimate Spider-Man comics run. In that run, the Venom suit is man-made and is designed to cure terminal illnesses such as cancer. It's already been shown that Norman Osborn was working with Curt Conners to use the symbiote to cure his son and Peter's childhood friend Harry of a terminal disease.
While there's no sign of the Osborns in the new footage, Peter can be heard exclaiming "leave Connors alone" as he uses his powers to take on the military. This implies that Peter is an ally of Connors, much as he is in the comics, and wants to help the scientist. With this in mind, it's possible that Peter could have acquired the Venom symbiote somehow from his time with Connors, if not from Harry Osborn.
While Peter's use of Venom powers may eventually end up in a brutal showdown between him and Miles in Marvel's Spider-Man 2, both seem like great fun for players to control in the meantime. The Venomized gameplay offered up a more brute-force approach to combat to counter Miles' stealth and offers up some more variety in gameplay while also serving a narrative purpose as Peter seems almost overpowered at times as he didn't seem to pull his punches when taking on waves of foes.
Source: PlayStation/YouTube
