Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 might be one of the most anticipated video games of the next two years. With the success of Marvel’s Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Miles Morales, it’s easy to see why, but the game is also going to have a lot to live up to. While the reveal for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 featured major characters that fans have been waiting for, the game itself should deal with more than just the Venom symbiote as it balances its potential story between the infamous anti-hero and Kraven the Hunter.

Venom has a lot of potential, and the last two Marvel’s Spider-Man games have shown the developer is willing to put refreshing twists on what people know about classic Spider-Man stories. One of the main problems this new game might run into is fan expectations of Venom and the character's current relevance. While it’s suspected that Harry Osborn will be the symbiote’s host in much of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, using this new approach to Venom as a prime opportunity to explore other Klyntar symbiotes could benefit the game more, especially as movies like Sony’s Venom: Let There Be Carnage draw fans in.

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Carnage

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There’s a number of symbiotes Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 could pull from. While classic characters like Carnage are a great example, the villain himself comes with some obstacles. Cletus Kasady is nothing short of a serial killer in the comics, and his union with Carnage is complete because the two are like each other in this aspect. While this specific character trait could be used to juxtapose Carnage in the presence of Kraven the Hunter, who also takes life for sport, the shift from animals to humans is a bit dark.

On the other hand, while Carnage has gotten more of the spotlight recently, the character rarely sees as much recognition from the general public as Venom. This leaves a lot of room open for how Carnage could be interpreted in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 to provide a terrible, memorable villain. It would require a lot of decisive action from Spider-Man, and would likely force the story for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 to take some unexpected turns.

The Klyntar

Venom Let There be Carnage poster

There are other possible approaches to the inclusion of other symbiotes that should be considered for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Many fans already suspect that Spider-Man, be it Peter Parker or Miles Morales, will be Venom’s host at some point in the story. While this would provide a conflict between the main characters of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, it also paves a path for a symbiote like Anti-Venom to show up.

Anti-Venom is a result of the Venom symbiote and Mr. Negative’s powers. While Martin Li is currently on a trip to the Raft, it doesn’t mean he has to be absent from Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. His escape, or release could provide a way to introduce Anti-Venom - and he's already made it out once as part of the Sinister Six.

It was a mix of Li’s powers and Eddie Brock being ill with cancer that introduced the character in the comics, and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 could take a similar approach. Since players already know Harry Osborn is sick in Marvel’s Spider-Man and Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Martin Li curing Harry could result in the creation of Anti-Venom. While this is a bit of a roundabout way to introduce a new symbiote, the Klyntar species' abundance in the comics comes from cloning and spawning.

Similarly, other symbiotes could play major parts in the story. Many of their relatives or host characters are already present, which could make appearances from the likes of Toxin or Riot feel natural in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. It would also add weight to the world that Marvel’s Spider-Man games inhabit, showing how much like in the comics, the threats that Spider-Man faces reach beyond New York City.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is scheduled to release in 2023 for PS5.

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