One Lingering Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Plot Thread Could Be a Blessing or a Curse For a Superior Adaptation (2024)

Last year saw the release of Marvel's Spider-Man 2, which many view as a more than worthy successor to both the first game and the Miles Morales spin-off of 2020. Even if it missed some key Spider-Man opportunities, the game managed to do a great job of expanding its version of the comic book hero's mythos, implementing important aspects of the source material while still stepping out and doing its own thing.

Among the most interesting lore elements introduced by Spider-Man 2 is the Anti-Venom Suit, which is formed by the combination of lingering symbiote fragments in Peter Parker's body, and Martin Li's Mr. Negative powers. In essence, these components meld together to make a suit that, as its name suggests, is particularly capable against symbiote-infected hosts. In practice, the Anti-Venom Suit functions in much the same way as the classic Symbiote Suit, enhancing the user's inherent abilities while granting them minor shapeshifting powers and a healing factor. Since it lacks the negative psychological effects of the Symbiote Suit, it's essentially the best of both worlds, granting Peter significant power without any real drawbacks.

The Anti-Venom Suit Could Impact the Story of Marvel's Spider-Man 3

At the end of Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Peter's Anti-Venom suit is very much still in the picture. The suppression of the symbiote's influence in New York suggests that Peter doesn't necessarily need the suit anymore, but it's still available to him, which is reflected in the post-ending gameplay. Since Insomniac made this narrative decision, rather than making it so the Anti-Venom Suit got destroyed or lost in some way, there's a good chance that these powers will factor into the narrative of the next game.

How a Superior Spider-Man Adaptation Could Be Impacted by the Anti-Venom Suit

Thanks to a post-credits scene in Spider-Man 2, many have assumed that Doc Ock will return in Marvel's Spider-Man 3, possibly teaming up with Norman Osborn's Green Goblin. Since the first Marvel's Spider-Man covered the character's origin, there's a fair chance that Spider-Man 3 will adopt his other most-iconic story: Superior Spider-Man.

Superior Spider-Man, in a nutshell, is about Doc Ock taking over Peter Parker's body, using it as a vessel to escape his own rapidly decaying physical form. Naturally, Octavius gains access to all of Peter Parker's powers this way, and since the Anti-Venom Suit is not featured in any other adaptations of Superior Spider-Man, there's a good chance that this could come into play.

With the Anti-Venom Suit, Doc Ock would be immeasurably more powerful than in the original Superior Spider-Man story, which would make him a more menacing threat from the onset. There are also a number of more specific ways Doc Ock, in Peter's body, could leverage the Anti-Venom powers. For instance, since Carnage will likely appear in Spider-Man 3, Doc Ock could perhaps control or subjugate him with the power of the Anti-Venom, effectively turning him into his puppet. Alternatively, Doc Ock could reverse-engineer the Anti-Venom Suit, using it to synthesize a new version of the symbiote for whatever purposes he wants.

There's definitely a lot of creative narrative potential afforded by the involvement of the Anti-Venom Suit, especially if Spider-Man 3 does indeed adapt Superior Spider-Man in some way. Even if the game doesn't take the Superior route, it will certainly need to contend with the Anti-Venom Suit in some way, not only because it's become one of Marvel's Spider-Man's most iconic suits, but because it has major narrative implications that can't simply be forgotten about.

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Marvel's Spider-Man 2

Spider-Men Peter Parker and Miles Morales face the ultimate test of strength inside and outside the mask as they fight to save the city, each other and the ones they love, from the monstrous Venom and the dangerous new symbiote threat.

Explore an expansive Marvel’s New York with faster web-swinging and the all-new Web Wings, quickly switching between Peter and Miles to experience different stories, epic new abilities and high-tech gear.

Wield Peter’s symbiote abilities and Miles’ explosive bio-electric powers in battle against new and iconic Marvel Super Villains – including an original take on a symbiote-infused Venom, the ruthless Kraven the Hunter, the volatile Lizard, and more from the Marvel Rogues’ Gallery.

Open-World

Action-Adventure

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews

Top Critic Rating:90/100 Critics Recommend:97%

Franchise

Spider-Man

Platform(s)

PS5

Released

October 20, 2023

Developer(s)

Insomniac Games

Publisher(s)

Sony Interactive Entertainment

ESRB

T For Teen Due To Blood, Drug Reference, Mild Language, Violence

How Long To Beat

20 Hours

PS Plus Availability

N/A

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