Marvel's Spider-Man 2: Is Venom a Villain or Playable Antihero?

| September 9, 2021 |

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Spider-Man 2 — *Photo: PlayStation Studios*

As if the contempo PlayStation showcase couldn't have but shown us the Star Wars: KOTOR remake and God of War: Ragnarok trailer and called information technology a mean solar day, Sony had to go one step further and give u.s.a. an early on glimpse at Marvel's Spider-Man 2 that ended with a brief await at what figures to be one of the game'south biggest new characters, Venom.

Now, some are already suggesting that Venom is the one narrating that new trailer, but based on the emphasis and dialog, it seems more likely that's actually an unseen Kraven the Hunter. Besides, there's a vocalization modify at the end that seems to clearly signify that Venom is now speaking.

Oh, and if that vocalization sounded familiar to y'all, that's because Venom is being voiced past none other than the legendary Tony Todd. Yep, the original Candyman himself will be bringing Venom to (digital) life in this upcoming game, which is honestly all the reason that some will need to get very excited near this upcoming PS5 title.

Of course, while the casting of Tony Todd may strengthen the already popular belief that Venom is one of the sequel'southward upcoming villains, that trailer makes it seem like he might really be i of the game'southward playable characters aslope Peter Parker and Miles Morales.

Watch that trailer again and mind to Kraven's dialog. He's talking about seeking an "equal" to challenge him as we spotter Peter Parker and Miles Morales shell upwards various thugs. He so asks "Will one of you finally give me what I desire?" every bit the photographic camera shows Parker and Morales staring into an alley. From that alley comes Tony Todd'south voice growling out the words "Aye…we will" followed by a cursory glimpse at Venom himself.

Now, while the shot of Venom arguably reinforces the idea he'due south going to be one of the game's main antagonists (a theory supported by Todd's detail voice acting style), the specifics of Venom's appearance don't immediately back up that interpretation. If nosotros're to believe that Kraven is 1 of the game's villains (and information technology's hard to come across that non being the case), then why would another villain such as Venom seemingly directly reply to his claiming?

While there are many possible answers to that question at the moment, the nigh likely explanation is that this detail version of Venom may be more of an antihero (or fifty-fifty merely a wildcard) who battles Parker and Morales as well as Kraven (and anyone else in his way) pretty much indiscriminately. It certainly wouldn't exist the beginning fourth dimension we've seen that version of Venom, and it'south arguably the more than compelling portrayal of the graphic symbol than but presenting him equally a villain.

Only if that is the case, and so does that mean nosotros can as well expect to play as Venom at some point during the game? Over again, this is all speculation, merely the fact that we briefly see a black and white version of the Spider-Homo logo at the end of that trailer would seem to suggest that Venom (or perhaps an "infected" form of either Spider-Human) may indeed have a much larger role to play in this game than that of the antagonist.

While this wouldn't be the first fourth dimension nosotros've gotten to play as Venom in a video game, information technology'due south been a long time since we've gotten a video game that actually did that character justice. In fact, 2005's Ultimate Spider-Man was arguably the last game to properly portray a playable Venom, and that game also initially presented him equally a villain earlier somewhen letting players control him equally a kind of antihero.

However he is portrayed, Insomniac'due south previous work with this franchise leaves united states of america feeling oddly optimistic that this is going to be one of the best versions of Venom that we've seen in years (with apologies to Tom Hardy and…well certainly not Topher Grace). The question at present is whether or not the mystery of Venom'southward allegiance and playability will exist solved ahead of Marvel Spider-Man 2 's 2023 release date.