It is also unknown whether the symbiote is an established entity in the Marvel’s Spider-Man franchise since it is not explained how Norman Osborn has possession of it. The symbiote seems happily bonded to Norman’s son Harry and can make empathetic connections to Norman through its symbiotic bond, as seen when the symbiote touches the stasis chamber’s glass when Norman approaches. If it somehow transfers to Peter Parker or Miles Morales, however, there is a mechanic from certain editions of Spider-Man 3 that Insomniac should consider in order to demonstrate its separation anxiety.
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Spider-Man 3 Has QTEs for the Symbiote’s Separation Anxiety
The PS2, PSP, and Wii editions of Spider-Man 3 feature a mechanic that the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 editions do not. This mechanic allows players to actively swap between Spider-Man’s classic red-and-blue costume or the alien symbiote’s black costume.
But rather than being a simple cosmetic swap, the symbiote becomes more and more attached to the wearer the longer that players don it. Then, when players try to switch back to the red and blue costume, a QTE mini-game will appear as Spider-Man struggles to remove the black suit.
The animations that ensue show Peter wrestling psychologically and grunting as the symbiote shrieks. It is also possible for players to see a “game over” screen if they wear the black suit for too long, meaning that players will see this mini-game play out as a necessary way to survive the symbiote’s attachment.
There are gameplay buffs in combat while wearing the suit, and these ideas may also influence Insomniac’s symbiote. But if either of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s wall-crawling protagonists bond with the symbiote, this QTE mini-game would be fantastic in PS5 fidelity with narrative consequences.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Can Get Creative with Its Own Potential Symbiote Suit
It is important to note that Peter or Miles wearing the symbiote at any point in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is only an assumption at the moment. The symbiote may only be bonded to Harry or another character throughout Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 with no association to the player’s gameplay, but it is exciting to consider what gameplay effects the symbiote could have on either Spider-Man.
Based on Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s cinematic reveal teaser, Venom looks traditionally iconic. But Insomniac could have iterative designs in mind for how they want to approach the symbiote. If the symbiote is only represented as Venom, then it would not impact the player’s gameplay unless Venom himself is playable.
The other theory is that while one Spider-Man is playable, the other may be the symbiote’s host and become an antagonist that players fight. It may be too tempting, however, for Insomniac to let players traverse the open world with accelerated abilities when wearing the symbiote.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales exceeded Marvel’s Spider-Man’s traversal with bioelectric dashes, and it would be incredible to see players making large bounds with the symbiote’s tendrils launching them into the air. Insomniac could add an entirely new layer to combat with the symbiote and a full skill tree to complement it, but it would also need to have as much narrative significance for why it has left Harry and went to either Peter or Miles.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is scheduled to release in 2023 on PS5.
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