Summary
Insomniac’sMarvel’s Spider-Manfranchise has never been shy about having other important characters be playable. Most of these moments have been divisive when the power imbalance was most alarming in Mary Jane Watson missions, for example, but having characters other than Spider-Man be playable has reaped tremendous rewards in Venom’s playable sequence. This surprise segment was exhilarating, especially afterMarvel’s Spider-Man 2gradually teased the alien symbiote’s increased aggression, and even offered a climactic boss fight against Kraven the Hunter.
There’s hardly any doubt that this sequence was meant to not only provide a huge surprise and a payoff to the antagonist’s debut when the symbiote latched onto Harry Osborn again, but also potentially tease what gameplay could be like in astandalone half-sequel led by Venom. That doesn’t mean every playable character will be in line to receive their own game, and yet that doesn’t mean other antagonists shouldn’t be playable, either.Marvel’s Spider-Man 3could spell the end of the mainline series as far as its main plot is concerned, though there could still be value in unexpected playable villain sections.
Doctor Octopus is Ripe for a Playable Raft Breakout
Knowing that Otto Octavius is scheming a “final chapter” and will almost assuredly feature as a villain again,Marvel’s Spider-Man 3could open hotly with his planned escape from the Raft and there’d be no better way to depict that sequence than to have Doctor Octopus be playable.Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End’s Sam Drakewasn’t an antagonist, but getting to play as him to experience his white lie of a prison breakout was a clever trick on Naughty Dog’s part.
Doctor Octopus’ breakout wouldn’t need to be a lie, though, and having him wreak destruction throughout the Raft’s interior with his mechanical arms intact again somehow could be even more epic and cinematic thanVenom’s playable sequence inMarvel’s Spider-Man 2.
Of course, Insomniac wouldn’t be able to achieve this without also creating mechanics for a fully playable Doctor Octopus as it did with Venom, and unless it has a Doctor Octopus game planned it might not be worth the effort. Still, there’d be no better way to make a huge impression with the opening ofMarvel’s Spider-Man 3and illustrate how menacing Doctor Octopus is than to have him be playable so players can wield his ferocity themselves.
Antagonists Earn the Spotlight in Marvel’s Spider-Man as Much as Protagonists
Any other villains being playable probably wouldn’t make a whole lot of sense unless Insomniac could find ways to make such sequences impactful to the story, whereasDoctor Octopus now has the most narrative significance out of anyMarvel’s Spider-Manvillainor boss thus far. That said,Marvel’s Spider-Man 3needs to be careful when juggling Doctor Octopus and Green Goblin, who it’s teased as long as the franchise has been around, and taking emphasis away from Insomniac’s Spider-People could make the third installment seem like more of a battle between its villains.
Regardless, if Doctor Octopus is eventually freed from his incarceration, it would be superb to play that moment instead of simply witnessing it in a cutscene. If nothing else, perhaps his breakout could be an introductory boss fight that Spider-Man loses. But ifOtto still harbors hatred for Norman Osborn, it seems clear that his return to villainy will be targeted at Norman instead of either Spider-Man, which could be an interesting direction forMarvel’s Spider-Man 3ahead of all the other threads the third entry will need to give closure to, such as Carnage and Chameleon being on the loose.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
WHERE TO PLAY
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.
