Insomniac’s Venom Game Following One Storyline Could Feel Repetitive

by

Insomniac's Venom Game Following One Storyline Could Feel Repetitive

Highlights

  • Insomniac’s Venom game is likely happening after information about the game leaked, focusing on the character’s anti-hero persona.
  • The studio must be cautious not to retread ground from Spider-Man 2 by incorporating symbiote enemies from the Life Foundation.
  • The narrative could include past Venom comic foes like Pyre or xenophages to avoid symbiote villain repetition.

As a longtime fan of Venom and someone who has followed his comic book adventures for decades, I’m both excited and apprehensive about Insomniac’s upcoming Venom game. The prospect of an anti-hero Venom game that isn’t overshadowed by Spider-Man is a tantalizing proposition, but the studio must be careful not to retread old ground.

Following the unfortunate leaks from Insomniac towards the end of last year, it’s almost certain that a Venom game connected to “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2” is in development. According to the leaked information, this as yet unrevealed project appears to draw inspiration from Venom’s role as an anti-hero. Venom has long been a beloved character in gaming since his beginning, but Insomniac’s forthcoming title would mark his initial solo adventure in the medium.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 already covered a lot of ground with its symbiote stories, introducing Venom himself and teasing the arrival of Carnage and the symbiote god Knull. In recent years, these characters have become more entwined in Venom’s own mythos rather than Spider-Man’s, so it makes sense that the studio would try and save them for a Venom-centric game. But in its eagerness to include elements from Venom’s own solo comics, Insomniac needs to be careful to avoid retreading ground it already covered in its previous game.

The Venom Game Needs to Be Careful About Featuring The Life Foundation

How Insomniac Can Incorporate the Lethal Protector Comic Into Its Game

Based on insider reports, the proposed title for Venom’s standalone video game is “Venom: The Anti-Hero Protector.” This moniker has previously been used in Venom’s comic book titles during various storylines. Notably, the influential six-issue miniseries from 1993, penned by Venom co-creator David Michelinie and illustrated by Mark Bagley and Ron Lim, showcased the character’s transformation into an anti-hero for the first time. This comic series served as a primary influence for the 2018 film featuring Tom Hardy in the lead role. Additionally, it introduced the malevolent Life Foundation and its symbiote enforcers as significant adversaries for Venom.

In other words, it’s an excellent starting point for the character’s first standalone game from Insomniac Games. However, there’s a significant challenge: The Life Foundation symbiotes, which include Venom and other enemies like Scream, were prominently featured in “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.” To stay true to Michelinie’s classic comic series, Insomniac must be cautious not to rehash previously explored territories with the various symbiote creatures inspired by Phage, Riot, Agony, and Lasher.

The Life Foundation Doesn’t Need to Be the Only Antagonist in the Venom Game

As a fan, I can suggest this: From a technical standpoint, only Riot and Lasher from the other four Life Foundation symbiotes have been formally introduced in Insomniac’s Spider-Man series. The challenge lies in making significant alterations to these characters without fundamentally changing their essence as they are portrayed in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. One possibility is that only Riot and Lasher make appearances as separate boss battles. However, it’s worth considering if the Venom game truly requires the presence of these other symbiotes at all.

It’s debatable whether the game’s story requires additional symbiote antagonists for Venom besides Carnage and Knull. The Life Foundation functions effectively as a sinister corporation without extraterrestrial enforcers. Venom can engage in battles and maneuver around human Life Foundation agents armed with sonic and flamethrowers, attempting to apprehend him for research purposes. These agents could be overseen by The Jury, introduced in the “Lethal Protector” comics. The Jury is a team of technologically advanced soldiers who unite to seek vengeance following the death of their friend at Venom’s hands while escaping from prison.

Although the game derives its title from the “Lethal Protector” miniseries, it is advisable for developers to draw new and distinctive enemies from Venom’s rich comic book history instead of relying solely on symbiote adversaries. Over time, Venom has encountered numerous foes all on his own, such as Pyre, a pitifully mutated journalist with the ability to manipulate fire. The latest teaser for “Venom: The Last Dance” suggests an intriguing addition: xenophages, an extraterrestrial species that feeds on symbiotes and their hosts. Even Jack O’Lantern from Rick Remender’s comic book run could make a thrilling appearance. This villain, known for his glider, can serve as a chilling harbinger of Norman Osborn’s eventual Green Goblin metamorphosis in “Marvel’s Spider-Man 3.”

Read More

2024-07-17 14:53