Insomniac Games’ Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 has been one of the most anticipated games of 2023, and for good reason. The first game was a critical and commercial success, and the sequel promises to be even better. One of the things fans are most excited about is the return of Venom, one of Spider-Man’s most iconic villains.
Well imagine this, Insomniac Games were actually considered taking things to a new level by having Venom “venomized” Sandman, resulting in a villain that would be a combination of both of them. This would have made for a visually distinctive character.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Almost ‘Venomized’ a Villain: A Missed Opportunity?
In a recent interview, Creative Director Bryan Intihar revealed that the team at Insomniac Games had originally considered having Venom bond with Sandman, but the idea was eventually scrapped due to the technical challenges of developing such a character.
“We did have a Venomized Sandman concept,” Intihar said. “But it was hard enough to make Sandman. And then to make a Venomized Sandman, it was just like, ‘We don’t have the time. We don’t have the resources.'”
It’s easy to see why Insomniac Games chose not to pursue the idea. However, it’s still fascinating to imagine what a Venom infused Sandman could have been, how he would have fit into Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.
Based on what we know about Venom and Sandman, it’s possible to speculate about what a Venomized Sandman would have been capable of.
Venom boosts strength and endurance allowing for a range of tactics. It also provides the ability to shape-shift and shoot webs. It also delivers a poisonous bite. If Sandman were to be infused with Venom he would become an even stronger opponent. This combination would merge the sand manipulators versatility, with the symbiotes power and abilities.
A Venomized Sandman would have presented an obstacle for Spider-Man. With his strength, resilience ability to change shape to shoot webs and deliver bites, he would have ranked among the most formidable villains Spider-Man has encountered.
Imagine how visually awesome it would have been if Sandman had been taken over by the Venom symbiote. The striking black-and-white look of the symbiote would have made a contrast, against Sandman sand based abilities resulting in a distinctive and ominous adversary.
While the idea of a Venomized Sandman is certainly intriguing, it’s understandable why Insomniac Games decided to scrap it. Developing a character like that would have been a significant technical challenge, and it’s likely that the team didn’t have the time or resources to do it justice.
Furthermore, it’s plausible that Insomniac Games may have chosen to avoid overloading Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 with too many villains. Venom alone poses a challenge, introducing a Venomized Sandman into the equation could potentially increase the game’s difficulty level, beyond what certain players may be comfortable with.
Although we may not have the chance to witness a Sandman transformed by Venom in action, it is obvious that the folks at Insomniac Games are investing effort into crafting villains for the game. With the inclusion of characters like Venom, Sandman and other beloved figures, fans can anticipate Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 to provide a memorable encounter with these foes.
It’s understandable why Insomniac Games made the decision not to include a Venomized Sandman. It’s disappointing that we won’t have the chance to witness the character in action. He could have been a formidable antagonist and his confrontation with Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 would have been legendary.
However, it’s worth considering that Insomniac Games might explore the concept of a Venom-infused Sandman in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. The Marvel Universe boasts a lot of hazardous opponents making Venomized Sandman an ideal contender, for inclusion, within their ranks.
Until then, fans can only dream of what could have been.
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