We knew heading into Spider-Man 2 that the game would likely put a new spin on Venom, but Harry Osborn becoming the villain was a major departure from the comics which divided opinion.
Crucially, Venom's role in the sequel was much smaller than expected. He only appeared sporadically after players were given the chance to control the character in a battle with Kraven the Hunter and it feels like a lot of content ended up being cut so Spider-Man 2 could make its previously announced release date.
That may come back around in the rumoured Venom spin-off, but there's no denying Insomniac Games nailed the villain's design.
Artist Dustin Brown has shared a new look at the fan-favourite symbiote today and provided additional insights into how the team working on the game approached Venom.
"Venom created for Marvel's Spider-Man 2, based on concept art by Daryl Mandryk," he started. "All character art production by me, however this was a huge collaborative effort between many people across many disciplines. I feel genuinely fortunate to have had the opportunity to work alongside and learn from each and every one of them."
"Regarding the wings, credit for inspiration clearly has to go to the incredible work done by Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman for their 'King in Black' series. Those guys are the absolute GOATs."
"I am sincerely grateful to the many team mates across all departments for their help, guidance and support in bringing this character to it's final state," Brown concluded. "I'd also like to thank Insomniac Games, our friends at Marvel Games and Sony Interactive Entertainment. Their extensive knowledge and guidance consistently prove to be invaluable."
Insomniac was hit by a huge hack last year and that's led to some doubts about whether many of the projects which were leaked online will still happen. Multiplayer title Spider-Man: The Great Web has already been scrapped and there's still no word on DLC, never mind spin-offs.
Check out this Venom artwork in the X post below and head to Brown's ArtStation page for more.
Spider-Men, Peter Parker and Miles Morales, return for an exciting new adventure in the critically acclaimed Marvel’s Spider-Man franchise for PS5. Swing, jump and utilize the new Web Wings to travel across Marvel’s New York, quickly switching between Peter Parker and Miles Morales to experience different stories and epic new powers, as the iconic villain Venom threatens to destroy their lives, their city and the ones they love.
Spider-Man 2 is now available to purchase worldwide.