Marvel's Spider-Man 2 gets rated T for Teen, hints at a less violent and ferocious Venom

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 recently got rated "T for Teen" by the Entertainment Software Rating Board due to its mild violence and usage of a few "bad" words. Similar to the previous two games, which got the same rating, it seems the upcoming sequel won't be too heavy on brutality or gore. This can be off-putting for some fans, considering the new game will also be featuring Venom.

This character, much like X-Men's Wolverine, is known for the "carnage" it leaves in its wake, which, more often than not, involves a lot of violence and gore in the comics. However, with Marvel's Spider-Man 2 getting a Teen rating, it's highly unlikely that fans will get to see that vicious, beast-like, ferocious side of Venom.

The entity's introduction was the perfect opportunity for Marvel, PlayStation, and Insomniac Games to delve into the darker aspects of Spider-Man's story. However, this title getting rated for "Teens" makes it highly unlikely that the narrative will dive into the Venom symbiote's more sinister sides and perhaps even limit its impact on both Peter and Miles.

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Marvel's Spider-Man 2 can still deliver a compelling story despite being rated "T"

Venom's story being dumbed down to appeal to a wider audience has seen rather polarizing results in the past, with 2018's Venom movie being a prime example of that. While this film was a commercial success, it never developed the fandom that one would expect from a standalone release about this eponymous character.

Although Venom is not as well known as Spider-Man, this symbiote is an iconic supervillain, rivaled only by the likes of DC's Joker.

Logan, the Wolverine movie — rated "M" instead of PG-13 — allowed for more mature storytelling focused on the character and also stayed faithful to the comics. Similarly, an "M" rated Spider-Man game that finally lets fans witness Venom's chaotic side could've elevated the narrative and its engagement tenfold.

However, let's not forget that Insomniac Games is a master of storytelling and basically the only studio that was able to do the webhead's story justice within the video game format, despite featuring an original take on the established Spidey mythos. Fans of the developers highly doubt Marvel's Spider-Man 2's narrative will be anything short of a masterpiece.

They think with the way Insomniac is setting up Venom and the symbiote's effect on Peter, this title is going to be one of the best Spider-Man vs. Venom stories ever told outside of comic book pages.

However, some fans may still wish Insomniac and PlayStation would not have held their punches and gone all out on with an "M-rated" Spider-Man game, showcasing the sheer carnage Venom is capable of causing.

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Pre-orders for Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Standard, Deluxe, and Collector's Editions went live on June 16, 2023. The game is scheduled to release on October 20, 2023, exclusively for the PlayStation 5.