Marvel’s Spider-Man 2is packed with villains from the iconic Web-Head’s Rogues Gallery, and while some villains are introduced into the Insomniac Games Universe for the first time, others feature as returning characters that are set to establish some true villainy and carnage throughout their featured time.
However, not every villain inMarvel’s Spider-Man 2gets a decent run of things, and some are more minor than others. The universal consistency with each villain featured is that they have an individual story, a personal boss fight, and memorable goals that prove them to be some of the best Spider-Man villains in gaming, and this list will seek reasoning as to why that’s the case.
Spoilers ahead for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2!
This list will mainly focus on villains with boss fights and those who are important to the narrative, so minor appearances like the Chameleon, Vulture, Scorpion, and Dr. Octopus, will not be counted.
9Wraith
A Killer Anti-Hero Who Disagrees With Spider-Man’s Heroism
The reason Wraith ranks so low on the list is simply because she’s not exactly a villain. Wraith was once a cop, and a good one too who just wanted to save people. When drastic action called for drastic means, Yuri Watanabe abandoned her career in the NYPD to take on the role of a costumed killer, one who will only seek those who harm the innocents.
Wraith is essentially an anti-hero, someone who is trying to do the right thing, but doesn’t follow the same ethics and moral convictions as other heroes like Spider-Man. A few disgruntled interactions and fights with Spider-Man do have Wraith a tad confrontational, but at the end of the day, she’s more a hero than a villain.
8Scream
A Corrupted Mary Jane Becomes a Toxic Symbiote
With Harry’s personality becoming intoxicated and bitter with the synergy with the Venom Symbiote, he decides that the best way to make Peter Parker pay is to get to Mary Jane, which is why he corrupts her with a Symbiote of her own, creating a bond with Scream so that Peter has no choice but to battle his girlfriend in the form of a vicious Symbiote.
Scream’s role inMarvel’s Spider-Man 2is extremely minimal, and it would have been nicer to see her take on more of a harbinger of doom role alongside Venom to really show the desperation and conflict of Peter as he battles his girlfriend and best friend. Either way, the Scream fans got was pretty fun to fight, and led to some angsty moments between Peter and MJ in their powered personas.
7The Sandman
A Sand Titan the Size of a Skyscraper, Who Seeks to Save His Daughter
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2started off extremely strong with the arrival of the Sandman, back to terrorize NYC with a whole bunch of annoyingly coarse and rough sand that just gets everywhere. The Sandman’s intro has him essentially as a kaiju, attacking New York City and forcing the swingingwebs and fistsof the two Spider-Men to try and save the day. It’s an impressionable set piece but doesn’t extend past just a set piece.
After a fun boss fight, Sandman doesn’t really do anything other than provide players with a few collectibles to piece together his story from fractured memories. However, despite his minimal involvement, it’s still nice to see a villain on the reform and one who cares deeply about his daughter.
6Mysterio
A Master of Illusion Who Just Wants to Reform and Entertain
With Quentin Beck back on the streets, and claiming to be reformed, it’s always going to be hard to believe him when one remembers how he’s literally a master illusionist whose whole thing was tricking people. Yet, Quentin seems to be trying to turn over a new leaf with his series of emporiums around New York City to provide citizens with a fun and harmless illusion. That was until the fishbowl came back out.
Mysterio’s taunting of Miles Morales’ Spider-Man sees the new Spidey fight against an old foe, but despite the mastery of illusions provided, Mysterio isn’t actually the villain this time, and it’s his assistant that seeks to defame him. Again, a reformed villain is ona good track for Spider-Man, and hopefully, it stays that way.
5The Lizard
A Giant Scaley Monster Who Lurks in the Sewers
Kurt Connors has a dreaded time at it with his attempt to cure his missing arm with lizard DNA, which turned him into a sadistic, hunting, and feral lizard to stalk the sewers of New York City. While Kurt Connors is anything but a villain, his counterpart, the Lizard, is a true monster that Spider-Man needs to put back to sleep or cure for the hundredth time.
The Lizard’s role is important, but mainly because it contains what Spidey needs, which is the man beneath the scales, Kurt Connors. It’s still great to hunt for the Lizard, battle him, and even chase him through the skyscrapers of New York City, leaving a lasting impression on justanother crazy day of being Spider-Man.
4The Flame
The Leader of a Cult, On His Way to Cause and Become Carnage
A cult in New York City never sounds like a safe idea, especially one that seems to relish in carnage and arson. The man who leads this dreaded cult is known only as The Flame and his role within his own side missions see Spider-Man and Wraith try to identify him and his prophecy, only to find out that his prophecy involves himself and a Symbiote, and a terrifying realization that Carnage is about to be born.
The Flame is Cletus Kasady, a notoriously sadistic serial killer who is now in possession of a Symbiote, one that seems to like him considering it turns red at his touch. While Carnage doesn’t feature inMarvel’s Spider-Man 2, Cletus certainly does, and it’s a dire thought to thinkwhat awaits New Yorkwith total Carnage.
3Venom
A Symbiote Who Wants to Heal the World Through Alien Invasions
Despite the prominence of the black suit inMarvel’s Spider-Man 2, Venom doesn’t really make an appearance until Act 3 of the game, and even then, it’s fairly standard and cartoonishly villainy. Venom’s plan to make the entire world one hive mind for the Symbiotes is pretty morbid and lacks the distinct sinister and inhuman jokes that make Venom such a fun and horrifying Lethal Protector.
Venom is always a scene stealer thanks to his hulking size, great design, and incredible deep serpent voice from the late Tony Todd, but he doesn’t get up to match that feels true to his character from the comics, and with no Eddie Brock to call his love, only time will tell if Venom will return with further character development.
2Mister Negative
A Man With Negative Powers Who Seeks His Own Redemption
Martin Li was consumed by grief and hatred, turning New York City into a deathly plague site where countless innocent people died just because of Martin’s own hatred of Norman Osborn. When Spider-Man stopped him, Li had time to reflect on what he had done and remembered fondly those who had been lost in the plague, and how his work at F.E.A.S.T. was all for nothing.
Don’t be mistaken, Mister Negative is still a killer, but he’s on the beginning of a path to redemption, and wouldhelp the two Spider-Mento stop the Symbiote invasion of New York City. Li has great power but also has started to understand that his actions with said power require great responsibility, which is why he’s turned himself in to the authorities to pay for what he has done. He’s a conflicted villain who shows regret for his actions.
1Kraven the Hunter
The Ultimate Hunter, Out For His Final Hunt in a Super-Powered New York
New York City is writhing with superheroes and supervillains, each protruding with great powers that make for the perfect hunt. As such, Kraven the Hunter seeks New York as his new hunting ground, to find someone who finally bests him. Kraven’s takeover of New York is swift and quick, showing how brilliant he is as a strategist, a fighter, anda perfectionist.
Kraven’s killer persona isn’t just a show for his crew, as he traps Spider-Man, almost kills the other one, and brings New York to its knees just so that he can die in a hunt rather than in a hospital bed. He’s the primary antagonist inMarvel’s Spider-Man 2, and his last hunt truly was one of his greatest.
