Marvel’s Spider-Man 2has been given an official rating from the ESRB a few months ahead of release. Fans have been waiting years for the next installment of Insomniac’sSpider-Mangame series, and their wait will finally end on October 20. The build-up to this release date has been a slow burn, withsome of the talented voice actorsbehind the game dropping exciting hints about where Peter Parker and Miles Morales will go next in their never-ending mission to protect the open world of New York City from the many super villains that emerge from its shadows.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2was already said to be much darker than the firstMarvel’s Spider-Mangame and its 2020 spin-offSpider-Man: Miles Moraleswhen it was first announced back in 2021, and the latest batch of gameplay footage from May’s PlayStation Showcase confirmed that in many ways.Peter will don his iconic Black Suitin the new game, and it seems to be slowly corrupting the normally cheery web-slinger as he battles against Kraven the Hunter and his minions. The Symbiote will eventually become Venom, a fearsome monster that has brought untold havoc on both Peter and Miles in the comics and various media he has appeared in.
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The emotional stakes are certainly higher inSpider-Man 2, but its ESRB rating isn’t that far removed from those of its predecessors. The Entertainment Software Ratings recently posted its rating forMarvel’s Spider-Man 2on its official website, categorizing the game as T for Teen. The reasons for this rating include the expected violence, as well as blood, drug references, and mild language like “prck” and “as.” More specific acts mentioned include enemies using guns in battle, a character being “choked to death,” a dead body being turned over, and blood dropping on a leaf.
Overall, the ESRB’s rating forSpider-Man 2isn’t too out of the ordinary for Marvel-based action games, as Peter and Miles frequently battle foes using punches, kicks, and web-based attacks. However, the acts listed in this rating could offersome clues aboutSpider-Man 2’s darker story. As mentioned before, Peter becomes much more aggressive while under the Symbiote’s influence, Kraven and his clan are hunting the Spider-Men using guns and other weaponry, and monstrous enemies like Venom and the Lizard will likely draw blood using their razor-sharp claws and teeth.
More importantly,Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s official ESRB rating is a reminder that the highly-anticipated sequel is getting closer to release - much to the excitement of players who enjoyedInsomniac’s previous Marvel titles. Now that the rating forSpider-Man 2is out in the open, it’s only a matter of time before Peter and Miles swing onto the PlayStation 5 this fall.
