Roaming the city as Venom provides a fresh and unique perspective on Marvel's Spider-Man 2. While this method is rooted in exploiting a game glitch, it offers players a novel way to experience the game's world. As we enjoy this newfound freedom, we can only hope that the future might bring an official game where Venom takes center stage.
Play Through "Don't Be Scared" Mission
To roam the city streets as Venom in Spider-Man 2, you'll need to engage in the "Don’t Be Scared" mission. Play through the "Don’t Be Scared" mission as Venom until you find yourself outdoors, right in the heart of Times Square. As the confrontation with the hunters unfolds, direct your attention to the building on your left and press the X button to scale this building. Once you've reached the top, look at the next building ahead that is a bit taller. Continue to climb to the top and the city will be yours to explore as Venom.
Climb the Building
You can choose to either clear out any enemies that might be in your path or simply dodge them and make your way directly to the wall. Once you're at the base of the wall, look for a particular line or marking. Position Venom to face this line and then repeatedly press the jump button. You'll notice Venom attempting to ascend the wall quickly. Eventually, he'll reach the top.
Navigating Invisible Barriers
Upon reaching the top of the building, there are invisible barriers. These unseen walls can be tricky, but there's a way around them. On the building's top, you'll see a large sign adorned with metal grills. Approach this sign and get as close as possible. By doing so, you'll find that you can bypass the invisible wall on the building's left side. Successfully navigating past this barrier grants you the freedom to explore the city, but certain areas around Time Square where additional invisible barriers might exist.
Explore The City
Roaming as Venom is a different experience compared to Spider-Man. Venom's movement mechanics are distinct, making city traversal more challenging and noticeably slower. The fast travel option is disabled so you'll have to travel on foot. While you can still scale buildings, Venom's jump and climb animations differ from Spider-Man's. While the city's traffic will be conspicuously absent, you'll still encounter NPCs or civilians, but Venom cannot harm these civilians.
Crossing the River
As Venom approaches the water, continuously spam the jump button. This action prevents Venom from getting trapped in a prolonged swimming animation, allowing him to cross bodies of water. It's crucial to maintain enough height during these jumps, especially when nearing the river's other side, to ensure Venom can grab onto any larger rails or ledges.
Exploring Other Areas
Beyond the main city, there are other iconic locations and neighborhoods to discover. For instance, players can guide Venom to visit Peter Parker's house, offering a unique perspective on familiar settings. Additionally, for those curious about Venom's versatility, it's possible to test out the game's bike mechanics with him. Surprisingly, Venom possesses the necessary animations to ride bikes, adding another layer to the exploration experience.
For an optimal "Spider-Man 2" experience, you might weigh the merits of fidelity versus performance mode. Suit selection is key; learn how to change suits to match your playstyle. Also, explore the game-changing features and enhanced accessibility that can elevate your control when free-roaming as Venom.