Marvel's Spider-Man 2: Unmasking Kraven's Elusive Prey

Highlights

Kraven the Hunter is the primary villain in Marvel's Spider-Man 2, targeting super-powered heroes and villains in New York City.

The introduction of Kraven opens up the opportunity to explore iconic narratives from his comic books, enabling the character to evolve into a formidable adversary.

By incorporating multiple targets such as Peter Parker and Miles Morales, it hints at the potential for heroes to join forces with villains in order to confront a greater menace.

Spider-Man's archenemy, Kraven the Hunter, will prowl the streets of New York City in Marvel's Spider-Man 2, as he embarks on a mission to track down the metropolis's super-powered heroes and villains. In the reveal cinematic for Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Kraven is seen planning to target various characters, their locations illustrated on a detailed map of New York. Following the events of the previous games, Kraven will have an abundance of targets to pursue, with the potential for additional characters yet to be unveiled.

Although many details of Marvel's Spider-Man 2's storyline remain undisclosed, the inclusion of Kraven as a primary antagonist suggests that the game will draw inspiration from some of his noteworthy comic book storylines. Tales such as "Kraven's First Hunt" and "Hunted" may influence the development of Kraven's narrative, allowing him to evolve into a formidable adversary. As Kraven faces numerous existing targets and the impending arrival of Venom, his pursuit of prey in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 promises to be a relentless and challenging endeavor.

Targets Confirmed for Kraven in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 So Far

Black Cat

Prowler

Wraith

Tombstone

Lizard

Taskmaster

Shocker

Kingpin

Doctor Octopus

Vulture

Scorpion

Rhino

Peter Parker

Miles Morales

Kraven's pursuit of Peter and Miles, although primarily focused on villains, will inevitably involve the heroes in their conflict with the hunter. According to the gameplay demonstration at the PlayStation Showcase 2023 in May, Peter and Miles must stop Kraven from hunting the Lizard, as Dr. Connors holds the key to curing Harry Osborn. This suggests that the heroes may be forced to temporary allies with the villains in order to combat a greater threat.

Kraven's map of New York reveals several villains, including the Sinister Six, with the exception of Mr. Negative. Presumably, they are all currently held within the Raft prison, as seen at the end of the first game. It's worth noting that characters like Black Cat, previously exclusive to The City That Never Sleeps DLC, now play a role in the main storyline of Marvel's Spider-Man 2. Additionally, Yuri Watanabe, who featured prominently in the DLC, has transformed into the anti-heroine Wraith between the events of the DLC and Marvel's Spider-Man 2, as evidenced by her appearance on Kraven's list of targets.

Taskmaster, a surprising inclusion on the list of targets, appeared in Marvel's Spider-Man where he would challenge Peter to complete tasks. However, it is unexpected that he would be targeted by Kraven considering his role in the "Hunted" comic storyline. In that storyline, Kraven hires Taskmaster to help him in kidnapping supervillains, including Spider-Man, to trap them in Central Park for his hunting pursuits. It is possible that Taskmaster may eventually collaborate with Kraven in the sequel once Venom is added to the mix, serving as a nod to this comic storyline.

With the introduction of Venom in Marvel's Spider-Man 2, it is highly likely that Kraven will have an even larger number of targets to hunt, including villains who were not featured in the previous games. The inclusion of these villains, alongside Peter and Miles, showcases the ambitious nature of Kraven and highlights Insomniac's plan to portray him as the world's greatest hunter.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 releases October 20, exclusively for PS5.