Insomniac Studied Real Lizards for the Lizard Character in Spiderman 2

The makers of Spider-Man 2, Insomniac Games, went the extra mile in designing their villain, the Lizard. These creators wanted to make their character as realistic as possible, so they studied actual lizards but found out they weren't slimy enough to suit their vision!

Jacinda Chew, the art director for Spider-Man 2, shared in a blog post that their team referred to various lizard skin, trying to make the villain's skin look similar. However, people who saw their creation felt that it was lacking in the sliminess that we usually associate with lizards. To give Lizard a more unique look, they opted to add spikes to the character, drawing inspiration from more aggressive, prehistoric-looking lizards.

In addition to updating the Lizard's aesthetics, Insomniac Games also pushed for more realistic gameplay elements. For instance, they tweaked Lizard's eyes to react to light, similar to a cat's pupils. They felt that such minor details could add depth to the gaming experience on the PS5.

On its release day on October 20, Spider-Man 2 will present players with numerous villains to fight, not just the Lizard. One of these villains even stirred up a debate about who really was behind the mask, with speculations ranging from Harry Osborn, Kraven the Hunter, or Eddie Brock. And while the game thrills its fans with intense trailers, there's also some comic relief where Spider-Man fans are offered "19 inches of Venom".

In the run-up to the game's launch, players have been warned of possible spoilers due to a leaked trophy list. The developers have assured fans that they are implementing several accessibility features, including allowing players to slow down gameplay, to ensure everyone can enjoy the game from the moment it launches. So, stay tuned to see how these features and artistic efforts pay off when you finally get to take on the Lizard in Spider-Man 2.