Video game development is a complex process that we don’t always get a look at before we play a game. Insomniac has detailed the steps and thought processes it took to create Lizard in Spider-Man 2. The villain will be one of many in the sequel, which features Kraven the Hunter and Venom.
While the story is largely unknown for the upcoming superhero game, we have some hints on how these villains all come to play. Kraven goes to New York to search for new prey, encompassing the Spider-Men and the various villains crawling around the city.
Insomniac Delivers BTS of Lizard Ahead of the Release of Spider-Man 2
On the PlayStation Blog, an interview with Insomniac Games’ senior art director Jacinda Chew, we saw how the studio made Lizard in Spider-Man 2. But before anyone got to animating and designing, they looked at the comics for reference. Chew said they would “collaborate with Marvel to put our own spin on it.”
The super-sized version of the villain is beefy and more monstrous than the humanoid version fans might be used to. While the character has arms and legs like a person, much of that distinction between the creature and Dr. Curtis Connors vanishes from there. This version has “lost all humanity” and is unable to “communicate with [Peter Parker].”
Making Lizard live up to his name in Spider-Man 2 required some real science. The devs looked at real lizard skin. Some of what they learned to apply to the PS5 exclusive was that “their skin’s actually really dry.” Some shine was added, completing how people may imagine the skin’s texture and the realism of the actual animals.
Some liberties will always be taken for artistic reasons. This iteration of the supervillain has spikes along his back. Chew examined “lizards that looked a bit more prehistoric.” Snakes were also a reference to gain that aggressive look. Then, for the eyes, cat pupils as they “grow at night.” Using the PS5’s tech, the character’s eyes were more dynamic with the enhanced lighting designed for the sequel.
To animate the movement, not just for Lizard but all characters in Spider-Man 2, Insomniac upped its animation technology, largely thanks to the PS5. The team looked at human and animal muscles to see how they “deform” during certain movements. Then, a fine line was walked to make the villain move like a humanoid creature and a real lizard. This balance created “strength and power and speed.”
Spider-Man 2 will be released on October 20 for PS5.
