Spider-Man & Venom: Separation Anxiety
Encyclopedia
Venom/Spider-Man: Separation Anxiety is a side-scrolling beat 'em up
video game and sequel to Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage
, released for Sega Mega Drive
and Super NES
and then ported to PC
, in which one or two players could team up as Spider-Man
and Venom
to defeat the evil symbiote Carnage
. The game boasts a large number of thugs that the player has to defeat: heavily armed Jury
and Venom's symbiote
children.
There is also cameo assistance from Captain America
, Ghost Rider
, Hawkeye
, and Daredevil
.
The game was met with less critical response by the gaming community, especially when compared to its predecessor.
Of particular note is that the title is misleading - the plot of the comic book series Venom: Separation Anxiety
involves Venom's five symbiote spawn attempting to force Eddie (without his symbiote) to help them communicate with their own symbiotes. The events of the game more closely follow the events of Venom's first limited series, Venom: Lethal Protector
.
Beat 'em up
Beat 'em up is a video game genre featuring melee combat between the protagonist and a large number of underpowered antagonists. These games typically take place in urban settings and feature crime-fighting and revenge-based plots, though some games may employ historical or fantasy themes...
video game and sequel to Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage
Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage
Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage is a scrolling fighting game for the Super NES and Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, developed by Software Creations and published by LJN in 1994...
, released for Sega Mega Drive
Sega Mega Drive
The Sega Genesis is a fourth-generation video game console developed and produced by Sega. It was originally released in Japan in 1988 as , then in North America in 1989 as Sega Genesis, and in Europe, Australia and other PAL regions in 1990 as Mega Drive. The reason for the two names is that...
and Super NES
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
and then ported to PC
IBM PC
The IBM Personal Computer, commonly known as the IBM PC, is the original version and progenitor of the IBM PC compatible hardware platform. It is IBM model number 5150, and was introduced on August 12, 1981...
, in which one or two players could team up as Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
and Venom
Venom (comics)
Eddie Brock is a fictional character created by David Michelinie and Todd McFarlane. A comic book supervillain, Brock's earliest appearance is a cameo in Web of Spider-Man #18 before making his first full appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #299 as Venom...
to defeat the evil symbiote Carnage
Carnage (comics)
Carnage is a fictional character, a supervillain in the . The character first appears in The Amazing Spider-Man #344 , and was created by writer David Michelinie and artist Mark Bagley. The character is frequently depicted as an enemy of Spider-Man...
. The game boasts a large number of thugs that the player has to defeat: heavily armed Jury
The Jury (comics)
The Jury is a fictional group of armored vigilantes in the Marvel Comics universe. The team was first introduced in Venom: Lethal Protector #2.-History:...
and Venom's symbiote
Symbiote (comics)
In the Marvel Comics universe, The Symbiote is a specific parasitic species of extraterrestrial organism...
children.
There is also cameo assistance from Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
, Ghost Rider
Ghost Rider (comics)
Ghost Rider is the name of several fictional supernatural antiheroes appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Marvel had previously used the name for a Western character whose name was later changed to Night Rider and subsequently to Phantom Rider.The first supernatural Ghost Rider is...
, Hawkeye
Hawkeye (comics)
Hawkeye , also known as Goliath and Ronin, is a fictional character that appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Tales of Suspense #57 and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Don Heck. Hawkeye joined the Avengers in Avengers Vol. 1 #16 Hawkeye...
, and Daredevil
Daredevil (Marvel Comics)
Daredevil is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of input from Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Daredevil #1 .Living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood...
.
The game was met with less critical response by the gaming community, especially when compared to its predecessor.
Of particular note is that the title is misleading - the plot of the comic book series Venom: Separation Anxiety
Venom: Separation Anxiety
Venom: Separation Anxiety is a four-issue comic book limited series, published by Marvel Comics from December 1994 to March 1995.The plot line features Eddie Brock separated from his symbiote costume...
involves Venom's five symbiote spawn attempting to force Eddie (without his symbiote) to help them communicate with their own symbiotes. The events of the game more closely follow the events of Venom's first limited series, Venom: Lethal Protector
Venom: Lethal Protector
Venom: Lethal Protector was a six-issue comic book limited series featuring the Eddie Brock Venom, published by Marvel Comics from February 1993 to July 1993...
.
- Tagline: "Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow..."
Main characters
- Spider-ManSpider-ManSpider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
- The titular hero of the series, Spider-Man is weaker and faster than his teammate, Venom. As in the comic, he is able to punch, kick, swing from webs and cling to walls. In combat, his special moves are oriented toward agility and finesse rather than brute strength. - VenomVenom (comics)Eddie Brock is a fictional character created by David Michelinie and Todd McFarlane. A comic book supervillain, Brock's earliest appearance is a cameo in Web of Spider-Man #18 before making his first full appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #299 as Venom...
- As a symbiote, Venom is a combination of both human and alien organism. He has all of Spider-Man's generic abilities (web-swinging and wall-crawling), but unlike Spider-Man, his combat moves are primarily based on raw power. He also takes less damage per hit than Spider-Man. - The JuryThe Jury (comics)The Jury is a fictional group of armored vigilantes in the Marvel Comics universe. The team was first introduced in Venom: Lethal Protector #2.-History:...
- Unlike the Symbiotes, these level bosses are not superhuman; instead, they are extremely well armed and well equipped mercenaries. They appear singly and in pairs at the end of selected levels, and again together at the end of the game. The members are Sentry, RamshotRamshotSamuel Caulkin aka Ramshot is a fictional character in the Marvel comics universe.-Fictional character biography:Ramshot is a member of an armored group of vigilantes dubbed The Jury. Caulkin was recruited into the Jury by General Orwell Taylor to help him avenge the death of his youngest son Hugh....
, ScreechScreech (comics)For other uses of the word Screech, see Screech .Maxwell "Max" Taylor aka Screech is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe.-Fictional character biography:...
, BomblastBomblastBomblast is a fictional character in the Marvel comics universe. He is a member of the The Jury.-Fictional character biography:Parmenter was recruited into the Jury by General Orwell Taylor after the death of the General's son Hugh who worked as a Guardsman at the Vault with Parmenter.Not much is...
, FirearmFirearm (Marvel Comics)Firearm is a fictional character, owned by Marvel Comics who exists in that company's Marvel Universe. He is a member of The Jury.-Fictional character biography:...
and WysperWysperWysper is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. She first appeared Venom: Lethal Protector #2 and was created by Dan Slott and John Calimee.-Fictional character biography:...
. - Symbiotes - Like the Jury, these hybrid alien/human level bosses possess varied combat skills and attack either alone or in pairs until the end of the game. The symbiotes are RiotRiot (comics)Riot is the name of two characters from Marvel Comics.-Second Riot:The second Riot is a member of Joseph Manfredi's Heavy Mettle.During the Dark Reign storyline, Norman Osborn recruited him to join the Shadow Initiative.-Powers and abilities:...
, Agony, LasherLasher (comics)Lasher is a fictional character from the Spider-Man comic books. He is one of six symbiote spawns of Venom. He is predominantly green and the name "Lasher" derives from the character's action figure...
, ScreamScream (comics)Scream is a fictional supervillainess from the Spider-Man comic book series. She is one of six symbiote spawns of Venom.-Fictional character biography:...
and Phage. - CarnageCarnage (comics)Carnage is a fictional character, a supervillain in the . The character first appears in The Amazing Spider-Man #344 , and was created by writer David Michelinie and artist Mark Bagley. The character is frequently depicted as an enemy of Spider-Man...
- The main antagonist of the game, and appears as the final boss.
Plot
The game's plot loosely follows Lethal Protector in the following ways:- Appearance of Spider-Man (in LP#1.)
- Confronting the digger in San Francisco (as seen in LP#1.)
- Discovering the underground city (as seen in LP#1.)
- Appearance of The Jury (as seen in LP#2.)
- Removal of five symbiote seeds to create five new symbiotes (as seen in LP#4.)
- Spider-Man and Venom's escape from the Life Foundation (as seen in LP#4.)
- Confronting the five symbiotes at the Life Foundation Headquarters (as seen in LP#5.)