Daredevil PS2 Game Leaks Online With a Playable Prototype
A prototype of an unreleased video game tied to the Marvel superhero Daredevil recently emerged online taking fans on a trip to the past. The Hidden Palace – a group of people dedicated to preserving retro video games came forward with a prototype of Daredevil: The Man Without Fear which was unfortunately canceled due to conflicts between Marvel and Sony.
Daredevil: The Man Without Fear
According to Hidden Palace, an anonymous ex-developer of the unreleased game sent over the prototype which had a lot to unpack. The Daredevil-inspired game featured a third-person beat ’em up action system and was based on Frank Miller’s run of comics.
5,000 Ft Studios originally developed the game for not only the PS2 but also Xbox and PC published by Encore Inc. In terms of the story, the game followed the aftermath of Kingpin’s assassination and Electra raging a full-blown war to take control of Hell’s Kitchen.
Playing as Daredevil, players had to fight against rival gangs and mobs by grappling up walls and using a special “Shadow World” ability meant to be a nod to Daredevil’s heightened senses.
Why Was the Game Cancelled?
Initially, Daredevil: The Man Without Fear was planned to be an open-world title similar to Marvel’s Spider-Man. However, the focus quickly shifted when Sony suggested turning it into a linear third-person fighting game with a grinding mechanic inspired by Tony Hawk’s skater games. This led to conflicts between Marvel and Sony as the game heavily deviated from what was originally intended.
Ultimately, Marvel refused to make the game public after it was so close to completion and scrapped the entire project in 2004. In 2003, Game Boy Advance did have its very own Daredevil game but it wasn’t what Daredevil: The Man Without Fear could have been.
Is Daredevil: The Man Without Fear Currently Playable?
Yes, Daredevil fans can get a glimpse of what it feels like to roam around hell’s kitchen through the eyes or well ears of the Marvel Character. A member from the Hidden Palace community referred to as SolidSnake 11 worked on the leaked prototype to make it into somewhat of a playable experience. There’s no surprise the game has a ton of bugs and fixes but its nearly completed state does help a lot when it comes to exploring such a retro game.
Can We Expect To See a Daredevil Game in the Future?
Right now, there is no official news on a Daredevil-based game in the making after the idea was first suggested 20 years ago. However, fans have speculated spotting hints in the new Spider-Man 2 that point towards a Daredevil debut in either a future update or DLC.
