Summary
Many would argue that Doctor Octopus is one of the most iconic villians in theSpider-Manuniverse. He is the leader of The Sinister Six, has an iconic appearance and, in many interpretations,acts as a mentor to Peter Parker.
Over the years, the character of Doctor Octopus has appeared in mostSpider-Mangames, and much like in the comic books and cartoons, some versions of the character really stand out above the rest. This is either because they do a great job at presenting a familiar version of the character, or because they put their own unique spin on everyone’s favorite eight-limbed scientist.
Ultimate Spider-Man: Total Mayhemcame toiOS and Andriod in 2010and took the gaming world by storm. Many commented that this was one of the titles that proved cell phones could give gamers a console experience. The fight with Doctor Octopus in this game is one of the game’s stand-out moments and provides a fun challenge for those who take it on.
The character design of the doc is taken from theUltimate Spider-Mancomic books, providing a version of Doctor Octopus who has spent less time in the lab and more time in the gym than his other variants. Also, this Doc Ock has a thick German accent, similar tothe one from the animated series.
The Amazing Spider-Man Vs. The Kingpincame out all the way back in 1991 on the Sega Genesis and marked one of the first times Doctor Octavius appeared in a video game. The character design was very accurate to his look inThe Amazing Spider-ManComic books.
This version of Doctor Octavius has a terrible bowl cut and the classic green coat and sunglasses combo. The fight with him is a short one, but then players are treated to a cutscene after, in which Doctor Octavius tells Spider-Man of his evil plan. The voice of Doc Ock is very comical, and there is a definite charm to the writing of his character.
AlthoughSpider-Man: Friend or Foereceived a lukewarm reception upon release, there is no doubt that the art style and voice acting was an interesting and fun twist on characters that audiences had recently seen in Sam Raimi’sSpider-Mantrilogy. The design of Doctor Octavius was inspired by Alfred Molina’s portrayal of the character inSpider-Man 2, but it featured a cartoonish twist.
The voice of Doc Ock was provided by Joe Alaskey, who has lent his voice to many beloved characters over the years,such as Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, and, strangely enough, Curt Connors (The Lizard) in theSpider-Man 2game. The voice and the character design of Doctor Octavius were some of the best parts of the game.
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensionshas the player take the role of four different Spider-Men across a multiverse. It was well reviewed and contained an incredible voice cast, including Neil Patrick Harris as The Amazing Spider-Man, Nolan North as Ultimate Deadpool, andTara Strong as Doctor Octopus 2099. Tara Strong is known for roles such as Raven, Harley Quinn, and Miss Minutes in theLokiseries, among many other iconic characters.
She has a cool futuristic look, and the writing/performance of the character brings Doctor Octopus 2099 to life. The game was praised for its self-aware sense of humor, with Tara Strong delivering hilarious lines such as “I could kill you, or I could explain everything and then kill you. I think I’ll just kill you.” This is a fun nod to the classic trope of the villain explaining the entire plan to the hero, something previous Doctor Octopus variants are well known for.
For many people, the Tobey MaguireSpider-Manmovies were their first experience with the character of Spider-Man, andSpider-Man 2is viewed by many fans asthe best in the trilogy. This is largely due to Alfred Molina’s captivating performance as Doctor Octopus.Spider-Man 2(the video game) was an iconic title. It was praised for its open world, which gave players the freedom to explore and really feel like Spider-Man.
Often, when on-screen actors lend their voice to video games, their performance does not always translate well, as voice acting is a different skill. However, Alfred Molina gave a performance that felt authentic to the character from the movie and really brought his version of Doctor Octavius into the video game world.
The NeversoftSpider-Mangame from 2000 on the PlayStation 1 was a beloved title by many Spidey fans. Efrem Zimbalist Jr. was the voice behind Doctor Octopus. This was a big deal because he also played the character inSpider-Man: The Animated Series,so, to many, it felt like they were playing through their favorite cartoon.
The final section saw Doctor Octavius get the Carnage symbiote and fuse into a monster that was genuinely terrifying to behold. During this section of the game, players have to control Spidey as he swings away from the Carnage/Octavius creature in an adrenaline-fueled conclusion to a thrillingSpider-Manexperience.
Marvel’s Spider-Manon the PlayStation 4 was not afraid to take characters and put their own spin on them. Doctor Octavius, in this interpretation, was a real mentor to Peter Parker and a realistic character who offered a lot of depth. Many iterations of Doctor Octopus have been melodramatic and exaggerated in the past, so seeing a more down-to-earth interpretation of the character was refreshing.
William Salyers played Otto expertly, presenting him asa complex and deeply tragic character. His backstory reveals that he started Oscorp alongside Norman Osborn. However, their relationship became fractured, and Otto was forced to start up his own company called Octavius Industries, which was underfunded and struggling. The reason many fans connect with this version of Otto is becauseSpider-Manvillains can sometimes be two-dimensional, so seeing a villain who they could sympathize with was like a breath of fresh air.
