Cancelled 2004 PS2 Daredevil Game Unearthed [IGN]

Amid speculation Insomniac’s Spider-Man 2 is set for Daredevil DLC, a prototype of a cancelled PlayStation 2 Daredevil game has emerged on the Internet.

The Hidden Palace, a community dedicated to the preservation of retro video games, published a prototype of Daredevil: The Man Without Fear, which was intended to launch on the PS2 but was cancelled in 2004 just before it was finished.

The Hidden Palace said an anonymous developer who worked on the game sent over the prototype. An enthusiast called ‘SolidSnake11’ then tidied up the prototype so it could be made playable.

We’d like to thank Casuallynoted and an anonymous developer who worked on the game for sending us this prototype! A huge special thanks to SolidSnake11 for taking a crack at fixing the game so that it could be made playable.

— The Hidden Palace (@HiddenPalaceOrg) October 31, 2023

According to The Hidden Palace, Daredevil: The Man Without Fear was a third-person beat ‘em up action game based on the Frank Miller Marvel superhero comic of the same name. It was developed by 5,000 Ft Studios for the PS2, original Xbox, and PC, published by Encore Inc.

The story was apparently based on the Elektra Lives Again comic, and kicked off with the assassination of The Kingpin. This sparks a war between rival gangs that consumes Hell’s Kitchen. Daredevil can grapple up walls and use a Shadow World ability to view heat sources and other forms of life. Gameplay is up on YouTube.

Why was it cancelled? Apparently Sony made demands of the game that were at odds with those of Marvel itself. For example, Sony reportedly forced the addition of a grinding mechanic inspired by Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series. A big scope change and engine trouble followed. Staff left. Then Marvel apparently cancelled the project in 2004 after deciding it had strayed too far from the vision it had approved. 2003 did see the release of a Daredevil game, for the Game Boy Advance. This is a separate game to Daredevil: The Man Without Fear, but was published by Encore Software.

That was the sad end for Daredevil’s video game ambitions, but could Matt Murdock’s virtual version live on in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2? As IGN’s Spider-Man 2 Easter eggs guide explains, players who explored Insomniac’s previous Spider-Man games could discover Nelson and Murdock’s plaque on a building in Hell’s Kitchen, suggesting these Daredevil characters ran their law firm from there. Interestingly, in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 the plaque remains but all text is gone, perhaps implying the duo relocated elsewhere.

We spoke to Insomniac senior creative director Bryan Intihar on a spoilercast episode of Beyond to ask about the removal of Spider-Man’s Daredevil Easter egg. His answer certainly suggests Insomniac is up to something. “That’s a good question,” Intihar said. “Stay tuned. Good find though.”

Adding fuel to the fire, Spider-Man 2 fans spotted a secret room that may hint at the Hand, a group of evil ninjas who Daredevil often battles in the comics.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it looks as though Daredevil: Born Again has been put on hold. It was recently reported that the upcoming Marvel TV show, which sees actor Charlie Cox return once more as Daredevil, is set for a creative reboot.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.