In Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, the mysterious and intense side mission series “The Flame” plunges Peter Parker into a dangerous battle against a cult obsessed with fire and prophecy. Unlockable after the main mission “Amends,” this gripping storyline teams Peter with the vigilante Wraith to uncover the cult’s sinister plans, culminating in a dramatic showdown that hints at darker forces stirring beneath the city’s surface. Completing these missions not only rewards players with valuable upgrades but also unlocks the exclusive Saving Lives Suit and the Crimson Hour Trophy, while teasing a deeper narrative involving symbiotes and the infamous Carnage.
“The Flame” series of missions is one of many side quests in Spider-Man 2. But unlike the Spider-Bots or the Hunter Blinds, these are full-on story missions that will take you on a journey through New York with a not-so-mysterious ally. The goal is to track down The Flame, the cult leader who shares a name with his cult. But, as with all things in the Marvel extended universe, The Flame is much more than he initially seems to be.
In this Spider-Man 2 guide, we’ll walk you through how to start “The Flame” missions and tell you what Insomniac Games seems to be teasing in the final mission.
How to start ’The Flame’ in Spider-Man 2
To start “The Flame” side missions in Spider-Man 2, you need to first complete the main story mission called “Amends.” After finishing this mission, switch to playing as Peter Parker, and you will receive a call from the Fire Department Chief asking for help with rescuing workers from a burning building. This triggers the first mission of The Flame series, “Where Have You Been?” where you use the Spider-Bot to navigate a damaged building and confront a dangerous cult. Completing this mission will lead to further calls from Wraith, an old ally, unlocking the subsequent missions in the storyline.
If you looked at our Spider-Man 2 walkthrough and mission list, you may have been surprised to not see “The Flame” listed anywhere as an unlock reward. That’s because, unlike other side quests, “The Flame” isn’t unlocked by completing another mission. Instead, it’s something that you’ll randomly encounter as Peter while you’re swinging around the Financial District (or at least in the lower half of Manhattan) during Act 1.
We’re not exactly sure what the trigger is here to make “The Flame” show up, but in multiple playthroughs, we’ve gotten a call from the firehouse captain requesting Pete’s assistance at the hospital in the Financial District after just a few main missions.
If you’re halfway into Act 1 and haven’t gotten the prompt yet, swap to Peter and do some pop-up crimes in the Financial District. You should get a call about helping evacuate a hospital after just a few minutes.
The questline starts with the “Where Have You Been?” mission.
[Spoiler Warning: The following section covers the culmination of “The Flame” questline.]
Who is The Flame’s mysterious cult leader in Spider-Man 2?
The mysterious cult leader known as The Flame in Spider-Man 2 is strongly implied to be Cletus Kasady, the human host of the infamous symbiote villain Carnage. Throughout the four-part side mission “The Flame,” Spider-Man uncovers a fire-obsessed cult led by this red-headed man with severe burn scars, who aims to bring about the “Crimson Hour” by using a black symbiote sample from an Oscorp train. While he goes by “The Flame” in the game, several clues and references, including his real name Cletus Kasady, connect him to Carnage, setting up potential future storylines involving this iconic villain.
Spider-Man 2 keeps the true identity of The Flame cult leader a secret until after you finish the final mission. But if you’re a web-head fan, you may have figured out the tease well before the dialogue where Yuri just tells you his name (or, at least, his most famous alias).
Redhead? Bad fashion sense? Mentally unwell? Three winning ingredients that always make up one Cletus Kasady, better known by his symbiote-infused alter-ego: Carnage.
Now, don’t panic: You didn’t blink and miss a surprise Carnage cameo in Spider-Man 2. Instead, “The Flame” quest just acts as an elaborate tease of what comes next, as we see Cletus get his hands on a symbiote before escaping into the bowels of New York.
How do I unlock the first step to start ‘The Flame’ missions in Spider-Man 2
To unlock the first step of “The Flame” missions in Spider-Man 2, you need to complete the main story mission called “Amends.” After finishing “Amends,” you will switch to Peter Parker and receive a call from Chief Clarke of the Fire Department, who will ask for your help with a fire rescue in the Financial District. This triggers the first Flame mission titled “Where Have You Been?” where you assist in saving civilians from a burning building and encounter cultists tied to The Flame.
What triggers the prompt to start ‘The Flame’ missions after ‘Amends’
The prompt to start “The Flame” missions in Spider-Man 2 is triggered immediately after you complete the main story mission “Amends.” Once you finish “Amends,” you will be prompted to switch to Peter Parker, and shortly after, you receive a call from Chief Clarke of the Fire Department. This call initiates the first “The Flame” mission, “Where Have You Been?,” which involves rescuing civilians from a fire and encountering cultists tied to the mysterious Flame.
