For Gwen Stacy in particular this proved difficult she managed to maim herself with X-23’s claws almost immediately after taking up residence in the mutant clone’s body.
Besides figuring out where exactly they were, they had to figure out each other’s distinctly different bodies. Case in point: X-23 and Ghost Spider, who swapped before they even met. Sometimes even being in different universes cannot stop a body swap from taking place. Ock, on the other hand, got himself a new unoccupied body and has walked a path wandering between hero and villain since. While Doc Ock would never admit it, Parker did eventually prove himself the better man and regained control of his body. While Octavius did experience short-term success, Parker’s consciousness did eventually rear its head once more and the enemies did battle on the mental plane. Thus, the Doctor Octopus identity was abandoned for that of Superior Spider-Man. Chief amongst them was Doc Ock’s desire to prove himself to be the very best hero-in his opinion, at least-to live in said body.
However, walking around in Peter Parker’s body caused some unanticipated consequences. Instead, he laid the groundwork to “leap” from his degenerating shell and into the hale and hearty body of the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man himself. Otto Octavius was dying and wanted nothing more than to go out the undisputed ruler of the planet – or so he fooled everyone into thinking.