Recent gameplay footage for Insomniac's upcoming PlayStation 5 exclusive, Marvel's Wolverine, has sparked debate among players regarding a prominent red tracking trail. This visual element, seen as Wolverine pursues members of the ninja crime gang The Hand across the rooftops of Madripoor, makes it easier for players to follow the target.
Some critics have likened the trail to navigational aids in other games, such as the yellow paint in Final Fantasy, arguing that it simplifies chase sequences and potentially removes skill from the gameplay, leading to an "on-rails" experience. However, Insomniac Games has provided an in-universe explanation for the feature, aligning it with Wolverine's established mutant abilities.
The red line is described as a manifestation of Wolverine's heightened sense of smell, which allows him to track targets with incredible accuracy. This tracking power, fueled by his olfactory senses, enables him to follow the scent of his quarry even as they flee. The visual trail in the game is thus a representation of this supernatural tracking capability.
Insomniac's official accessibility options for Marvel's Wolverine include a "Chase Assist" feature that can reduce target movement speed during chase sequences. It is possible that this option also toggles the visibility of the red tracking trail. Furthermore, the game offers other navigation assists, such as a direction trail towards mission objectives or nearby enemies, which can also have their colors customized. These more explicit navigation aids are also explained in-universe as a byproduct of Wolverine's exceptional tracking skills.
James Stevenson, Insomniac's community and marketing chief, confirmed the scent trail explanation in response to fan discussions on social media. While the debate around the red line continues, some of the gameplay's momentum during traversal has also drawn attention. Specifically, a perceived jarring pause in Wolverine's movement after leaping off a zipline has been noted as more distracting than the tracking trail itself.
This gameplay reveal follows other recent criticisms of Marvel's Wolverine, including footage of a boss fight against a Sentinel. Despite these points of contention, the overall combat appears to be impactful, and the narrative is anticipated by fans. Insomniac's previous work on the Marvel's Spider-Man series has built significant goodwill, leading to high expectations for Marvel's Wolverine, a character many have followed for decades.