Marvel's Wolverine offers a characterization of its titular hero that stands as a bright spot in an otherwise underwhelming, old-school action game. While competent, the experience often feels like a reminder of how far the genre has evolved, despite its familiar mechanics and a surprisingly tender take on the gruff mutant.
A Familiar Yet Unique Take on Logan
The game explores a version of Wolverine that deviates from the expected gruff, traumatized anti-hero. This Logan is openly vulnerable, emotive, and kind, portrayed with a disarming tenderness that extends to the supporting cast. Sabretooth, Mystique, and even Essex are given nuanced depths, though Jean Grey's role feels somewhat underutilized. The narrative setup deviates from established comic lore, introducing Logan as part of Team X under the enigmatic Nathaniel Essex, offering a more alternative take on the X-Men universe. Despite its narrative deviations, the overarching themes of found family and resistance against oppression are present, though the storytelling itself is often broad and predictable.
The game's linear structure, intended to provide a more focused experience, unfortunately leads to repetition and a sense of overfamiliarity. While some familiar gameplay elements like grapple hooks, parry systems, and rage meters are present, they are not as groundbreaking as one might expect from Insomniac. The combat system, while featuring satisfying parries and the expected gore, lacks invention. The reliance on similar enemy types and predictable combat cadences can lead to a sense of repetition, failing to reach the exhilarating highs seen in other action titles. This lack of player agency and varied options in combat distinguishes it unfavorably from titles like Marvel's Spider-Man, where interacting with the environment offered more dynamic possibilities.
Combat and Progression
The combat mechanics involve slashing, combo finishers, stealth takedowns, and special attacks on cooldown. As players level up, they unlock new abilities and can invest in a skill tree that allows for light RPG-style customization, focusing on combat, collectible detection, or rage meter management. The rage meter builds through combat, unlocking more powerful attacks and finishers. A traffic light parry system—blue for parry, red for unparryable, and gold for a risky, high-damage parry—is central to the combat loop. Environmental elements like molten containers can be used to temporarily enhance Wolverine's claws. Despite the ferocity and gore, the combat can feel one-note and repetitive over time, lacking the inventive spark seen in contemporary action games.
Collectibles, such as crafting materials and whiskey bottles for upgrades, are scattered throughout the world. While the game features extensive accessibility options, including customizable visual and audio settings, controller remapping, and adjustable difficulty, some visual elements can feel stripped back, with distant backgrounds occasionally fading into murkiness. Despite these occasional shortcomings, the game maintains smooth performance and showcases impressive visual fidelity in places, with detailed character models and environments.
A Relic of a Bygone Era?
Ultimately, Marvel's Wolverine feels less like a deliberate throwback and more like a relic. While its linear design and familiar mechanics could have been a refreshing change, the lack of significant innovation prevents it from reaching the heights of modern action game benchmarks. Titles like Titanfall 2, God of War, and Alan Wake 2 offer more dynamic movement, richer combat, and a greater sense of player agency. Even on the combat front, games like Sekiro and Ninja Gaiden have pushed the boundaries of melee action. Despite these comparisons, the inherent charm of Wolverine's character, the heartfelt interactions with the cast, and the occasional spectacle of its action sequences prevent the experience from being a complete misfire. It remains an enjoyable, albeit uninspired, adventure that is buoyed by its sincerity and a surprisingly human portrayal of its iconic protagonist.