For those expecting something similar to Marvel’s Spider-Man, this is far from Insomniac Games’ previous superhero titles. Marvel’s Wolverine is predominantly linear with no real side missions, and no open world to explore and lose yourself in. Yet, despite this structure, it has one of the strongest stories I’ve ever seen from a Marvel game. It’s dark, upsetting, and ultra-violent, yet despite all the death and sorrow, there’s hope burning bright amidst the destructive chaos.
James “Logan” Howlett is a man that has been through hell all his life. Adamantium has been fused to his skeleton during a horrific ordeal that will forever haunt him. The Wolverine you know hasn’t gone anywhere, but Insomniac has told a different kind of story that never shies away from what you know. It’s familiar but fresh, and the character development is so strong and engaging that I couldn’t stop playing just to see where it led to next. Logan is a complex character, yet despite the rage in his blood, he has good in him and it’s fascinating to watch his story unfold.
Bolivar Trask is kidnapping mutants across the globe and Team X will do whatever is necessary to save them. It’s a story that at first feels like it’s been told before, but as the events unfold there’s an even greater enemy closer than you think. Alongside Sabretooth and Mystique, your first mission is to rescue the man who saved you, Nathaniel Essex. Anyone familiar with Essex will know the person he becomes, but here he’s just someone who took Logan in and helped him come to grips with who he is and help manage his mutant capabilities.
It’s a stunning opening mission that ends with a boss battle against another iconic X-Men villain, setting the tone for the constant violence and aggression alive in almost every single mission. There’s tons of action, but at its heart there’s a man who can’t remember his past, or at least his true path to where he now is. He hears voices from an unknown evil in his soul, sees fragments of a past he’s scared of, and is oblivious to the terrible things he may or may not of done. Tragedy follows Logan around like a bad smell, and it rears its head in the events of the the future, too.
Marvel’s Wolverine sees characters die. There’s emotional trauma that hits hard, but there’s also hope and love. It’s refreshing to see Jean Grey without Cyclops, and her relationship with Wolverine is one of the most fascinating parts of the game. There will be no spoilers here, but their camaraderie and closeness was always a joy to witness. Insomniac has done a great job throwing in a ton of references to the wider Wolverine mythos, and there will be many times you’ll wear a smile seeing all kinds of nods to the comics and the legacy of X-Men’s most complex character.
Being able to embody Wolverine in combat is phenomenal, especially with how good a job the developer has done with his vast move set and abilities. Your claws shred enemies to pieces, as well as parrying bullets and blades. Think Marvel’s Spider-Man with how quick and intense fights can be, but almost all the time. It’s a lot, and while I thoroughly enjoyed the combat, you’re fighting so many different enemies on screen at all times that it can be overwhelming. Still, I couldn’t get enough of ripping soldiers apart.
New abilities can be unlocked and using the left trigger and the corresponding button can pull off something special. A whirlwind of claws and carnage; charging and taking down someone only to pummel then to death; frantically thrashing for a handful of seconds; and spinning out of a sticky situation are a few of these abilities. They can all be improved and switched out the more you level up. You’ll also be able to equip consistent buffs through DNA strands that help with everything from earning health from dodging and pulling off critical strikes more easy.
The more you fight and kill without suffering too much damage, the more your rage meter will build. There are three stages to this, with the third seeing the screen turn grey and allowing you to kill enemies instantly by pressing the trigger buttons together. If you lose all your health and you have rage built up, a last stand can see you fill up your health. There are some other new abilities that unlock through the story, but I don’t want to give them away here. Just know they add a lot to your combat palette.
Getting around is also another great factor. Climbing up tree trucks and cliff sides, jumping from branch to branch, swinging from pole to pole, and finding available vantage points before engaging is so much fun. There’s an element of stealth, but I always preferred diving right in and causing chaos was more enjoyable. Logan will end up in various countries as well, with each one offering some cool environments, from the great outdoors of Canada to the bustling streets of Japan and everything in-between.
Marvel’s Wolverine offers plenty of suits and claws to unlock. Some come naturally and can be unlocked by finding materials through levels while others come from completing certain challenges. Whisky bottles are found throughout that help offer new Strands, and Nightmare Doors lead to challenges that range from reaching the exit within a certain time and fighting waves of enemies. These provide an extra focus for you, and it’s something I went back and completed once the credits had rolled.
The visuals are truly phenomenal. Not just the environments and character design, but the smoothness and detail through combat. Blood sprays from wounds as your claws are pulled out from throats and torsos. Like Marvel’s Spider-Man, many enemies can be on screen at all times, but the graphical performance and fidelity are wonderfully balanced regardless of what mode you prefer to select. Facial animations are also fantastic, which really helps when those more tragic scenes play out the further you progress.
Marvel’s Wolverine more than does the character justice. The story is incredible, brought to life by some fantastic acting by every member of the cast. Jean Grey is a particular standout outside of Logan, but so is everyone. There are also some genuine “WTF” moments when certain things are revealed. Technically and visually, I didn’t have a single issue, and I couldn’t get enough of how good it all looked. In fact, my only gripe is how constant combat can be. The intensity is consistent, then, but it didn’t stop me from wanting to see Logan’s journey to its conclusion.
