Platform: PS5
Fans of Sony and Insomniac Games’ Spider-Man series who were expecting Marvel’s Wolverine to be a Peter Parker action-adventure palette-swapped with mutton chops and adamantium claws will want to check their expectations – and spandex – at the door. This latest PlayStation superhero exclusive from the studio shares little with Spidey’s entries. Where the web-slinger’s titles presented open-world sandboxes packed with optional activities and varied, impromptu combat encounters, Wolverine is an almost stubbornly linear, scripted effort. James Logan Howlett’s tale is also a far more mature one, with blood spilled and obscenities dropped in almost equal measure.
Almost, that is, because the titular mutant slays a good deal more than he swears in this standalone story, set ahead of the X-Men’s formation. In fact, Wolverine’s primary focus is allowing fans to unleash absolute hell from behind Logan’s iconic retractable claws. Indeed, the game’s visceral combat is by far its coolest feature, as it genuinely captures the vengeance-fueled, feral nature of the brooding protagonist.
For players, this means taking the leash off Logan’s berserker nature to deliver fast, fluid, ferocious attacks. As excessively violent as it is extremely satisfying, the combat offers a nice balance between basic hack-and-slash melee attacks and slick, action-movie finishers and skill — like the ability to essentially turn Logan into a blade-wielding tornado. The latter comes courtesy of a skill tree including a number of moves that build on the character’s default toolset, as well as special “techniques”, such as that devastating twister-like strike.
Wolverine is a blood-spilling blast when the character’s claws are out.
During these absolute blood baths, Wolverine’s rage meter also builds, eventually boiling over to give players temporary access to even more brutal attacks. Even better, this mechanic cleverly ties into the character’s regenerative powers, giving him a chance to revive himself when he meets an untimely end.
If there’s any criticism to be levied against the game’s bloody carnage, it’s that the game’s encounters can grow somewhat repetitive later in the campaign. Despite the depth introduced via the skill tree – and a second, perk-unlocking progression path – battles can devolve into mindless button-mashing at times, as even Logan’s lower-level attacks are frequently capable of clearing a room.
Wolverine is, however, a blood-spilling blast when the character’s claws are out, although the game’s less violent activities aren’t quite as thrilling. When not rearranging enemies’ ribcages en masse, Wolvie is able to execute some cool, quieter kills from the shadows, but the game’s stealth component otherwise feels largely underdeveloped. There’s not a whole lot to do outside of combat, either. The game generally keeps you on a fairly tight leash, complete with plenty of white rags and splashes of paint indicating where to go next. Optional time trial challenges can be discovered off the beaten path, but outside of providing some additional lore and backstory, these mostly boil down to more combat. Seeking out hidden resource crates is a better use of your time, as their currency can be invested to unlock a ton of fan-pleasing costumes and claws from the character’s various appearances across television, movies, comics, and more. And while this inclusion is mostly cosmetic, unlocking multiple suits does also add to your maximum health pool.
Wolverine’s linear structure may be slightly limiting, but this more directed approach definitely benefits the story, which takes place several years after Logan leaves Team X — a mutant group set up by Nathaniel ‘Mr Sinister’ Essex — and has him sniffing out Bolivar Trask, who may be connected to a number of missing mutants. Insomniac obviously set out to spin an original, compelling tale, complete with a fleshed-out cast of familiar characters (Sabretooth, Jean Grey, Mystique Omega Red and Lady Deathstrike all feature), emotionally-charged story beats, and epic set pieces. The game achieves all of this and then some, including some of the most realistic visuals seen in a first-party PlayStation offering.
If you’re seeking another Spider-Man-like sandbox, this isn’t it. But if you’re craving a visually striking, incredibly cinematic story-driven experience, complemented by some of the crunchiest combat to ever tax your thumbsticks, Wolverine has got your back, bub.
