Review: ‘Marvel’s Wolverine’ packs ferocity but none of his nuance

Insomniac Games resurrected the “Spider-Man” franchise by re-envisioning how the web-slinger could inhabit an open-world Manhattan. The team did it so well that it spawned a spinoff and a sequel. The developers’ success hyped up fans who believed the developer could do the same for Marvel’s other big-name hero – Wolverine.

Like “Spider-Man,” the clawed berserker has starred in a few video games, but none has stood out as spectacular. Those hoping that Insomniac’s take on the Canadian superhero could break new ground will be disappointed. “Marvel’s Wolverine” isn’t that game.

Although Insomniac’s game looks amazing, with a Logan who delivers the most accurate representation of the superhero, the gameplay is stuck in the past. The campaign is linear, taking Wolverine to Canada, Japan and Madripoor. In each level, he’ll hack and slash his way through Reavers, the Hand and more.

THE STORY SO FAR
The narrative is heavily influenced by parts of “The Twelve” story arc but remains unique. It doesn’t involve the X-Men; instead, it focuses on Wolverine’s journey as he deals with blocked memories and returns to Team X, led by Nathaniel Essex. It takes place in a world where mutants are rare and thought to be rumors. Team X’s initial goal is to protect mutants, who have been targeted by Bolivar Trask and his conglomerate.

Just like Wolverine himself, the combat is violent and straightforward. Players have two primary attack buttons for short combos, parrying most attacks and dodging heavy ones. The system offers more complexity with four Special Techniques slots that players use strategically to gain an edge in skirmishes.

Insomniac also adds a Rage Meter that builds up with attacks and parries. Each of the three tiers offers bonuses to attack power and abilities such as Last Stand, which gives Wolverine a chance to recover when his health is depleted. Tier 3 unlocks Critical Strikes that can instantly eliminate adversaries.

Layered into this combat is a progression system that gives players options. Each defeated enemy gives players experience points, and that gives them an opportunity to expand the skill tree and open up new Special Techniques. These attacks offer benefits such as a stun or wide reach that clears swarms of enemies. They’re also key to some boss fights.

To encourage exploration, Insomniac introduces Ability Points that are earned by finding Whiskey Bottles and Nightmare Doors hidden around the levels. Earn enough of these points, and they unlock perks that tweak Wolverine’s abilities. What’s more, players can shift perks on the fly so Logan can use them for specific scenarios. In one level, skills that boost stealth will be great, while in another stage, ones that improve healing can help players survive waves of adversaries.

THE BAD PARTS
The problem with the system is that shifting Adaptations is cumbersome, and switching interrupts the game flow. That single issue expands to an even bigger problem with “Marvel’s Wolverine.” The biggest flaws are the overall structure and level design.

The combat is well thought out and fits the character, but the way it’s deployed is dated. The game often feels like all gas and no brakes, with just one note as Wolverine and his main sidekick Jean Grey go from one crisis to the next. In the whirlwind of action, it leaves little room for thoughtful character development beyond the cutscenes.

That doesn’t mean Insomniac doesn’t try to create more pensive, varied moments in “Marvel’s Wolverine,” but the team doesn’t handle them well. The stealth sections lack flow and don’t operate as methodically as they should. Like most of the game, the sneaking sections devolve into combat nearly 100 percent of the time, making the attempt feel superfluous. The investigative scenes meant to leverage Logan’s heightened senses are uninspired.

These elements should play a stronger role in level design, but they lack the polish the game needs to feel different from previous Wolverine games. All of it makes the game too safe, without any gameplay risk that could have separated it from its past. With huge maps, “Marvel’s Wolverine” needed levels that offered multiple routes or at least different solutions for a problem.

Wolverine does use his heightened senses in parts of the game, but most of these efforts feel decorative rather than a main part of the game.
HIGH STANDARDS
The expectations were Insomniac’s biggest challenge. After the team set the bar high with its “Spider-Man” games, fans were expecting another distinct vision of a popular Marvel hero. That’s not to say the team got everything wrong. “Marvel’s Wolverine” has some foundations of a great game, and the developers captured some aspects of Logan, but it’s not the full picture.

What Insomniac did was tell an X-Men story without the X-Men, and in the process it lost sight of the main character. Wolverine works better with a simpler, more introspective and emotional narrative, but what fans have is a world-changing epic that tries to pack in as much of his story as possible.