After the success of the Spider-Man games, developer Insomniac Games could have easily translated that formula to any number of different Marvel heroes, and they likely would have been very successful. But rather than play it safe, Insomniac is taking a big swing by making Marvel's Wolverine. Wolverine is a challenging character to tackle because there are so many aspects of the character, both narratively and mechanically, that are not easily translated into an interactive experience. And while there are elements of Wolverine (the game) that either feel simplistic or a bit haphazard, Insomniac has nailed so much of what makes the character unique that you can’t help but feel satisfied by the end.
Wolverine is not an open-world game. Its levels, even when they offer the freedom to explore, are fairly self-contained, with invisible barriers ushering you towards the main objective. It’s an element that immediately separates this game from Spider-Man and also allows Insomniac to maintain a certain pace in the gameplay and the story. There are opportunities to venture off the beaten path to hunt collectibles, and even sections where all you are doing is walking around talking to characters, but as a whole experience, Wolverine wants to take you on a thrill ride.
That all starts with the story, which is essentially three distinct arcs that eventually become part of one whole. At first, it isn’t clear how everything interconnects, and honestly, the game felt a little meandering in parts, but by the end, the story comes together to expand on this character we seemingly know so well in new and unexpected ways. Yes, if you’re familiar with the comics, you can see some of the twists coming, but even then, there is a lot of new territory as well.
Most of all, Wolverine does a fantastic job of exploring so many facets of the character, intermixing his rage with his vulnerability. For every moment of absolute brutality, there are sequences that highlight his humanity. It is, for me, the most complete version of Wolverine that we’ve seen in media, and it all starts with Liam McIntyre’s performance.
McIntyre has the tough task of embodying a character who has become synonymous with Hugh Jackman. But due to the length of the game and how expansive the narrative is, McIntyre is given every opportunity to shine, and shine he does. Obviously, you have to get the growl and animalistic aspects of the character down, but more challenging is humanizing him. Thanks to the game’s stunning character animations, Liam McIntyre’s performance comes through completely, from every glassy-eyed moment of weakness to the unbridled rage that Wolverine is known for.
Across the board, the Wolverine cast is exceptional. Krizia Bajos’ Jean Grey is ostensibly the second lead in the game, and her chemistry with McIntyre is the engine that drives a lot of the title’s more emotional beats. Troy Baker toes that line between friend and foe so well in the game, and even the smaller roles like Sabretooth and Mystique are given plenty of opportunities to be dynamic.
I do think that the story starts to unspool at times, feeling less cohesive in sections. Whether that’s due to time limitations or a desire to let audiences fill in some of the narrative blanks is unclear, but there are certainly gaps where it would have been nice to have more clarity on what exactly the stakes are and how one beat connects to the next.
Bridging those narrative moments throughout Wolverine is some of the most visceral combat you will ever experience. By no means is this a neutered version of Wolverine - in every aspect. Insomniac Games knew that letting players control an unkillable killing machine would be a challenge, and they didn’t shy away from it. Blood and limbs are plentiful throughout Wolverine, as befitting a character with impossibly sharp claws.
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