Marvel’s Wolverine Review

Marvel’s Wolverine Review

Insomniac Games has long been synonymous with PlayStation. With iconic characters such as Spyro the Dragon and the beloved duo Ratchet & Clank under their belt, the studio surprised the whole gaming industry when they took a stab at one of pop culture’s most recognizable heroes – Spider-Man.

Given the success of their take on the web-slinger, it was only natural that Insomniac would take on another property, Marvel’s Wolverine. This time, the spotlight falls on Logan, a character whose grit and ferocity stand in stark contrast to Spider-Man’s agility and charm. Expectations are high, and fans eagerly await to see how Insomniac would interpret this legendary X-Men veteran.

New Story, Same Earth-1048

Marvel’s Wolverine expands Insomniac’s Marvel Universe by formally introducing mutants into the world established in Spider-Man. Players step into the role of Wolverine, a former member of an elite unit assembled by Nathaniel Essex to safeguard mutants: Team X. When Essex is captured, Logan is compelled to rejoin the team, driven by gratitude for Essex having once saved his life.

The opening chapters of Marvel’s Wolverine set the stage for a larger journey that gradually unravels Wolverine’s past. The narrative takes Logan across diverse locations, testing his loyalty and character through unexpected twists. Longtime comic readers may notice deviations from established lore, but these creative liberties serve to craft a fresh interpretation accessible to newcomers. The story balances heartfelt moments with intense sequences, offering enough emotional weight to keep players invested, as long as they’re open to changes from what they’re used to.

Marvel’s Wolverine highlights multiple facets of his personality, showcasing Logan as both emotional and witty. Jean Grey’s presence provides a powerful emotional anchor, deepening the narrative and keeping players engaged. His sense of duty and gratitude toward Team X, particularly in his interactions with Essex and his teammates, further enriches the character portrayal that other media may have missed, giving a good look at what makes him tick.

Despite these strengths, the storytelling in Marvel’s Wolverine occasionally falters. Certain beats feel familiar, echoing patterns from Insomniac’s previous Marvel titles, which may leave some players finding the narrative predictable. Missions can also overstay their welcome, stretching scenes longer than necessary. And while some plot twists initially appear clever, they risk feeling too convenient upon closer reflection.

At its core, Marvel’s Wolverine is a single-player, linear action-adventure experience that feels like a blend of Uncharted and the classic PS2-era God of War titles. Combat is where the game both excels and occasionally stumbles. Just as the Arkham series made players feel like Batman and Insomniac’s Spider-Man captured the essence of being the Webslinger, Marvel’s Wolverine fully immerses you in the role of Logan.

Armed with Adamantium claws, Wolverine tears through enemies with brutal precision. Staggered foes can be finished with savage executions, while leap attacks allow you to close distance quickly and unleash relentless combos. The game even encourages button-mashing during Wolverine’s signature barrage, amplifying the visceral impact of combat. Occasionally, Wolverine will be joined in battle by a companion, and you can sometimes do team executions on enemies that look pretty stylish, like Jean warping their mind or Mystique providing support fire.

Aggression in Marvel’s Wolverine is rewarded through the Rage system, which builds across three tiers. At Tier 3, Wolverine enters a berserk state where enemies glow red, weaker foes fall faster, and devastating Critical Finishers become available. Once the frenzy subsides, the meter resets, pushing players to rebuild momentum. Rage also ties into Wolverine’s iconic Healing Factor: reaching Tier 2 guarantees a Last Stand, where health is fully restored when he falls. His regeneration is also always active, staying true to X-Men lore, though your foes are far from pushovers.

Enemies like the Reaver mercenaries and the ninjas of The Hand attack aggressively and often in groups. Dodges and parries become essential tools for survival, ensuring combat demands both precision and strategy. Some enemies can also block, requiring you to break their guard, and the environment can sometimes pose hazards like mutant inhibitors that can obstruct Logan’s healing. If it sounds familiar, that’s because these enemy archetypes are also similar to what you face in Marvel’s Spider-Man, and as the game progresses, Wolverine grows stronger, but the challenge remains constant, as befits a character defined by resilience and raw power.

Aside from wiping out enemies, Marvel’s Wolverine incorporates progression and exploration systems that add depth to the experience, but at the same time, it is hobbled by invisible walls. Breakable objects scattered throughout environments grant XP for you to level up and earn Technique Points, which are then used to unlock new abilities ranging from advanced maneuvers like charging, grabbing, or launching uppercuts mid-combo, to enhancing Special Moves such as the Tornado Spin or the Spiral Strike, which is reminiscent of Wolverine’s classic Drill Claw. Cooldowns prevent overuse, and the wait period feels fair enough to keep combat engaging.

Stealth sequences in Marvel’s Wolverine add variety to the otherwise straightforward action sequences, letting Logan crouch in tall grass or stalk enemies from elevated positions, such as tree branches. While these moments offer a welcome change of pace from all-out aggression, they lack player agency, with elements like Wolverine automatically crouching when entering grass and stealth disengaging once discovered or exposed. The systems around stealth are pretty basic, so don’t expect anything too deep in this aspect.

But despite the visceral thrill of combat, repetition sets in over time. Enemy attack patterns are overly simplistic and clearly signal parries and dodges, which diminishes challenge. Boss encounters suffer similarly, with predictable mechanics that can make battles feel tedious rather than climactic. While Wolverine’s healing factor and berserker rage embody his comic-book ferocity, the absence of a combo-based incentive system, akin to Spider-Man’s hit counter, limits the reward for skillful play.

Logan’s journey unfolds along a largely linear path with minimal exploration guided by objective markers. Environmental cues, such as white paint markings on climbable surfaces, are overly conspicuous and break immersion, particularly in natural settings like snowy mountains. Collectible whiskey bottles, tracked via Wolverine’s heightened senses, reward Adaptation Points that provide meaningful buffs like faster cooldowns and improved tracking abilities, while Nightmare Doors present combat and platforming challenges that unlock fragments of Logan’s forgotten memories, enriching the lore.

Between intense battles and exploration, quieter moments such as wandering through Essex Institute or navigating bustling streets offer world-building and character development. While these slower sections may lack excitement, especially given the extreme shift in pace like some parts of Marvel’s Spider-Man, they do help flesh out relationships and the universe.

The Best At What He Does

Marvel’s Wolverine is elevated by its striking visuals, which perfectly complement the character’s raw ferocity. Combat is unapologetically brutal, with gore on par with the most violent out there, as limbs are severed, blood is sprayed, and every stab is rendered in vivid detail. While players can disable the dismemberment and blood, doing so feels at odds with Wolverine’s intensity in battle.

The attention to detail extends to Logan himself. Each strike leaves visible damage on his body, exposing his insides and glimpses of his adamantium skeleton before his wounds gradually heal. Majority of his costumes also bear the brunt of combat, often shredded by the end of a fight. Impressively, the game even provides an in-world explanation for how his attire regenerates alongside his injuries, which is a great touch.

Environments are diverse and beautifully crafted, ranging from the snowy peaks of Vancouver to the neon-lit streets of Shinjuku, all littered with destructible objects. Character models look sharp on the PS5, though some designs may be extremely divisive, such as the portrayals of Lady Deathstrike and Mystique. This is, after all, a distinct Marvel universe with its own creative direction, so not every aesthetic choice will resonate with all players.

Performance in Marvel’s Wolverine also deserves recognition. Liam McIntyre may not be Cal Dodd (X-Men Animated Series, X-Men ’97), but he delivers a compelling portrayal of this iteration of Logan. His physicality and vocal range capture Wolverine’s ferocity while also exploring his emotional depth. The supporting cast likewise brings authenticity and heart, making the story surprisingly moving at times.

The soundtrack of Marvel’s Wolverine enhances the experience, shifting seamlessly from calm melodies to adrenaline-pumping tracks that match the on-screen action. The inclusion of vocal tracks adds welcome variety, with Wolverine’s main theme standing out as a reflective, almost meditative piece that perfectly captures his lone-wolf essence. Not every track is instantly memorable, but the score consistently supports the game’s atmosphere to great success.

Let’s go, Bub!

Marvel’s Wolverine also impresses with the sheer amount of content available. Much like Spider-Man, it’s clear the developers invested effort into research, packing the game with Easter eggs and unlockables that longtime Wolverine and Marvel fans will appreciate. Beyond the references scattered throughout the campaign, players can collect materials to craft new costumes for Logan.

These costumes offer surprising variety, drawing inspiration from iconic storylines such as Age of Apocalypse, alongside unique collaborations like the Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls skin. Crafting isn’t just cosmetic either, because it directly impacts gameplay by upgrading Wolverine’s health bar, making the hunt for Material Chests, aided by Logan’s heightened senses, a rewarding pursuit.

Cosmetic customization extends to Wolverine’s claws as well. As you progress, you’ll unlock cosmetic options ranging from his signature Adamantium claws to the more primal bone claws, with a few unexpected designs waiting to be discovered. This attention to detail ensures fans have plenty of ways to personalize their Wolverine.

Progression hiccups occasionally surfaced during the main campaign, most notably when a door failed to register the button prompt, forcing a restart from the last checkpoint. Thankfully, the auto‑save system is generous, typically locking progress right after combat encounters, so players rarely need to replay lengthy battles. While these glitches were infrequent, they were disruptive enough to note.

For those who crave more after the main campaign, additional challenges await in Marvel’s Wolverine. A harder difficulty mode offers new Adaptations to unlock, while Nightmare Challenges provide opportunities to push your skills further, with the coveted Adamantium rating serving as the ultimate benchmark.

Verdict: 7.5/10 Wait for it…

Marvel’s Wolverine successfully captures the essence of the X‑Men’s iconic character. Unlockables provide satisfying rewards, particularly for longtime Wolverine fans, and the narrative delivers a fresh perspective that only just sustains player investment through to the finale. However, an overly repetitive combat loop, simplistic enemy and boss encounters, and level designs that often drag undermine the experience. What begins as a visceral thrill of carving through foes gradually risks becoming tedious and mechanical midway through the campaign.

On the positive side, Marvel’s Wolverine remains approachable for newcomers. Even those unfamiliar with Wolverine’s lore will find the story accessible, with enough context to ease them into the universe. Yet the overall package is often uneven, with its strengths offset by noticeable shortcomings. For players already invested in Insomniac’s Marvel Universe, the expanded story and world‑building justify the experience, and for those eager to step into Wolverine’s shoes, the game offers a bloody, uncompromising ride. Ultimately, Marvel’s Wolverine stands as a solid, serviceable entry that entertains but falls short of greatness.

*Marvel’s Wolverine was reviewed on a PS5 with a review code provided by the publisher.