The best there is?
Hands-on previews have begun coming in for Marvel’s Wolverine, Sony’s big PS5 exclusive launching in just over a month’s time.
The game has looked pretty promising in the few glimpses we’ve seen so far, and these write-ups are largely very positive, painting a picture of another superhero blockbuster action adventure from Insomniac Games.
From what I’ve read, the game differentiates itself from Marvel’s Spider-Man by adopting a linear game structure and focusing more on character and narrative.
It also has a combat system that’s more direct, in line with Wolverine’s character; his brutal efficiency turns into bloodthirsty recklessness as you build up his rage meter.
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A sentiment I’ve seen in a handful of previews is that the game is very good in many respects, but isn’t reinventing the wheel. It seems to be doing a great job of putting you in that role and will likely tell a decent superhero story, featuring fellow mutants Sabretooth, Mystique, and Jean Grey, but it doesn’t sound like it’s going to push any real boundaries.
To be honest, I’m perfectly fine with that, if that’s the case — a rock solid action game with a popcorn blockbuster story and some cool set-pieces is always a good time.
Here are a few quotes from some of the previews:
Eurogamer – “Ferocious, destructive and cinematic – but a little predictable”
“Logan’s directness is an altogether different proposition to the mobility of Spider-Man. He’s a force of nature – something I think Insomniac effectively conveys through those highly-destructable environments and combat that ratchets up in intensity until Wolverine is in a full rampage. And despite the design challenges, Insomniac has still created moments here where traversal and combat meld together brilliantly. Does Marvel’s Wolverine reinvent the action game wheel? Probably not. Yet as an entertaining, cinematic spectacle and faithful rendering of Wolverine… I think it’s going to do just fine, bub.”
GameSpot – “The satisfaction of combat is what I left thinking most about”
“Wolverine is the latest in a type of game that PlayStation has become known for: a mostly linear action game that is narrative-driven and uses introspection, self-discovery, and personal growth as a theme for character development. Having spent ample time with the recent God of Wars, The Last of Us-es, Ghost of Tsushimas, Horizons and, of course, multiple Spider-Men, what I played wasn’t remarkable for its unique ideas, but nevertheless made a good impression in the way it was executed.”
GamesRadar – “Insomniac has crushed my fears of a post-Spider-Man slump”
“Insomniac has repurposed the fundamentals of its previous games here, yes, but it’s done so in a way that feels appropriate for Logan. The turn from friendly neighborhood wall-crawler to this brooding new hero makes all the difference.”
IGN – “[Insomniac] knows how to make a hell of a superhero game”
“Overall, I walked away from my time with Wolverine impressed, but not thoroughly blown away. It’s clear that Insomniac is still holding a lot of cards close to its chest with regards to the story, and that’s the element that has proved to be most interesting to me thus far. Combat absolutely nails the spirit of Wolverine and is very fundamentally sound, but leaves me with some questions as to how it will hold up over the course of the entire campaign.”
Are you excited for Marvel’s Wolverine on PS5? Tell us in the comments section below.
