Highlights
- Marvel's Wolverine will have a darker tone and more gruesome combat compared to Marvel's Spider-Man, with a focus on fatal combat.
- The stark tonal difference between the two games will likely result in reduced suit variety for Wolverine, as his fashion sense is more grounded and civilian.
- While Wolverine doesn't have the same need for costume variety as Spider-Man, there are still opportunities for alternate character skins and personalization options in Marvel's Wolverine.
Although there is limited information available about Insomniac's upcoming Marvel's Wolverine, one might assume that the game will have at least cursory connections to the studio's other games, primarily Marvel's Spider-Man games. However, there are certain areas where Marvel's Wolverine could struggle when compared to Marvel's Spider-Man, and other areas where the two IPs are sure to be greatly different.
Insomniac has been fairly tight-lipped about the upcoming Marvel's Wolverine game, and no official gameplay has been revealed. That said, it's clear that the game will have a much darker tone than the studio's previous titles, including the Spider-Man games; Marvel's Wolverine will be rated M, and it will likely have a greater focus on fatal, gruesome combat when compared to the adventures of Spider-Man. While the two games will likely share at least a few similarities, being developed by the same company and taking place within the same universe, the games will diverge when it comes to tone and subject matter, with many anticipating that Marvel's Wolverine will be the Last of Us to Spider-Man's Uncharted.
Suit Variety Will Probably Be Reduced in Marvel's Wolverine
One way that this stark tonal difference could manifest is in the form of cosmetics. Marvel's Spider-Man is known for its wide variety of suits, and the upcoming Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is promising to broaden the selection even more. This makes sense with Spider-Man, as he is a character who has donned many different outfits, and whose whimsical persona allows for the inception of colorful and original costumes. Things will likely have to be a bit different in Marvel's Wolverine.
While Logan, like Peter Parker, has a long and storied history in comic books and TV, his fashion sense is decidedly different from the latter's. The more gritty and grounded nature of the character poses a number of challenges for Insomniac, and his history of costumes is one of them. The Wolverine has donned a handful of colorful costumes, such as his iconic black and yellow jumpsuit, but he has just as often appeared in civilian clothes. In fact, one could argue that the modern image of the character, shaped mainly by Hugh Jackman's depictions in the X-Men films, is one that doesn't wear a costume at all.
This issue isn't helped by the fact that, in most of his iterations, Wolverine doesn't attempt to conceal his identity. Spider-Man's wide array of costumes stems primarily from the practical concern of hiding his face - Wolverine doesn't share this concern. Additionally, Spider-Man's suits often involve equipment, such as Web Wings or the multitude of advanced tech present in the Stark Suit or Superior Spider-Man Suit. Brute-force, boots on the ground Wolverine typically eschews equipment or the need for protective gear thanks to his healing factor. Personality also plays a role in suit variety, as Spider-Man values panache and flair, whereas Wolverine is more practical; it's hard to imagine Logan picking out a fashionable outfit before superhero work.
Of course, this doesn't mean that there aren't interesting opportunities available for cosmetics in Marvel's Wolverine. While it could impact immersion, alternate character skins like Old Man Logan could help flesh out the selection of costumes, appearing alongside more recognizable suits from the X-Men canon. Insomniac created many original costumes for both Peter and Miles in the two Marvel's Spider-Man games, so the same could happen in Marvel's Wolverine. Alternatively, it could be interesting to see the game take a different approach to cosmetics, allowing for full personalization with mix-and-match tops, bottoms, shoes, and headwear, which would all be common civilian clothing. Whatever route Marvel's Wolverine takes, it would be surprising if there weren't at least some cosmetic personalization options on offer.
Marvel's Wolverine is currently in development for PlayStation 5.