Highlights
- Marvel's Wolverine is expected to have a darker tone compared to Insomniac's Spider-Man games, with a more mature and gruesome approach, making it a stark contrast to the lighthearted nature of the Spider-Man games.
- Unlike the Spider-Man games, the puzzles, investigative gameplay, and stealth sections that help shake up the gameplay loop may not be easily justified within the narrative of Marvel's Wolverine, as the character of Wolverine is more inclined towards combat and brute force rather than intellect and finesse.
- While the lack of built-in gameplay variety like in Marvel's Spider-Man poses a challenge for Insomniac, there are still opportunities to offer a unique experience in Marvel's Wolverine, such as introducing a partner with different gameplay mechanics or incorporating climbing and platforming sections. Insomniac will need to think outside the box to keep the combat-focused gameplay fresh and interesting.
While not much is known about Insomniac's upcoming Marvel's Wolverine, there is one element of its gameplay loop that is worth a bit of speculation. This gameplay consideration was deftly handled in Insomniac's Marvel's Spider-Man, as the game had a narrative justification for certain in-game situations—something that will hopefully only be further improved in Marvel's Spider-Man 2. There might not be a lot of information available about Marvel's Wolverine, but the game is almost guaranteed to offer a stark contrast to the recent Spider-Man games.
While the Spidey-centric releases have their serious moments, they are characteristically light-hearted, all-ages jaunts, following Peter Parker and Miles Morales as they try to juggle superhero obligations with more down-to-earth responsibilities. As a result, these games feature several feet-on-the-ground sections, with puzzles and slow-paced exploration. Marvel's Wolverine, on the other hand, is set to be an M-rated, gruesome affair, with a darker tone that befits the grizzled, no-nonsense X-Man. So, while the upcoming Marvel's Spider-Man 2 might offer some overlap with Marvel's Wolverine, the gameplay experiences of each title are sure to be worlds apart.
Marvel's Wolverine Might Face Issues with Gameplay Variety
While the out-of-costume sections of Marvel's Spider-Man might not have been the game's biggest selling points, they certainly helped shake up the gameplay loop; the game's pacing is helped by the slower moments of puzzle-solving and investigation, and even if these moments aren't always perfectly executed, they are valuable as structural elements. In addition to these sections, both Spider-Man games offer stealth gameplay, which also helps offer variety and keeps players from getting burnt out on non-stop action. This is where Marvel's Wolverine could struggle.
The puzzles, investigative gameplay, and stealth sections of the Spider-Man games are easy to justify within the context of the narrative, but these moments are unlikely to be shared with Marvel's Wolverine. Both Peter Parker and Miles Morales are academically focused characters who are interested in science, so science-themed puzzles and lab-exploring missions don't feel out of place.
Additionally, Spider-Man's focus on finesse makes him an easy fit for stealth gameplay. Wolverine doesn't share these characteristics, as he is a character who is more likely to brute-force his way through most scenarios. He's not known for his intelligence or ability to focus, so puzzle-solving would be an unusual fit, and stealth would feel equally out of place.
This poses an issue for the game, as it could wind up being too focused on combat. Very little is known about Marvel's Wolverine's story, but it will most likely be action-packed and built around fighting, as this would be typical for the titular character. With constant combat, the game runs the risk of getting boring or repetitive, and Insomniac will have to think outside the box in order to keep things fresh and interesting.
Marvel's Wolverine may not have a built-in solution to gameplay variety like Marvel's Spider-Man, but there are still plenty of opportunities for the game to offer a novel and unique experience. Logan may not be inclined to slow-paced puzzle-solving, but the game could pair him with a partner who is, taking a page out of God of War's playbook.
Alternatively, the game could feature climbing or other platforming sections, thus offering a separate gameplay opportunity that is in line with the central character while playing to Insomniac's strengths as a developer. Even if Marvel's Wolverine is primarily combat-focused, it could offer depth and freedom within its combat mechanics to keep things fresh. Marvel's Wolverine is shaping up to be a departure from Insomniac's other games, so it will surely be a unique experience regardless of how gameplay is broken up.
Marvel's Wolverine is in development.
