As we first reported on GameFragger.com, the review embargo for Insomniac Games' Wolverine has lifted, and it's been cut down to size by critics. On Metacritic, the game has a score of 77, which, it's important to note, is considered " Generally Favourable."
However, that's one of Insomniac's lowest scores ever, placing it in the same ballpark as games like Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus and Sunset Overdrive. Neither is considered terrible, but Wolverine's score is a far cry from Spider-Man (87), Spider-Man: Miles Morales (85), and Spider-Man 2 (90).
Where has Wolverine gone wrong? While it sounds like the linear adventure excels with its bloody action, the story falls flat and, in terms of gameplay, the title breaks little new ground. Many of the complaints line up with what fans have been saying after watching the trailers, including some big creative swings that don't line up with the comics.
So, it's a slash 'em up, and nowhere near as groundbreaking as the Spider-Man franchise. Given how expensive games are on this current generation of consoles—and with Grand Theft Auto VI fast approaching—it's hard to say how essential Wolverine really is.
"At best, it’s a fun but forgettable experience that’ll entertain you for a few hours," writes GameSpot. "At worst, it shows that just because you can make really good superhero games with one character, that doesn’t mean you can make really good superhero games with any character."
PC Mag calls Wolverine a "bloody bore," but Game Informer counters with, "Insomniac’s latest action opus is beautiful to look at and listen to, and it plays like a dream."
Kotaku adds, "The game’s relatively short runtime of around 15-to-18 hours works in its favor, because if Wolverine had been a massive superhero game in which Logan was running around entire cities doing odd jobs and side quests, that one note it repeatedly hits would have gotten old very quickly."
Over to IGN, it's said, "Marvel's Wolverine's slick and satisfying combat wears thin well before its conclusion, so much so that even its strong character work can't quite save it from being anything more than okay." Push Square, meanwhile, states, "The campaign structured around it can be overly restrictive and the story quite dull, but as a mission guides you from one fight to the next, it lets the bloodshed do the talking."
"Logan is well realised by Liam McIntyre and some exquisite character art, but there are lapses in narrative and emotional arcs and some of the combat feels like a chore," explains The Guardian, with EuroGamer calling it "just fine" before concluding, "There's still just enough sincerity, character and camp here to keep this old dog alive."
One of the most interesting takeaways here is that Wolverine takes between 15 and 18 hours to finish. That is roughly in the same ballpark as the main Spider-Man games, so at least there will be plenty of gamers to sink their claws into.
From Insomniac Games, the developers of the critically acclaimed Marvel’s Spider-Man franchise, comes Wolverine, an all-new take on an iconic character, based on Marvel Comics.
In Wolverine, players become a living weapon. As he searches for answers about his past, Wolverine will do whatever it takes—unleashing brutal claw combat, violent rage, and relentless determination—to cut through the mystery of the man he used to be.
Developed in collaboration with Marvel Games and Sony Interactive Entertainment, Wolverine is coming to the PS5 on September 15.