Marvel’s Wolverine Has Already Won Me Over

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I’ve been eager to share my thoughts on this, and I had a feeling it was coming. The recent showcase of Marvel’s Wolverine finally showed us what it will be like to play as Logan, and after seeing it at State of Play, I’m really impressed. For now, let’s focus on the gameplay and how it captures the energy of a comic book – putting aside the exciting reveals of characters like Jean Grey and Sabertooth.

I’m really excited about this game, specifically its story and how the gameplay tackles issues I previously had. I wasn’t expecting to be this impressed after seeing the presentation, and I’m happy to explain why. The story and gameplay have really stood out, even more than the cool reveals. I’m thrilled to share my thoughts – let’s get into it!

Getting Logan Right

Let me start by explaining what I was initially concerned about, and then how those concerns were resolved. I was wondering how Insomniac would handle the violence inherent in a story featuring Wolverine, given their previous Spider-Man games. While Peter Parker and Miles Morales are strong, their strong sense of right and wrong wouldn’t allow for the morally complex situations that Wolverine often finds himself in.

I started questioning it for a couple of reasons. First, Logan’s ability to heal meant enemies attacking him wouldn’t do much damage, since he’s practically immortal. That would make playing the character too easy, as he’d be nearly unbeatable.

Beyond that, Logan’s claws were designed to quickly defeat ordinary enemies – anyone foolish or brave enough to challenge him. For the combat to feel satisfying, these weaker opponents needed to be more than just easily defeated targets. Simply adding impressive visuals wouldn’t have fixed a system where players felt powerless against Logan’s overwhelming strength, and they would have been understandably frustrated.

Honestly, I really didn’t want this story to fall back on the tired trope of Logan having amnesia. It feels like we’ve seen that done too many times. I’d much prefer a Wolverine who is confident and remembers everything. I’m hoping for a version of the character that explores the emotional weight of living forever, rather than focusing on the usual confusion and anger that come with memory loss.

Honestly, I’m really blown away by the story and how the combat works. I figured they’d have to tone down Wolverine’s powers a bit, and I initially thought only The Sentinels could really give him a good fight. But wow, things have really exceeded my expectations – it’s a huge improvement!

The Right Narrative Framing

Let’s get straight to the point: the situation for mutants is really bad. The story focuses on Logan, and his circumstances are particularly dire. The fact that helpless mutants are being captured by people working for Bolivar Trask immediately creates a lot of tension and danger for him.

Honestly, what really has me hyped for the Wolverine game isn’t just Wolverine himself, but the villains! They’re bringing in the Reavers, and as a longtime X-Men fan, I’m so excited about that. They’ve always been a serious threat in the comics, and they just make sense as the ones trying to hunt Logan down. I’m pretty sure we’ll be facing off against Donal Pierce, and the fact that Trask is involved neatly explains the mutant roundups without needing a lot of exposition. It’s a really clever setup!

This solves the problem of enemies being too weak against Logan. The Reavers are tough opponents – we even see Logan get seriously injured by one of them, which pushes him to become enraged and heal quickly (I’ll explain that later). They’re skilled and well-equipped, and I’m excited to fight them when the game releases, to learn more about their goals and maybe even battle their leaders.

Okay, so the Jean Grey stuff is really cool, especially how well she and Logan work together. It looks like they’ve been digging into these mutant kidnappings as a team. Insomniac said they’re part of this group called Team X – basically, they’re the last line of defense for mutants. But honestly, what really got me hooked is how Logan and Jean interact. Their dynamic feels super interesting and I’m excited to see where it goes.

The easy connection between Logan and Jean is reassuring, especially considering the story’s premise of Logan grappling with his identity. It also hints at some intense and brutal fight scenes to come. Jean appears to be fully unleashing her powers, and I’m curious if the Phoenix Force will be involved – that would be a serious test for Logan’s ability to heal, and could lead to a truly spectacular battle.

Okay, so this game definitely doesn’t skimp on the big, dramatic moments. That got me thinking about how the fighting actually works in this game.

Visceral and Satisfying

Most combat in games isn’t fun to simply watch, but this one is. Logan’s attacks are incredibly satisfying, and I really enjoy seeing them. The enemies, called Reavers, can take a bit of punishment and fight back, which keeps Logan from being too powerful and creates a good challenge.

He recovers from injuries incredibly quickly, faster than most opponents could manage. It seems his healing is linked to his anger – a system where heightened rage fuels both rapid recovery and powerful attacks. To maximize his fighting ability, and fully unleash his aggressive side, Logan needs to maintain a certain level of controlled fury.

He can be aggressive when needed, but also plays strategically and quietly, adding depth to the gameplay. It feels similar to the combat in Spiderman, though Insomniac Games might have some new tricks to reveal before the game comes out. What really stood out to me, though, was the ability to team up and coordinate attacks with your companions.

Jean and Logan demonstrated fighting skills honed from years of experience battling enemies – a clear sign of their time with Team X, and potentially as future X-Men if the story allows. I was especially pleased to see Logan regain his memories. However, a downside to his memory loss was a deep distrust of others, causing him to work alone and struggle with social interactions, to say the least.

Despite appearing rough around the edges, he seems content with his team dynamic, and this approach highlights his potential as a wild card who can strategically disrupt enemies. Insomniac clearly understands what makes Wolverine compelling and is using that insight to create a version of him that feels both new and classic.

The game strikes a great balance, feeling like it perfectly captures the spirit of the Wolverine comics while also telling a fresh, original story that fans will likely love. This is currently its biggest asset.

I’m really excited about this game and plan to pre-order it immediately. I anticipate discussing it frequently when it releases in September. After some recent developments, I’m completely confident in it and can’t wait to join everyone in playing it later this year. I’ve been eagerly awaiting this title for a long time, and now my anticipation has turned into full confidence.

Just so you know, everything written in this article is my own opinion, and doesn’t reflect what GamingBolt as a whole thinks. It’s all me sharing my thoughts!

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2026-06-04 19:46