The movie of X-Men Origins: Wolverine failed to set the box office alight (despite featuring the definitive version of Deadpool) and we know games of movies are always terrible, so the game of an underwhelming movie doesn’t have an ice cream in hell’s chance of being any good.. or does it?
[drop]Surprisingly, it’s a damn fine game and the only possibly explanation for this trend-bucking deviancy lies with the developers, Raven. A few years ago they became Satanists* and made a deal with the Devil** in which they would create most excellent games***. However, the tricksy Lucifer made sure that although their games were fabulous, no one bought them****. Raven developed Singularity, a game covered in a recent Playback and were also the team behind the revamped Wolfenstein, the subject of a future Playback.Wolverine sensibly ditches a fair chunk of the movie plot in favour of an original story and follows the adamantium clawed hunk as he hacks, slashes and stabs thousands of bad guys (and gals – Wolverine is an equal opportunities eviscerator). Whereas the movie was a toy-selling, gore free affair; the game pulls no punches and blood splashes across the screen, tastefully speckled with severed limbs.
Logan has a large selection of moves and abilities at his disposal, many of which can be upgraded. The most useful is the ‘lunge’ move in which Hugh Jackman dons a skintight suit and races down an icy tunnel on a tea tray.
No, wait, that’s the luge move, the lunge move sends Logan flying across the play area, claws first in to the chest of a bad guy. Moves can be strung together to create spectacular combos as Wolverine springs about, claws akimbo, ripping anyone who gets in his way in to neat strips of human jerky. Spikey poles offer an opportunity for environmental kills and a selection of ‘quick kill’ finishing moves are an excellent way to end a sequence.
The story rolls across numerous locations (some of which are played as a flashback) and boss battles feature characters from the movie. One memorable moment occurs when you track down The Blob who is stuffing his face in a huge supermarket. A game of cat and mouse follows as you evade the chubster whilst he smashes his way through the store and carefully time your pounce. Kudos to Raven for bringing something new to gaming, I do not recall there ever being a ‘genetic mutant supermarket rodeo’ before.
[drop2]Hugh Jackman lends his voice to the character but for some reason Wolverine does not look the actor. The graphics are good although later levels do start to blur in to generic sci-fi corridors. As Logan takes damage his body gets ripped to shreds, exposing the adamantium skeleton, take cover and the skin and muscles gradually grow back – a nice touch.There are a couple of problems with the game though, the biggest of which is the repetition. Levels are long and feature hundreds of enemies to be dispatched but this is countered somewhat by the introduction of new enemy types and new moves.
The final battle takes place atop a cooling tower as Wolverine confronts Deadpool. Mr. Pool  has numerous attacks including one which destroys sections of the tower; if you happen to be standing on the collapsing section, Wolverine will drop a few metres.. to his death.
Ignoring the fact that the indestructible Wolverine can suddenly be killed by a fall that would barely damage a teapot, this is incredibly frustrating as you can be one hit away from completing the game, have a full health bar and suddenly be robbed of victory.
Despite a few minor annoyances the game is well worth a rental, or you can grab a new copy for around ten pounds, a game which allows you to ride a fat bloke around a supermarket has got to be worth a look.
*Not really.
** This is not true either.
*** This is true.
**** But this is both true and false.
scavenga
Huh, I didn’t know that Raven was behind this – now I’ll have to check it out!
Cheers very much for this helpful article! :)
Oh, and Singularity is still one of the most criminally overlooked titles!
Joe
This game was pretty fun.
And a reasonably easy platinum too, which was a bonus!
Delriach
I love the Lunge mechanic. Such a badass move ;D
Joe
it was awesome when playing on hard too
lunge to one guy, lunge to the next… nobody could get a crosshair on you!
hazelam
i borrowed the game, i was enjoying it until the bit where he loses his healing powers, i couldn’t get past that bit so i gave up and gave the game back.
R4U Eldave0
One of the few movie games that doesn’t suck :D Bit repetitive but certainly an enjoyable playthrough
Crazy_Del
The game is okay can get it dirt cheap or a rental,
*SPOILER ALERT*
but fighting against DeadPool on Hard was freaking impossible lol.
*SPOILER ALERT*
I still have that game and only one trophy away from the platinum but these were the dogtags and I’m a shy of 2 decided not to go through again with a guide or youtube!
Joe
yeah that final boss battle was a mongrel on hard!
chrome31533
“despite featuring the definitive version of Deadpool”
I’m sorry but that THING wasnt deadpool. Ryan reynolds wade was pretty good. But that was NOT deadpool, what kind of coke are you snortin? I hope you were kidding.
ashw92
This is part of an ongoing joke on the podcasts just to annoy Kris
Roynaldo
Loved this game. Fantastic movie based game, you dont get many of those.
Foxhound
Great read, will give it a go…