Marvel’s Wolverine’s Greatest Strength Might Also Be its Greatest Weakness

Marvel’s Wolverine is the next iconic superhero developer Insomniac is seeking to bring to life, and it could be a fun departure from the developer’s Spider-Man games. Where Spider-Man put a major focus on swinging through the New York City skyline, Wolverine will likely offer a much more grounded style of gameplay, since the titular character doesn’t feature the same web-slinging abilities.

One of the most exciting prospects of stepping into the role of Wolverine is his iconic claws. The Adamantium blades that violently protrude from Wolverine’s knuckles have become one of the most iconic abilities in all of Marvel Comics, but they also present some serious problems in terms of keeping combat exciting.

Wolverine’s Claws Could Prove to Be a Tricky Mechanic

The Antithesis of Spider-Man’s Gameplay

Insomniac’s work with the Spider-Man games really highlighted Peter Parker and Miles Morales’ spider-like powers in dynamic ways. Both Peter and Miles had the benefit of having a slew of fun gadgets at their disposal that kept the game’s combat and traversal exciting, since it was always evolving. This is the biggest issue with Wolverine’s powers, because although hacking and slashing through enemies is likely to be thrilling, it also runs the risk of growing boring if it can’t evolve throughout the game.

Wolverine is much more of a simplistic fighter than Marvel’s friendly neighborhood hero. He doesn’t have any gadgets, only his strength and deadly claws. If the length of Marvel’s Wolverine is comparable to the Spider-Man games, players are looking at 15 to 20 hours of gameplay. That is a lot of time to be performing the same fighting moves over and over. Marvel’s Wolverine will have to tread carefully in order to do such an iconic character justice, and although Insomniac has what it takes, Wolverine’s claws could make or break the overall experience.

Using the Environment to Diversify Gameplay

One route Insomniac could take with its approach to Wolverine’s mechanics is focusing more on destructible environments instead of the claws. Recent leaks have revealed that Wolverine will likely utilize his environment by using his claws to scale buildings. However, in-game structures could also be the key to diverse combat, not just traversal. Wolverine can easily use destructible environments to his advantage by using his claws to pick up objects and throw them at enemies. Instead of giving Wolverine more combat options through gadgets and tech, he could upgrade his fighting skills through the evolving nature of buildings around him.

Wolverine’s claws could become a sort of pitchfork. Broken pieces of a concrete wall could be used as projectiles, while a discarded sheet of metal could become a makeshift shield. It would require players to be hyper aware of the environment, which could offer some sweat-inducing fights. With rumors suggesting Marvel’s Wolverine will have real-time damage and healing, being strategic in combat would be essential.

Insomniac Exploring New Avenues with Marvel’s Wolverine

Although Wolverine‘s leaked wall climbing is reminiscent of the Spider-Man games, it’s still likely that the character’s mechanics will differ greatly from Peter Parker and Miles Morales. There may be some overlap with traversal, but Wolverine’s fighting style is a completely different avenue for Insomniac to explore. Marvel’s Wolverine will hopefully have exciting things in store for longtime Marvel fans, but nailing the combat and keeping it exciting will be essential to the game’s success.

Despite the onslaught of leaks that plagued Insomniac last year, there is still plenty of mystery surrounding Marvel’s Wolverine. Yes, there has been footage, characters, and settings spoiled, but there can’t be any official opinions made until the finished product is seen and played. The opportunity to slash through enemies as Wolverine is a promising prospect, and hopefully Insomniac can pull off keeping such unique combat balanced.