Marvel's Wolverine PS5 by Insomniac
- Thread starter Fero McPigletron
- Start date
Hate to drag it down for you, but my story is not glowing.
Heard there was going to be a new Wolverine game made by the same people who made Spiderman. I immediately preorder.
Sony pulls some jive. Whatever! They already have my money and the game may still be good.
See the first trailer and hear about Sweet Baby Inc being attached to the game. Try to cancel preorder, but cancelling a digital Sony preorder is the least easy consumer service to get through since getting through my Insurance company's phone tree. So I guess I'm stuck with it, but my anticipation is dying.
More gameplay trailers, see the character models for Jean Grey, Mystique, Psylocke and Wolverine himself...I nearly throw up a little bit in the back of my throat and anticipation is dead.
It's ready and waiting on my system for when I get home from work. So I guess I'll play it...after my dailies for Pokopia snd FF XIV,, eat dinner, watch some cat videos, watch some paint dry, gouge out my eyes...then I'll see about playing it.
Heard there was going to be a new Wolverine game made by the same people who made Spiderman. I immediately preorder.
Sony pulls some jive. Whatever! They already have my money and the game may still be good.
See the first trailer and hear about Sweet Baby Inc being attached to the game. Try to cancel preorder, but cancelling a digital Sony preorder is the least easy consumer service to get through since getting through my Insurance company's phone tree. So I guess I'm stuck with it, but my anticipation is dying.
More gameplay trailers, see the character models for Jean Grey, Mystique, Psylocke and Wolverine himself...I nearly throw up a little bit in the back of my throat and anticipation is dead.
It's ready and waiting on my system for when I get home from work. So I guess I'll play it...after my dailies for Pokopia snd FF XIV,, eat dinner, watch some cat videos, watch some paint dry, gouge out my eyes...then I'll see about playing it.
As a sucker to X-Men stuff, I got my physical copy coming in from Best Buy...at some point today. I did use some rewards I had no plans for, so I'm only paying $55 for it, so I guess I'm ahead of things based on early impressions I'm hearing.
Starting stream now only.
www.youtube.com
Friend Geoff played while I backseat just talked.
From reviews I tried not to look at, I think people said it was not new or remarkable. But I'm just going on story so far. And I rather liked it. Putting it in spoilers but I'd say the new game verse is cool and I love the role of one of the people. But, of course, have to see how the rest play out.
Btw, how do we switch to the classic brown costume? Or the option hasn't happened yet?
Wolverine PS5 | Livestream | 01 X-cited!
Let's go! Playing for the first time.Full mission with Omega Red.#wolverine #wolverineps5 #marvel
www.youtube.com
Friend Geoff played while I backseat just talked.
From reviews I tried not to look at, I think people said it was not new or remarkable. But I'm just going on story so far. And I rather liked it. Putting it in spoilers but I'd say the new game verse is cool and I love the role of one of the people. But, of course, have to see how the rest play out.
I really shouldn't have called Essex as Mister Sinister while we were playing cuz my friend doesn't know X-Men lore that well. I'm sure the inevitable end is Sinister turning evil and that would have been a huge surprise for my friend.
But, right now, Essex is being a Xavier substitute and I kinda love that.
Who in the world is Rain Boy? There was an eye guy teen student in recent X titles but he doesn’t shoot blasts.
I called Walter as Cornelious but that's the bald thin guy with glasses in the Barry Windsor Smith Wolverine origins. I forgot the name of the bearded guy in that series. Have to look it up.
When the data stuff said he was Walter Lang whatever, dang it, I should have said Sasquatch. When he inevitably activates his X-gene and shows up Sabertooth, it would have been a surprise for my friend, which I just spoiled, darn it!
Omega Red dying is too easy for a semi big comic character. But if not Omega Red, who else can be a throwaway first boss?
The blonde kid with violet shirt named Todd who died, is he a reference? He looks like Donald Pierce of the Reavers or Ruckus from the Wild Boyz in the 90s toon.
Wolverine looks like a young Hugh Jackman, haha. Looks good.
We stopped at the memory dive. Wonder what's next?
But, right now, Essex is being a Xavier substitute and I kinda love that.
Who in the world is Rain Boy? There was an eye guy teen student in recent X titles but he doesn’t shoot blasts.
I called Walter as Cornelious but that's the bald thin guy with glasses in the Barry Windsor Smith Wolverine origins. I forgot the name of the bearded guy in that series. Have to look it up.
When the data stuff said he was Walter Lang whatever, dang it, I should have said Sasquatch. When he inevitably activates his X-gene and shows up Sabertooth, it would have been a surprise for my friend, which I just spoiled, darn it!
Omega Red dying is too easy for a semi big comic character. But if not Omega Red, who else can be a throwaway first boss?
The blonde kid with violet shirt named Todd who died, is he a reference? He looks like Donald Pierce of the Reavers or Ruckus from the Wild Boyz in the 90s toon.
Wolverine looks like a young Hugh Jackman, haha. Looks good.
We stopped at the memory dive. Wonder what's next?
Btw, how do we switch to the classic brown costume? Or the option hasn't happened yet?
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Okay, I'll admit that the gameplay is actually pretty decent. They aren't exactly reinventing the third-person brawler, but I'm enjoying myself. There is a certain catharsis to ripping into bad guys. Not reinventing the wheel...but it's enjoyable. It certainly doesn't "play itself" like people have been saying.
BUT!!!!
I still hate the models. They're ugly as hell. I'm keeping the cowl on as much as possible. I just do not like the models.
Related...whether it's black to white or white to black, a race swsp is a race swsp. And if it's going to be called out one way every single time, count on me to call it out here the other way. callisto is inexcusable.
The characterization of Logan is also off. I think people are using the wrong words when they say he should be "mean" or an "asshole." But he's definitely gruff. Logan...is...gruff. But this game has him way too kind...too nice.
Also, I realize this is a different continuity from Earth 616. But having Logan work for Sinister and Jean running with the Morlocks is just hitting a lot of wrong notes.
But the game play is enjoyable. So take that for what it's worth.
BUT!!!!
I still hate the models. They're ugly as hell. I'm keeping the cowl on as much as possible. I just do not like the models.
Related...whether it's black to white or white to black, a race swsp is a race swsp. And if it's going to be called out one way every single time, count on me to call it out here the other way. callisto is inexcusable.
The characterization of Logan is also off. I think people are using the wrong words when they say he should be "mean" or an "asshole." But he's definitely gruff. Logan...is...gruff. But this game has him way too kind...too nice.
Also, I realize this is a different continuity from Earth 616. But having Logan work for Sinister and Jean running with the Morlocks is just hitting a lot of wrong notes.
But the game play is enjoyable. So take that for what it's worth.
I got the Byrne costume by preordering the physical version. Had a code flyer inside.
I feel that much of the characterization of Wolverine is skewed by the lenses of the live action films. He DEFINITELY had a much rougher edge in the comics that the movies dulled considerably. My issue, and I’m not sure if this is a recent thing in the comics, or just the live action films, but what’s with Jean Grey having these traumatic childhoods?
I’m on a “wait and see” on some of that last bit, until I finish the game. This is set in the Insomniac Spiderverse where mutants are still, broadly, unknown. The story is clearly pushing a “found family” theme, and I get where a lot of those pieces fit. Essex…we’ll see. I can see how he could easily end up the villain we know Sinister as, but I’m fascinated by this, more restrained, performance. I could EASILY see a version of this interpretation making its way into the new X-Men film with Adam Driver. Again, I see where the pieces might fit into more “traditional” iterations of all these characters, so I’m invested in seeing how the story gets them there.
Basically right after the first memory dive, Walter will introduce you to the new costume and at that point, the alternate costumes will be unlocked, though you DO have to “purchase” some with material caches found in game. With my preorder, the Byrne brown suit was available once costumes were unlocked. By the end of the second “full” mission, I think most of the game’s systems are unlocked.
It was probably because they cast Debra Wilson in the role. The current “thing” in games seems to be an effort to make gaming voicework and motion capture more “respectable” by developing the character models after the actual actor, where appropriate. Callisto is a case where I don’t think her race is THAT much of a defining element of her character, so it doesn’t bother me.
I feel that much of the characterization of Wolverine is skewed by the lenses of the live action films. He DEFINITELY had a much rougher edge in the comics that the movies dulled considerably. My issue, and I’m not sure if this is a recent thing in the comics, or just the live action films, but what’s with Jean Grey having these traumatic childhoods?
I’m on a “wait and see” on some of that last bit, until I finish the game. This is set in the Insomniac Spiderverse where mutants are still, broadly, unknown. The story is clearly pushing a “found family” theme, and I get where a lot of those pieces fit. Essex…we’ll see. I can see how he could easily end up the villain we know Sinister as, but I’m fascinated by this, more restrained, performance. I could EASILY see a version of this interpretation making its way into the new X-Men film with Adam Driver. Again, I see where the pieces might fit into more “traditional” iterations of all these characters, so I’m invested in seeing how the story gets them there.
Well, according to Google, I am just now starting mission 19 of 30. So I'm over halfway...thank goodness. Fatigue is starting to set in...which is not good for less than a week of playing, honestly.
Okay, so, minor correction, that was Lady Death Strike, not Psylocke...thank goodness. That makes the ugly character model for her at least a bit more bearable. But they still make that doesn't make the otehr character models any better.
Jean Grey looks like she's in her mid-thirties...which being 48 myself, I'm not using as an insult. Just saying...for someone who usually looks much prettier in the comics, they...aged her...badly. Logan himself has some really bad uncanny valley, especially with those creepy-ass eyes. Omega Red honestly looks like he was make out of playdough.
I just can't with these character models. From a AAA company making a AAA game based on a AAA property, these characters are just unforgivably ugly.
And like I said...I'm getting fatigue. The battle mechanics are decent...though very basic. Like, if you've you've played any other game with attack/dodge/parry mechanics...this is pretty much more of the same. And it works for a while. But after about 11 hours...it's getting repetitive.
And I really wanted to like this game. After a great Spiderman game and a couple sequels that were honestly more of the same...I was hoping for a really good Wolverine game. I'm a simple guy. I see the name "Wolverine," I preorder. But this...is just not what I was hoping for.
Okay, so, minor correction, that was Lady Death Strike, not Psylocke...thank goodness. That makes the ugly character model for her at least a bit more bearable. But they still make that doesn't make the otehr character models any better.
Jean Grey looks like she's in her mid-thirties...which being 48 myself, I'm not using as an insult. Just saying...for someone who usually looks much prettier in the comics, they...aged her...badly. Logan himself has some really bad uncanny valley, especially with those creepy-ass eyes. Omega Red honestly looks like he was make out of playdough.
I just can't with these character models. From a AAA company making a AAA game based on a AAA property, these characters are just unforgivably ugly.
And like I said...I'm getting fatigue. The battle mechanics are decent...though very basic. Like, if you've you've played any other game with attack/dodge/parry mechanics...this is pretty much more of the same. And it works for a while. But after about 11 hours...it's getting repetitive.
And I really wanted to like this game. After a great Spiderman game and a couple sequels that were honestly more of the same...I was hoping for a really good Wolverine game. I'm a simple guy. I see the name "Wolverine," I preorder. But this...is just not what I was hoping for.
I finished the game earlier tonight. So...I'm going to try to be as fair as I can be. Final review.
Common Complaints and How I See It
So, let's tackle some of the common complaints. Again, I want to be as fair as I can be. There's a lot of criticism that has been thrown this games way...a lot of it deserved...some of it not so much.
Game Plays Itself - To Much Hand Holding
I tried this trick myself. The first motorcycle section you can, indeed, play hands off. You put the controller down...you will make it through this section. TO BE FAIR...there is another motorcycle section later in the game where if you try to go hands off again, you will die. BUT THEN AGAIN...isn't it funny that it happened once? This definitely snuck by the QC people IMO.
There's also complaints about how you have a scent trail and (if you press R3) a quest marker...in and already linear corridor. This is totally fair. I'm someone who will absolutely use every cheat at my disposal. Even this seemed way too hand holding. If you need this much help to make your way through a straight corridor...I honestly don't know what to tell you. HOWEVER...there are secrets (whiskey, costume pieces) that I still struggle to find. The scent trail DOES lead you to a lot of secrets...not all of them. So, take that for what it's worth. It might have been better to have an option to turn it off.
Quicktime events. I have indeed had quicktime events fail and have absolutely no consequence. I've also had quicktime events that fail and really take a lot of health off of Wolverine. So both sides are true. So you can't just blindly fail every quicktime events and expect to survive. BUT THEN AGAIN...isn't it funny that it happens at all?
Character Models are Ugly
People complain about the character models being ugly. This one...I have no defense. I mean...you CAN keep the cowl on and things are better as far as Wolverine goes...except for in cutscenes, or with other characters, or in any costume that doesn't have a cowl. The amount of potato faces, uncanny valley, and playdough skin is just inexcusable for a AAA game.
Story - Characterization
Now I will say, there were some story beats that actually grabbed my attention. There were bits that I actually did feel invested in. But...on a game that is so story-driven as this one...beats and bits just doesn't sound like a win to me. And while, yes, you can fairly say this is just a matter of my opinion and to each their own, I would like to make the following argument.
You can change a LOT about Spiderman. You can change his main love interest between Mary Jane, Gwen Stacy...throw a Kitty Pryde in there for extra measure. You could make the spider that bit him specifically come from Oscorp, or some other random lab. But some things you do...not...change. Peter Parker gets bitten by a spider on a highschool field trip. He gets the powers of a spider. He works for the Daily Bugle. The Daily Bugle is run my J. Jonah Jameson.
You can change a LOT about Batman. He's a cheery do-gooder who says "chum" and somedays just can't seem to get rid of a bomb. You can make him dark and gritty. Some Batmen have actually killed people and used guns! Joker himself has a multiple-choice past. But Batman is Bruce Wayne. Bruce Wayne is a billionaire who saw his parents murdered in front of him when he was a kid. Some things you do...not...change.
So when I see Wolverine working for Essex, Jean Grey brought up as one of the Morlocks since she was a child, a kind and gentle Logan, a Mystique who's one of the good guys (though in fairness, I think the movies share some blame for this one)...and that's just the tip of the iceberg...I just can't give the story any kind of pass. This goes far....FAR...astray from the source material.
BUT THERE ARE GOOD BITS.
Not many...but it does have them. While I still say the battle is basic...very much the same combat you see in most brawlers these days with an attack/parry/dodge system...it is still a pretty smooth system and I did enjoy kicking a lot of ass in this game.
While over all, the character models are ugly, the costumes still look pretty good and you have a really nice selection, just like in the Spiderman games. You get the iconic outfits. You get some deep-cuts. The selection really is pretty nice.
OVER ALL
Am I sorry I bought it?
No. I enjoyed playing it. I'm likely going to spend even more time going after more of the unlocks and hidden things. I'll probably spend even more time just slashing things to bits when I need to unwind after work.
Would I buy it again?
No. There are just too many better games, brawlers and otherwise, that I just couldn't see myself going out of my way to get this again. I am no stranger to doubledipping. I get a digital game and it makes me want a physical one to put on my shelf. This game does not make me want to do that. I have the digital. I've played it. I'm good with that. AND FOR ME TO SAY THAT ABOUT A WOLVERINE GAME...I mean, c'mon! Wolverine is not only my favorite X-Man...he's probably right up there with my favorite comic hero's period...right up there with the Turtles. So for me to not care about getting a physical version...I think that says something
Would I suggest it to anyone else?
No...at least not at full price. There's just too many flaws and even the good bits come with caveats. When it comes down in price (and I don't doubt for a second that it will come down in price really quickly), maybe find a used copy at Disc Replay or something like that. But don't go spending top dollar for this. It's just way too flawed. And for me to say that about a Wolverine game...I hate it...but it's just too flawed.
6/10
It's playable. I haven't had any crashes. For a game that's only had one patch on top of the day one fixes...it's bug free. It's a sad day when that alone gives a game a score slightly above average. But as far as being a worthy AAA game...Insomniac should be ashamed. No AAA game should look like this.
Common Complaints and How I See It
So, let's tackle some of the common complaints. Again, I want to be as fair as I can be. There's a lot of criticism that has been thrown this games way...a lot of it deserved...some of it not so much.
Game Plays Itself - To Much Hand Holding
I tried this trick myself. The first motorcycle section you can, indeed, play hands off. You put the controller down...you will make it through this section. TO BE FAIR...there is another motorcycle section later in the game where if you try to go hands off again, you will die. BUT THEN AGAIN...isn't it funny that it happened once? This definitely snuck by the QC people IMO.
There's also complaints about how you have a scent trail and (if you press R3) a quest marker...in and already linear corridor. This is totally fair. I'm someone who will absolutely use every cheat at my disposal. Even this seemed way too hand holding. If you need this much help to make your way through a straight corridor...I honestly don't know what to tell you. HOWEVER...there are secrets (whiskey, costume pieces) that I still struggle to find. The scent trail DOES lead you to a lot of secrets...not all of them. So, take that for what it's worth. It might have been better to have an option to turn it off.
Quicktime events. I have indeed had quicktime events fail and have absolutely no consequence. I've also had quicktime events that fail and really take a lot of health off of Wolverine. So both sides are true. So you can't just blindly fail every quicktime events and expect to survive. BUT THEN AGAIN...isn't it funny that it happens at all?
Character Models are Ugly
People complain about the character models being ugly. This one...I have no defense. I mean...you CAN keep the cowl on and things are better as far as Wolverine goes...except for in cutscenes, or with other characters, or in any costume that doesn't have a cowl. The amount of potato faces, uncanny valley, and playdough skin is just inexcusable for a AAA game.
Story - Characterization
Now I will say, there were some story beats that actually grabbed my attention. There were bits that I actually did feel invested in. But...on a game that is so story-driven as this one...beats and bits just doesn't sound like a win to me. And while, yes, you can fairly say this is just a matter of my opinion and to each their own, I would like to make the following argument.
You can change a LOT about Spiderman. You can change his main love interest between Mary Jane, Gwen Stacy...throw a Kitty Pryde in there for extra measure. You could make the spider that bit him specifically come from Oscorp, or some other random lab. But some things you do...not...change. Peter Parker gets bitten by a spider on a highschool field trip. He gets the powers of a spider. He works for the Daily Bugle. The Daily Bugle is run my J. Jonah Jameson.
You can change a LOT about Batman. He's a cheery do-gooder who says "chum" and somedays just can't seem to get rid of a bomb. You can make him dark and gritty. Some Batmen have actually killed people and used guns! Joker himself has a multiple-choice past. But Batman is Bruce Wayne. Bruce Wayne is a billionaire who saw his parents murdered in front of him when he was a kid. Some things you do...not...change.
So when I see Wolverine working for Essex, Jean Grey brought up as one of the Morlocks since she was a child, a kind and gentle Logan, a Mystique who's one of the good guys (though in fairness, I think the movies share some blame for this one)...and that's just the tip of the iceberg...I just can't give the story any kind of pass. This goes far....FAR...astray from the source material.
BUT THERE ARE GOOD BITS.
Not many...but it does have them. While I still say the battle is basic...very much the same combat you see in most brawlers these days with an attack/parry/dodge system...it is still a pretty smooth system and I did enjoy kicking a lot of ass in this game.
While over all, the character models are ugly, the costumes still look pretty good and you have a really nice selection, just like in the Spiderman games. You get the iconic outfits. You get some deep-cuts. The selection really is pretty nice.
OVER ALL
Am I sorry I bought it?
No. I enjoyed playing it. I'm likely going to spend even more time going after more of the unlocks and hidden things. I'll probably spend even more time just slashing things to bits when I need to unwind after work.
Would I buy it again?
No. There are just too many better games, brawlers and otherwise, that I just couldn't see myself going out of my way to get this again. I am no stranger to doubledipping. I get a digital game and it makes me want a physical one to put on my shelf. This game does not make me want to do that. I have the digital. I've played it. I'm good with that. AND FOR ME TO SAY THAT ABOUT A WOLVERINE GAME...I mean, c'mon! Wolverine is not only my favorite X-Man...he's probably right up there with my favorite comic hero's period...right up there with the Turtles. So for me to not care about getting a physical version...I think that says something
Would I suggest it to anyone else?
No...at least not at full price. There's just too many flaws and even the good bits come with caveats. When it comes down in price (and I don't doubt for a second that it will come down in price really quickly), maybe find a used copy at Disc Replay or something like that. But don't go spending top dollar for this. It's just way too flawed. And for me to say that about a Wolverine game...I hate it...but it's just too flawed.
6/10
It's playable. I haven't had any crashes. For a game that's only had one patch on top of the day one fixes...it's bug free. It's a sad day when that alone gives a game a score slightly above average. But as far as being a worthy AAA game...Insomniac should be ashamed. No AAA game should look like this.
The first motorcycle sounds like a good laugh at least.
We tried that but had to switch back to a regular suit cuz it was too distracting, hehe.
We reached up to... leaving Shinjuku by bike before my co player had to go on a trip. We'll finish it next week.
But how far away from the end are we? We're at 14 hours.
Trying to remember what sequence came when has always been a bit rough for me. But here's a copy/paste of chapter names that should tell roughly where you are.
Chapter and Mission List
Chapter and Mission List
- Telambang
- Back in Action
- A Debt Repaid
- Last Meal [1]
- Canada
- Homecoming
- The One That Got Away
- Raise Some Hell
- Strays
- Something Much Stronger [1]
- Japan (Part 1)
- Jetlag
- Get Angry
- Bad Blood
- In the Shadows
- Death Comes to Death
- We Were Wrong [1]
- Mount Haku
- Hell Followed With Him
- Death's Match [1]
- Japan (Part 2)
- Sinister Tidings [1]
- Madripoor (Part 2)
- Way Down Low
- Roll the Dice
- Field Test
- Red Right Hand [1]
- Unknown / Sequence
- Don't Go Gentle (psychic/memory sequence) [1]
- Tokyo & Madripoor (Finale)
- I'm Still Here
- This Was the Dream
- No Coming Back (Tokyo)
- Brave New World (Epilogue) [1]
- Telambang
Holy cow, we're still pretty far from the end.
Boo! I've been seeing different kinds of Wolverine memes around but boooooo on that type, haha.
It's not a bad game. Just not living up to the hype? Usually, just got to wait until rage tier 3 to start doing instant kills.
It's not a bad game. Just not living up to the hype? Usually, just got to wait until rage tier 3 to start doing instant kills.
Sorry, Fero, but it really is bad. I had some fun with it...but that in no way means it's a good game.
I already left my review up there, so I'm not going to restate everything just to beat a dead horse. But when someone says "it's not that bad," I feel almost honor bound to point out that, yes, it really is that bad.
i mean, are the controls smooth and relatively bug free? Sure. But in a AAA game, that is sub-bare-minimum.
I already left my review up there, so I'm not going to restate everything just to beat a dead horse. But when someone says "it's not that bad," I feel almost honor bound to point out that, yes, it really is that bad.
i mean, are the controls smooth and relatively bug free? Sure. But in a AAA game, that is sub-bare-minimum.
Oh, I skipped reading your review cuz we haven't finished the game yet.
Hmm, were the controls buggy... im tandem playing and I was the one who beat the Sentinel so I wasn't using all the abilities, just basic, so I couldn't say.
Hmm, were the controls buggy... im tandem playing and I was the one who beat the Sentinel so I wasn't using all the abilities, just basic, so I couldn't say.
No more so than any other game. There was one part I got stuck climbing something, Wolverine absolutely wouldn't get off, so I reloaded the checkpoint which thankfully wasn't too far back.
Of my criticisms in my review, controls didn't even rank. I'll give credit where it's due. The controls are actually pretty good.
But in a AAA game with AAA prices, if the best thing you can say is that the controls are good, you done effed up!
Of my criticisms in my review, controls didn't even rank. I'll give credit where it's due. The controls are actually pretty good.
But in a AAA game with AAA prices, if the best thing you can say is that the controls are good, you done effed up!
Wolverine is not a BAD game. I’ve played (And paid for) MUCH worse. I still argue Wolverine is a victim of overhype and rushed development. Considering Insomniac’s prior games…Wolverine might be the most janky I’ve ever played from them. With their legacy from Spider-Man and Ratchet and Clank, the bug, glitches, and questionable design REALLY stand out more than I think it might have otherwise.
If anything, I think there is an argument to be made that Wolverine was rushed out the door, and the recent updates showing how just a few toggles and bug fixing can DRASTICALLY improve things.
Wolverine is an average game with excellent production values. The problem is that everyone expected an AMAZING game given the studio and publisher’s track record for these sorts of games.
If anything, I think there is an argument to be made that Wolverine was rushed out the door, and the recent updates showing how just a few toggles and bug fixing can DRASTICALLY improve things.
Wolverine is an average game with excellent production values. The problem is that everyone expected an AMAZING game given the studio and publisher’s track record for these sorts of games.