Summary
Marvel’s Wolverineis the next step in Insomniac’s take on the Marvel universe. For better or for worse, the game is still very likely to share some similarities withMarvel’s Spider-Man. Although it isn’t exactly a follow-up, there are a few areas whereMarvel’s Wolverineshould explicitly take inspiration from its predecessor.
Marvel’s Spider-Manhas already received wide acclaim for the immersive experience it presents. Likewise, it stands among some of the most authentic superhero adaptations in recent memory. Insomniac will likely strive for a similar ideal with thetitular protagonist ofMarvel’s Wolverine, and it may have to adopt one ofSpider-Man’smost infamous features to do so.
Marvel’s Wolverine Needs its Own Version of Spider-Man’s Backpacks
One Marvel’s Spider-Man’s Most Infamous Features
Marvel’s Spider-Manhas been praised for any number of features that put players directly in the shoes of the title hero. As an open-world game, traversal is among the most important aspects of the game.Spider-Man’s free-form web-swingingis one of his most iconic traits to boot, and one where developers have really managed to hit the nail on the head.
Expansive open worlds have one other priority that goes hand in hand with traversal. While moving around the world needs to feel as smooth as possible, there also has to be a satisfying degree of exploration. This role is most commonly filled by a vast number of collectible items that are spread throughout every nook and cranny of the open world.
Marvel’s Spider-Manfeatures its very own collectiblesin the form of backpacks, and they’re certainly a mixed bag. On one hand, collecting every single one can feel immensely tedious as a goal. This monotony is basically inseparable from the very concept, as proven byZelda’s Korok Seeds and theBatman Arkham series’s Riddler Trophies, both of which predateMarvel’s Spider-Manaltogether.
However, these collectibles have plenty of upsides as well. Most notably, players are rewarded with keylore about Insomniac’s version of Spider-Man. While this often means learning further details about the history of the character, it can also provide hints as to where the future of the series may be headed. Insomniac crafted a great recipe, and it’s one that could easily transfer toMarvel’s Wolverineas well.
Marvel’s Wolverine Needs Its Own Collectibles
Despite the differences in the characters,Marvel’s Wolverinewill have many of the same priorities thatMarvel’s Spider-Mandoes. Rumors indicate that the world design will differ heavily fromSpider-Man’s NYC open world. However, this doesn’t change the need to offer traversal and exploration that are equally entertaining.
Collectibles are a tried and true method to bolster these efforts. Despite the gripes some players may have with their implementation, Insomniac has found a decent way to implement them without overstepping. Thankfully, Wolverine is the perfect character to take this approach with, and may even have better material for the mechanic than Spidey ever did.
Wolverine’s origin storyprimarily revolves around the fact that he’s lived for hundreds of years. In the same vein, Wolvie has also happened to struggle with amnesia for much of that time. Both of these facts make this sort of collectible feel even more necessary. Wolverine has plenty of lore to pull from, and his desire to recollect this information could even be a core part of the game’s story.
Backpacks are a somewhat tongue-in-cheek way to deliver important lore.Marvel’s Wolverinewill likely have a more mature tonecompared to the wall crawler’s adventures, and this may extend to the game’s collectibles as well. It would make perfect sense to litter important files about the Weapon X program throughout the world, and allow the player to run wild and collect them all.Marvel’s Wolverineneeds its own collectible to reward players for exploring the world, andMarvel’s Spider-Manhas already provided the perfect blueprint.
