Despite a wave of negative fan reaction and lukewarm early previews, Marvel's Wolverine, the new PlayStation 5 exclusive from Insomniac Games, proves to be a surprisingly enjoyable, if not groundbreaking, action game. A recent London press event, including an interview with co-director Mike Daly, offered a deeper look at the game, which releases on 15th September 2026 for £69.99.
Hands-On With Wolverine: Combat and Structure
Set at the beginning of Wolverine's career, the game places him in Team X alongside Sabretooth and Mystique, as they rescue Nathaniel Essex (the future Mister Sinister) from Bolivar Trask. The linear, Uncharted-style structure, with small open-ended areas, is a deliberate choice to maintain a focused, story-driven experience, according to Daly. The combat is simple, with one main attack button and a leap attack, but it feels fluid and satisfying, evoking a modernized beat 'em-up rather than a complex character action game.
Our hands-on time with the game's opening sections, including stealth through tall grass and dismembering Reavers, felt polished and true to the character. The game's difficulty is well-judged, making players feel like the virtually unkillable Wolverine without being overly punishing. However, the game is mechanically shallow, lacking a deep skill tree, and the optional Nightmare Door time trials were dull. The boss fight against a Proto-Sentinel was overly long and telegraphed, echoing classic Western boss design flaws.
Director Mike Daly on Fan Backlash and Design Philosophy
In an interview, Daly addressed the negative online discourse, attributing it partly to social media algorithms amplifying negativity. He emphasized that the game's design decisions, from combat to traversal, were all filtered through one central question: "Is this the best for a Wolverine game?" This philosophy, he argued, means the game is "not a game for everyone," but it is a faithful representation of the character. He also praised Insomniac's collaborative culture and multi-project development strategy for enabling faster production times.
Regarding the criticised boss battles, Daly explained that character and storytelling take precedence over mechanical complexity. "Our priority, like the rest of the game, is to evoke the character of the boss battle even more than the mechanics," he said. This approach, while potentially frustrating for some players, aims to create memorable encounters with iconic villains, even if it means less intricate combat puzzles.
Final Thoughts: A Solid, If Not Spectacular, Superhero Adventure
While Marvel's Wolverine may not be game of the year material, it is far from the disaster some online commenters suggest. The game's strengths lie in its faithful character portrayal, solid combat, and engaging story. Its weaknesses, including the weak boss fight and shallow progression, are noticeable but not deal-breaking. For fans of Insomniac's previous work and those seeking a more linear, story-driven superhero experience, Marvel's Wolverine is likely to deliver on its promise, even if it doesn't redefine the genre.
