X-Men Origins: Wolverine Uncaged Edition is a sort of hack-n-slash beat-‘em-up that distills the spirit of such classic games as Double Dragon and Ninja Gaiden. The controls are simple and the gameplay is straightforward – enter a room, tear through a bunch of dudes, solve some light puzzles, move to the next room.
A healthy combo system gives the game just the right amount of depth without overwhelming you with a laundry list of seemingly impossible button sequences. A nice reward and leveling tree also add an extra layer of strategy. Wolverine’s healing abilities make him nearly impervious to enemy attacks, but rather than cheapening the experience, Logan’s resilience and animal ferocity offer a healthy dose of wish fulfillment for gamers and comic geeks.
Wolverine features some fantastic graphics. The environments are nicely realized, many of the characters look just like their real-life counterparts, and Logan’s body slowly heals over time. Unfortunately, the frame rate stutters a bit when the game automatically saves. It’s not enough to tarnish an otherwise polished title, but it does sacrifice some of the action’s visceral and infectious momentum.
The main characters are voiced well (with a number of the actors reprising their roles from the recent film), but the sounds of battle and the cries of enemy soldiers are a bit repetitive. The musical score also fails to make an impact.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine Uncaged Edition is one of the best licensed games I’ve ever played. Unfortunately, it is not appropriate for all ages. While the X-Men movies and the classic cartoons have always refrained from depicting explicit violence, this game takes a more “realistic” look at the damage Logan’s adamantium claws can do.
Gallons of blood are split as Wolverine slices and dices his way through an endless array of outmatched foes, leaving a trail of severed limbs and headless bodies in his wake. Your fallen enemies often scream horribly and writhe in agony as they slowly bleed out. Logan’s injuries are also graphically depicted, and many battles leave his bones and organs exposed until his healing powers begin to repair the damage.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine Uncaged Edition is a well-designed and highly polished title that makes the most of a simple concept and does a good job of placing players in the combat boots of their favorite Canadian berserker. Unfortunately, this isn’t really the Wolverine I’ve come to love; and I was surprised and disappointed to find that the game’s brutal content is matched only by its surprisingly vicious tone.
Logan’s tortured conscience and resilient humanity seem to have been replaced by vengeful and callous bloodlust. This Wolverine is a sociopath, and I found it difficult to relate to and empathize with this version of the character – a version that seems to delight in horrifically butchering hundreds of faceless victims. This game may be fun, but I’m not sure it’s good for the soul.
Caution Rating: 10
