fter appearing in X-Men-themed multiplayer games for the past few years, the fan-favorite mutant with the famous muttonchop sideburns finally gets a game to call his own: X2: Wolverine's Revenge. Trapped in an Ottawa military research facility, metallic prods jutting out from his body, Wolverine breaks free from his captors, shouting, "I am a man!" He must fight his way out of the bunker where he's being held, and he does so through equal parts skulking, strategy and claw-fisted attacks.
By activating the "stealth" mode, players can sneak Wolverine along walls and behind enemies. As he approaches his prey, a phantomlike animation appears to show a possible stealth move; this reflects Wolverine's previsualization power. Equally important to his escape is the "senses" option. Wolverine uses his mutant powers to slow down action and feel out hidden dangers. Enemy troops, for example, emit green-colored scent trails for him to follow. Careful, thorough players—those who want to do more than just mash the buttons and kill the guards—receive extra bonuses, like hidden Cerebro files with detailed information about Logan's friends and enemies.
Power-ups arrive in the form of dog tags—collect them and Wolverine's skills improve. Unless he's caught in a battle, Wolverine's health is generally not an issue in the early stages of the game. He heals automatically when his claws are withdrawn, and instant health-ups lurk in corners or inside crates for him to discover. Players can also make use of the "rage" function, which sends enemies flying and Wolverine temporarily around the bend.
Claws alone don't cut it
Fans of the film X2 should be warned: Although this game was released to coincide with the new movie, Hugh Jackman is nowhere to be heard. Rather, Mark Hamill (sounding a whole lot gruffer than during his Star Wars days) gives a strong performance as Wolverine. Visually,
it's clear that X2 was designed for fans of the Marvel series. The game has a comic-book look, and the game makers have hidden editions of X-Men around the maps, each representing a special reward.
While it's nice to see Wolverine making mincemeat of both SWAT teams and other mutants (they were overcooked in the gene tanks), X2 is still a disappointment. The game's mechanics cause many moments of frustration as Wolverine gets stuck against a wall or fails to execute the move players expect. The "strike" mode prevents players from doing anything but watching as Wolverine finishes off the nearest soldier.
The graphics are fun—particularly in orange-glowing Stealth mode—as is the chance to control Wolverine when he crouches down on his haunches to crawl along a corridor. But as his leg cuts through another body because of poor game design, it's hard not to wonder if this title was rushed out to meet the needs of legions of X2 ticketholders.
Worst of all, there are certain cheap shots. Turn the wrong way and Wolverine falls off the elevator he was riding. "Gotchas" like these—especially when a player has to restart at the very beginning of a level—detract from Wolverine's charm. In the end, the game makers know Wolverine himself will garner attention, with or without good game mechanics on his side. When he flexes and flashes those famous claws, previous imperfections are forgiven. At least until the next one arises.
Patrick Stewart makes a voice appearance, always a bonus for anything, in my opinion. Old friends like Sabertooth make better-than-ever boss-fight material, so despite my better judgment, I can't help but like X2.
— Jen
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