It is not controversial to say “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” belongs on the list of perfectly watchable yet painfully clichéd superhero movies of the 2000s. Time has been kinder to the collective perception of this 2009 Marvel flick, as the pleasure of watching a hyper-committed Hugh Jackman embody Logan/Wolverine softens the film’s many, many flaws. Moreover, this spin-off/prequel to 2000’s “X-Men” wasn’t well-received on release despite being a commercial success, as it was branded as yet another bland retelling of a comic book origin story that could’ve boasted more flavor or depth. In hindsight, the film’s sole merit, besides Jackman, seems to be the fact that it helped kickstart an industry-wide obsession with spin-offs, where these kinds of stories were now more creatively ambitious than your run-of-the-mill cash grab.
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Unfortunately, “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” remains riddled with mediocrity (unlike “Logan,” which brims with intense, sincere emotional depth), but one connected aspect of this Gavin Hood film is worth revisiting even today. Just like numerous video game tie-ins that the “X-Men” films spawned over the years, “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” also had an eponymous video game tie-in that was released alongside the film. This game, however, is significantly more enjoyable/worthwhile than its movie counterpart and has even evolved into a cult classic for its complex portrayal of Logan/Wolverine in the medium.
As with most early-2000s combat-focused game entries, “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” fared unevenly on different ports, with its gore and violence-heavy “Uncaged Edition” (which received a Mature 17+ rating for PC and a few console versions) emerging as the most polished, superior version. Although the game’s Nintendo DS and PlayStation 2 ports prompt criticism for poor controls and subpar textures, the legacy of the “Uncaged Edition” is potent enough to be considered a wildly successful one. But what makes this tie-in so beloved, and does this hack-and-slash style action-adventure stand the test of time?
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X-Men Origins: Wolverine sets itself apart with gory, over-the-top brutality
In terms of gameplay, “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” does not offer much beyond standard hack-and-slash shenanigans. It isn’t delightfully outlandish or stylized as the “Devil May Cry” series (which it takes inspiration from) and doesn’t feature complex in-game lore like 2005’s “God of War.” Instead, it circumvents the flaws of its tie-in film by weaving a story that feels adequately fleshed out, where Wolverine’s quick, dirty fighting style fills in the blanks and etches its own violent tale. There’s an element of untameable brutality in this rendition of Wolverine, who sinks his adamantium claws into his foes and doesn’t flinch before tearing them in half. For obvious reasons, the “Uncaged Edition” underlines this aspect without compromise, where you can lunge at enemies, claw them to shreds, or impale them on spikes.
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Although Hood’s flick also paints Wolverine’s backstory in tragic tones, the game takes things further by setting the story against the backdrop of a bleak urban landscape. Things kick off with the final mission of Team X, where Wolverine and his brother Victor Creed (alongside others, including Deadpool) locate a village with rich adamantium deposits. A string of mercenaries attempts to sabotage their mission, leading to escalating circumstances that culminate in a village-wide massacre. Amidst all of this, Logan is the only one who turns on his team to save the villagers, but is knocked out before he can do so. This inciting incident kickstarts a dark, moody story about betrayal and revenge, in which Logan walks a path forged by copious amounts of blood and guts.
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The core appeal of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” is watching Logan/Wolverine’s Rage Meter fill up, which allows him to perform fatal attacks like claw spin or berserker mode, boosting in-game currencies like XP (experience points). Like any standard hack-and-slash, every exaggerated combo adds to the thrill of walking in Logan’s shoes, which is heightened here due to his accelerated mutant healing abilities. For example, if Logan’s arm is bleeding profusely one moment, it will be as good as new the next, allowing him to use the same limb to disembowel an enemy with unfiltered rage.
There’s a catch, of course. This combat formula gets stale and repetitive after a while, a drawback that is exacerbated by the lack of challenging boss fights and a story that is decent at best. Despite this glaring issue, “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” is a blast and a half; it is a must-play for genre enthusiasts who deeply appreciate Wolverine’s comic book-accurate brutality. Plus, the game still runs pretty well on select ports, and looks good enough to be worth your time.
