Exploring the Synergy: How Alan Wake 2's Influence Can Elevate Marvel's Wolverine
Marvel's Wolverine, a mysterious project in development, has an opportunity to draw inspiration from Alan Wake 2 This competitor article suggests that the open areas in Alan Wake 2 could be influential for Marvel's Wolverine, as the character may not be suited for a full open-world experience
Article Key Points
Marvel's Wolverine remains a mystery, with no details on release date, villains, or gameplay. The iconic hero's role within the X-Men, or lack thereof, is also unknown.
It is uncertain if the game will have an open-world setting, but it might not be suitable considering Wolverine's limited traversal abilities. A more suitable approach could be a smaller-scale design, akin to the open areas in Alan Wake 2, allowing for restricted exploration and enemy encounters without the inclusion of extensive side quests or collectibles.
Announced in September 2021 alongside Spider-Man 2, Marvel's Wolverine remains a complete enigma. Official details are nonexistent, leaving fans in the dark about the release date, potential villains, and even the time setting. Insomniac has yet to unveil any information about this iteration of the renowned X-Men hero, including whether he is part of the team. Furthermore, the gameplay of Marvel's Wolverine remains a mystery.
One of the primary concerns revolves around the game's world design. Given Insomniac's success with expansive comic book open-worlds in the Spider-Man series, fans speculate that Wolverine may follow suit. However, an open-world setting might not be the most suitable choice for Wolverine's character. Instead, Marvel's Wolverine could draw inspiration from Alan Wake 2 to explore alternative options.
Alan Wake 2's Open Areas Should Influence Marvel's Wolverine
Wolverine Doesn't Lend Himself Well to a Full Open-World
Both in print and on screen, Wolverine lacks the same acrobatic abilities as characters like Spider-Man or Batman. While Wolverine is capable of leaping short distances and scaling certain surfaces with his claws, he does not possess the ability to run up walls, swing from towering heights, move swiftly through the air, or glide through a bustling city. Instead, Wolverine adopts a more grounded approach to his movements.
In most comics and movies, Wolverine heavily relies on some form of transportation, typically a motorcycle. While a motorcycle would certainly allow Wolverine to navigate through a vast open-world setting, it may not result in the most exhilarating gameplay experience. Marvel's Wolverine could potentially find itself facing a situation similar to Arkham Knight, where the reliance on vehicles diminishes the excitement. Moreover, it is difficult to envision Wolverine engaging in the usual side activities that Insomniac open-world games offer, such as taking breaks from the main story to collect items or thwart random crimes in the city.
Alan Wake 2's Open Areas Would Suit Wolverine Better
Instead of a fully-fledged open-world, Marvel's Wolverine might benefit from a slightly smaller-scale approach, akin to that of Alan Wake 2. In Alan Wake 2, players have the freedom to explore a few expansive open areas. While these areas may not be vast in size, they offer a multitude of winding paths and hidden structures, housing a variety of distinct collectibles, items, and gear upgrades. This entices players to thoroughly explore each area before progressing. As the game progresses, these open areas gradually expand, allowing players to steadily uncover more of the map. Moreover, these areas are also complemented by occasional enemy encounters, creating suspense and excitement during exploration.
This approach of small-scale open-world design is an ideal fit for Marvel's Wolverine. It eliminates the need for Wolverine to possess extensive traversal abilities while still providing players with ample space for exploration, along with frequent encounters with enemies in between main missions. Additionally, this allows Insomniac the flexibility to include a few captivating side quests instead of having to populate the entire open-world with numerous side missions, challenges, and collectibles. Furthermore, the fact that Alan Wake 2's open areas resemble dense forests and mountainside towns makes them naturally compatible with a Wolverine game. Marvel's Wolverine is currently under development.
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z netizen, I am excited about the potential for Marvel's Wolverine to draw inspiration from Alan Wake 2. I believe that the smaller-scale open areas in Alan Wake 2 could provide a great template for Marvel's Wolverine, as it would allow players to explore without feeling overwhelmed. Additionally, the focus on exploration and enemy encounters in Alan Wake 2 could make for some thrilling gameplay in Marvel's Wolverine.
I also appreciate that the article acknowledges that Wolverine's limited traversal abilities might not be suited for a full open-world experience. I think it's important for developers to consider the unique characteristics of each character when designing their games, and I'm glad that Insomniac is taking this into account with Marvel's Wolverine.
Overall, I'm cautiously optimistic about Marvel's Wolverine. I think there's a lot of potential for the game to be a great addition to the Marvel's Spider-Man universe, and I'm excited to see what Insomniac has in store for us.
