Final Fantasy 16's Game-Changing Solution for Marvel's Wolverine Unveiled!

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The year 2023 has proven to be an outstanding year for video games, with a continuous stream of highly anticipated and unexpectedly successful titles. Among these, Final Fantasy 16, a captivating action-oriented addition to the beloved fantasy series, has recently made its mark as one of the latest AAA games. In the upcoming months, it will be joined by other highly anticipated releases such as Starfield, Payday 3, and Marvel's Spider-Man 2. The release of the latter holds even greater significance, as Insomniac Games has another exciting project in the works, Marvel's Wolverine. Enthusiastic fans of Marvel's Wolverine eagerly anticipate the creative take that this prolific developer will bring to another one of Marvel's iconic superheroes.

Although there is currently no official release date for Marvel's Wolverine, its distant future does not raise significant concerns. In fact, it allows for valuable opportunities to learn and grow from titles released in the meantime. Not only can Wolverine draw inspiration from the reception of Marvel's Spider-Man 2, but it can also glean important insights from other games like Final Fantasy 16. These two titles may share common ground, particularly in how Marvel's Wolverine is expected to delve further into the hack-and-slash genre compared to Insomniac's Spider-Man games. Within this framework, there are numerous structural ideas that Marvel's Wolverine should take into account from the innovative exploration of Final Fantasy 16.

Final Fantasy 16's Focused Maps Emphasize Its Strengths

Big-budget games have developed certain trends over the years, such as prioritizing polished visuals and ensuring a minimum hour count. Another common aspect is the incorporation of non-linearity to varying degrees, which can be seen in open world games where players have the freedom to travel in any direction. Despite this freedom, players often have to start important tasks at specific points within the vast game map. However, they can still enjoy the experience of exploring these massive environments and discovering organic activities or collectibles along the way.

It's worth noting that open world maps are not mandatory for all games. For example, titles like God of War Ragnarok and Final Fantasy 7 Remake offer numerous side paths and optional activities without the need for an open world. In fact, these games can become highly linear at certain points, resembling the dungeons and constrained stages commonly found in older games. Final Fantasy 16 takes a similar approach with its action sequences, incorporating an arcade mode with segmented levels alongside the expansive areas present in the main game.

Marvel's Wolverine Must Walk The Same Line As FF16's World

The combination of multiple large maps and segregated smaller levels could be a game-changer for Marvel's Wolverine. Unlike Spider-Man, Wolverine is more grounded and his abilities don't lend themselves well to open-world travel. With a focus on combat, Marvel's Wolverine would benefit from a more restrained approach.

Taking inspiration from Final Fantasy 16, Marvel's Wolverine could adopt a similar approach to its world design. The use of multiple large maps could represent different locations in Wolverine's world, reflecting his global travels. In addition, certain areas could allow for travel-by-motorcycle, similar to FF16's Chocobos. A primary hub, such as Wolverine's return to the Xavier Institute, could serve as a central location for the player.

Leveraging the power of the PS5, the game's protagonist, Clive Rosfield, could quickly travel between these maps, engaging in open-world skirmishes or more focused action sequences. By implementing this approach, Marvel's Wolverine can differentiate itself from Marvel's Spider-Man while avoiding becoming too linear in its gameplay.

Marvel’s Wolverine is currently in development for PS5.