Why Marvel's Wolverine Needs to Learn from Spider-Man's Winning Formula

Insomniac Games has already demonstrated its ability to handle the Marvel license with two successful games released and another on the way. With free reign to choose any Marvel character, Insomniac's love for Spider-Man is evident in both Marvel's Spider-Man titles. Fans are eagerly anticipating the studio's upcoming Marvel's Wolverine, but so far, Insomniac Games has remained tight-lipped about the gameplay, story, and characters. However, it's safe to assume that Marvel's Wolverine will incorporate features and mechanics from Insomniac's Spider-Man games, including their engaging approach to collectibles.

Marvel's Wolverine Should Take Spider-Man's Approach to Collectibles

In contrast to many open-world games where collectibles are just another item to check off the list, Marvel's Spider-Man offers a more rewarding experience. Each collectible in the game serves a purpose and provides the player with a unique reward, making it worth the effort to seek them out.

One example of this is Spider-Man's backpacks, scattered throughout the city. These backpacks belonged to Peter Parker and each one contains a piece of memorabilia from his past adventures. Finding each backpack not only earns the player XP tokens to upgrade Spidey's abilities and gadgets, but also provides insight into Peter Parker and the Marvel universe he inhabits.

Marvel's Spider-Man's collectibles are a standout feature of the game, offering players a unique and engaging way to explore the city. By stopping off at iconic locations and taking quick snaps, players not only earn XP tokens for upgrades, but also gain valuable insights into their surroundings. From real-world landmarks like the Empire State Building to in-universe locations like Avengers Tower and the Sanctum Sanctorum, each collectible is packed with easter eggs, references, lore, and actual gameplay benefits, making them a true delight to discover. And with the added bonus of unique Spidey suits up for grabs for completing certain quests, Marvel's Spider-Man's collectibles are an essential part of the game's overall experience.

If Marvel's Wolverine is looking to follow in Spider-Man's footsteps, it would be wise to adopt a similar approach to collectibles. Like Spider-Man, Wolverine's collectibles should offer players both XP points for leveling up and insights into the character's world and history. However, given the wider Marvel universe in which the X-Men reside, Wolverine's collectibles should also include plenty of references to this larger context. By filling in the gaps in the characters' history and delivering additional information about the X-Men in an engaging way, Wolverine's collectibles could be a truly standout feature of the game.