"A fun, but problematic game"

So first off, the name says a lot. X-men 2: Wolverine's Revenge. The first part implies it has something to do with the movie, which is incorrect. The game is based on the comics and the different plots of the game and the movie actually have nothing to do with each other. Characters not in the movie timeline make appearances in the game for instance. It's just a marketing gimmick, which pretty much describes a good portion of the game. A lot of this game is gimmicks, or bells and whistles, as opposed to real substance. The second part of the name implies Wolverine making a high bodycount. If you are looking for the second part, and don't mind the detractions of the first part then things will be good. Let's break it down then.

Graphics: The graphics are not that impressive. They work, but they are more than slightly rough around the edges. The models could have used more polygons, the skins and textures could have used more detail, the effects could use some more flash. The game isn't ugly but it lacks polish.

Sound: The voice acting is good with Patrick Stewart voicing Professor X and Mark Hamill voicing Wolverine. They both get things down well. The dialog is a bit forced though, and the cutscenes are weak. Also, when you repeat cutscenes after restarting a level you will get irritated with Wolverine's comments very quickly. Just poorly written. Are we supposed to believe that everytime Wolverine sees 3 or more guards he recites a mantra about being quiet? After the voice acting, the next audio high point is the music. It is the thematic orchestrated type, and it fits well. Maybe a few rock or techno tracks could have captured the mood better at some points, but when you are sneaking around this is the music you want. Then there are the game's sound effects which are lackluster. They just lack punch.

Story: The name Wolverine's Revenge explains everything you need to know. The back of the box clarifies that for the people who don't know who Wolverine is angry at or why. The cutscenes are designed to beat you over the head with the story. Also the lines are written very badly at some points, which can be distracting.

Gameplay: There is sneaking and there is brawling. You will get a fair mix of each forced on you, but the majority of the game gives you the choice. Here's the kicker though, kill enough enemies without anybody seeing you and you unlock new fighting moves. You read that right. Doing better at sneaking gets you better at brawling...don't think too much into it. Anyway, there are two types of combat in the game: Normal and Strikes. Normal is when you punch, slash, kick, or do simple combos. Strikes are when you kill an enemy with stealth, or do a super combo move (unlocked by stealth kills). Normal combat is kind of restricted and difficult. Strikes can be more difficult to get going, but the payoff is well worth it, sometimes involving instant kills, hitting multiple enemies, or a method of death dealing that is just worth seeing. Outside of combat, there are objectives, which are usually accomplished by simply going from point A to point B. Warning: The game is very difficult and there is no mid level save.

Replayability: The game is on the short side, but it will last you a bit. There is also the option of replaying levels to get a better high score, or to gain unlockables that you missed. The unlockables are very reminiscient of those found in those Spider-man games for playstation, although they aren't as worthwhile.

Pretty much if you bought the Spider-man games for playstation then this is the type of game you're getting into. It's difficult and has no mid-level saves, but then again it's Wolverine running around snapping necks and cutting people. Many of you were going to buy it regardless.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 05/05/03, Updated 05/05/03