"Fun Yet short"

It is rare that a video game based on a comic book superhero is any good. Games like Activision’s Spider-Man are definitely the exception to that rule. I am happy to say Activision has struck gold again with Wolverine’s Revenge. The game is very true to the character, giving you claws, super senses, and a limitless healing ability. There are no silly little meters to prevent you from using these things whenever you want, but the difficulty of the game definitely balances out Wolverine’s formidable superpowers.

Make no mistake: this is a pretty difficult game, which has led to a lot of people’s complaints about lack of checkpoints on each stage. Since you can restore your life very quickly, I think this is a minor complaint. If you take the time to figure out what you are doing on each stage, you can get through pretty well. BUT, the game does not force you to play it stealthy. I managed to get pretty far into the game just going on insane rampages with my claws before actually playing through in a more stealthy manor.

Story (8/10): The story is simple, Wolverine has been infected with a virus by the people who turned him into a killer in the first place. He has 48 hours to track down a cure or he’s going to be one dead mutant. The game starts with a prologue featuring Wolverine’s escape from Department H, and keeps getting more action packed from there. By the end, you will have faced many of Wolverine’s major foes and had a great time doing so.

Graphics (10/10): The game moves fast and keeps track of a lot at once. some people would say it was bad but they cant make everything perfect. Even the camera (while not quite perfect) is never distracting from the game. My only complaint is that Professor X looks a bit strange in the cut scenes, but since the rest of the game looks top notch, that is a very minor complaint.

Sound (9/10): Between terrific voice acting and great sound effects, I can’t ask for any more out of this game’s sound. Wolverine’s growls and the chilling sound of his claws ripping through Department H soldiers are perfect for this game. And Patrick Stewart and Mark Hamill (yes, Luke Skywalker) both do a great job as Professor Xavier and Wolverine, respectively.

Gameplay (7/10): You really feel like you are controlling Wolverine, and that is all that matters. The “strike” method of creating complex combos is a little tricky at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s second nature. My only gripe here is sometimes your attacks seem to miss or the buttons seem momentarily unresponsive.

But the rest of the game’s features more than make up for this. ''Senses'' mode is very well done and actually make for good gameplay, not a lame gimmick as I first suspected. As for stealth mode, it isn't Metal Gear Solid, but than again, it never really tries to be. Wolverine is about kicking some ass, and this game features a ton of it.

Overall (8/10): The presentation and fun factor more than make up for it’s few minor flaws. I recommend buying it, but at the very least it is worth at least a rent. The difficulty level, the hidden costumes and “Cerebro” files as well as the bonus challenges after completing the game really add to the replay value.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 05/09/03, Updated 05/09/03