X-Men Origins: Wolverine Review for PlayStation Portable (PSP)

System: X360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, PSP, DS	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Amaze	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Activision	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: May 1, 2009	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Teen	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

Wolverine's appearance looks more like his version on the new Wolverine and The X-Men cartoon than Hugh Jackman, but it doesn't really detract from the overall experience of fluid killing motions. The other characters' models also share in Logan's cartoony feel, but again they do not detract from the actual experience. Even the environments don't do this.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine screenshot

However, it is important to point out the environments do, at times, appear very stale. The lack of detail on a lot of the levels leaves you wanting more, especially when the Japan levels seem to carry the most environmental detail. It's very similar to how the voice over work is done. Although it is good overall (having some of the actors lend their voices to the game adds to the experience), the repetitious one-liners get boring after you have heard them a few hundred times. The constant grunting Wolverine does in the game is as laughable as the constant grunting Kratos does in his titles.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine on the PSP's biggest fault is the fact it is rated Teen. Even though the blood spurts and claw slicing noises are still present, the brutality of the Uncaged Edition is lost on this Teen rated experience. With the movie carrying more action and violence than the previous X-Men films, and the next-gen versions of the game doing the same, it seems pointless to dumb down or "neuter" the experience on the PSP. Maybe it is due to wanting to involve a wider audience, but those that are fans of Wolverine and want to experience an accurate representation of him don't want to have him watered down. With all of the similarities this game shares with the God of War franchise it just doesn't commit completely.

All things considered, X-Men Origins: Wolverine is not a bad game. It's a very straightforward Wolverine experience. It gives you the opportunity to be the poster child of the X-Men in some of his most ferocious moments from the movie. The simplistic controls and short level designs work well on a handheld, and it opens it up for several types of gamers. Add several unlockables and you have got yourself a smorgasbord of comic book fan-enthused content. While the Uncaged Edition may be ideal for many fans, the PSP version is the best at what it does, and what it does is very nice.

By Matthew Walker
CCC Project Coordinator

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

2.8

Graphics
The character models are acceptable in their quasi-cartoony appearance; stagnant environments are not.

2.7

Control
You can't get any simpler than these controls. The camera, however, kills a lot of the fun.

3.0

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Good voice casting, sound effects, and music throughout the game.

2.6

Play Value
Is the numbing feeling you get in the back of your head supposed to signify fun?

2.8

Overall Rating - Average
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

16 unique levels that tell the story of Wolverine based on the movie as well as levels only seen in the PSP sku; such as Japan and the Mines in Africa in which adamantium was deposited.

6 unlockable Challenge Arenas.

Includes characters that the other platforms do not have, such as the supervillanous organization called The Hand.

Objective Based system that will unlock features when meeting the given requirement.

8 unlockable skins/costumes unique to the PSP version.

Encounter friends and foes that tie in to the movie.

Two original levels exclusive to PSP - Wolverine travels to Japan to fight the mysterious group known only as "The Hand". Also included are the Mines of Africa, where the adamantium that now coats his skeleton was originally found.

Six unlockable challenge arenas.

Eight unlockable skins unique to PSP.

Plus the major bosses and movie storyline of the main game as well as key boss battles and fighting features (e.g. rage, feral sense, melee combos.)