Spoiler warning: This article discusses major story moments from Marvel’s Wolverine.
Insomniac Games’ Marvel’s Wolverine takes a far harsher approach to superhero action than the studio’s recent Spider-Man releases. Peter Parker and Miles Morales generally leave defeated enemies unconscious, while Logan spends the game’s 20-hour campaign driving his foot-long claws into opponents and covering environments with blood.
Released for PlayStation 5 on September 15, Marvel’s Wolverine is a linear AAA action game built around one mission leading into the next, rather than the open-world New York structure used by the Spider-Man games. The experience has also attracted criticism for heavily guiding players with quick-time events and visual prompts that indicate where to go.
Among the game’s unlockable costumes, most suit Logan well. Two exceptions are the Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls suit and the Animated suit: bright, cel-shaded designs that deliberately resemble cartoon artwork.
Viewed on their own, both outfits are striking. They are colourful and bold, even if they do not showcase the detailed animation used for the individual strands of hair across Wolverine’s chest. The problem is how sharply they conflict with the surrounding story.
These suits clash with Logan’s character arc
The central story follows Logan as he confronts his inner demons and tries to control the part of himself that wants to become a remorseless killing machine. He also uncovers a forgotten past that he would rather leave behind.
That makes the costumes particularly distracting during the game’s emotional scenes. After unlocking the Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls outfit, the player can wear it during a tense confrontation between Logan and Jean Grey on the streets of Tokyo. In the game’s sombre lighting, the cartoon design makes the scene feel unintentionally absurd.
The tonal mismatch becomes even harder to ignore during moments such as Logan nearly stabbing Jean during a nightmare, or when he is forced to kill his friend and fellow mutant Walter Langkowski, also known as Sasquatch. Wearing either cartoon suit during these sequences undermines the weight of the drama.
It is also jarring during ordinary combat. Logan’s battles involve heavy bloodshed and uncontrolled rage, yet the bright cel-shaded costumes suggest a lighter comic adventure. The result feels less like a creative contrast and more like a visual interruption.
Optional does not always mean appropriate
Players are never required to craft or equip these outfits. They can be ignored entirely, and some players may appreciate the option of comic relief in a grim campaign. The same approach worked more naturally for the Spider-Man games, where the lighter tone made unusual costumes easier to accept.
For Wolverine, however, the tonal balance is different. The game’s story is built around guilt, violence, trauma and Logan’s struggle for self-control. A brightly animated costume can work in a screenshot or a standalone fight, but it looks ridiculous when placed inside the campaign’s most serious scenes.
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