Monkeh Memos

Ah X-men; the story of discrimination and hate, with super cool powers and witty quips. Xmen Origins: Wolverine, is crazily enough focused on the origins of the ever bad-ass Wolverine. Released just in time for the movie, I went against my better judgment (as per usual) and decided to play a Game based on a Movie. Interestingly, the threads that join this to the movie of the same name are so thin that if not for the feature of Hugh Jackman, you wouldn't even know they were connected. That is to say, they are completely different stories. So really, it's not based on a movie. It's one of those alternate universe deals that the comic book world is so fond of. But anyway, on to the game!

Storyline
The game opens with you helicoptering in to the Jungle, as per the movie. That is about as far as we get into the movie storyline before the helicopter explodes and you're flung off by yourself to go kill random angry black people in the jungle (Why? Discrimination! No not really. Maybe.) Other than this, minor scenes link the game back to the movie, such as the adamantium plating and killing key characters, but all roads leading to these key events are completely different. Basically, just pretend this is a different Xmen Origins altogether and you'll feel alot better.

More blood than a backstreet surgery...
From the game's opening of wanton killing you realise; This is one hell of a bloody game. You rip off heads and arms left, right and center. On the odd occasion you shove someone's head into a helicopter blade. Even ol' Logan doesn't escape the damage, with your skin being ripped away by bullets and machetes, revealing your muscles and bones before you heal. And that image doesn't even show the half of it. I don't know how Soldier of Fortune got censored and this didn't. This is at least for the MA15+ Xbox 360 version. Who knows what they'll do for the wii version, maybe just remove the red and pretend it's all a dream?

But you know, if you accept Xmen Origins: Wolverine as a bloody killing games, then it's kind of fun. Well, if you like bloody killing games.

Gameplay
The main gameplay is that you go around killing people who try to stop you (with bullets and machetes) while on your missions or journeys. There are quite a number of combos, attack styles and means of disposing of an enemy (what can I get for you today sir, slice in half, or hung on a tree?). On top of this you have skills and abilities that you obtain through gaining experience, you can find mutagens throughout the game which you can equip to enhance certain areas (more exp, more health, better angry attack etc) and the more of a certain type of enemy you kill the more 'learn' about them so the more damage you do. All in all, this add to make the mindless killing a little more rounded. You can even collect Dog tags for more experience (though this is poorly managed) and find Wolverine figurines for costume upgrades (you ust can't go past classic Wolverine).

Graphics
The game graphics are fine, what you would expect of a game rolled out for a movie premier, but the cut scenes leave a lot to be desired. The action scenes might have well have been recorded on VHS the incorporated back, the close up Wolverine scenes look fine, then the adamantium plating scene is super HD (as it was made to be featured for the opening title) and looks completely out of place with everything else. Basically the big missmatch of quality which makes the poor graphics more obvious than the Wolverine's first movies glimpse at his fake claws (See the movie and you'll understand).

Summary
All in all, for a game supposedly based on a movie this is pretty good. You're not just stuck reliving the movie scenes and the mechanics behind the game are pretty solid and encourage you to stick with it. Or course, being a game that shares the movie name, it is a bit strange that it is it's only completely different story altogether, but at least it works.

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All up rating: 6/10 - Not bad! If you enjoyed the movie, you'll like this. Just don't expect familiarity. MA15+ version totally not for kids.