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X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse


The many faces of Wolverine

A look back at every game with Marvel's feral fighter

Words: Shane Patterson, GamesRadar US


X-Men: Children of the Atom (Capcom, 1994-1998) – Arcade, Saturn, PlayStation
Marvel Super Heroes (Capcom, 1995-1997) – Arcade, Saturn, PlayStation
X-Men vs Street Fighter (Capcom, 1996-1998) – Arcade, Saturn, PlayStation
Marvel Super Heroes vs Street Fighter (Capcom, 1997-1999) – Arcade, Saturn, PlayStation
Marvel vs Capcom (1998-2000) – Arcade, Dreamcast, PlayStation
Marvel vs Capcom 2 (2000-2003) – Arcade, Dreamcast, PS2, Xbox

These six arcade fighters are all lumped together because for the most part Wolverine doesn’t change much. Sure, new combos and tag team partners were added over these showings, but his overall appearance and move-set are largely not changed. The coolest tidbit? Cathal Dodd, Wolvie voice actor for the X-Men animated series returns to voice the badass Canuck. Oh and in MvC2, Wolverine has a “Bone Claws” costume.


Above: We sure did, CHUN-LI

 


X-Men: Mutant Academy (Activision, 2000) – PlayStation, Game Boy Color
X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 (Activision 2001) – PlayStation, Game Boy Color
X-Men: Next Dimension (Activision, 2002) – PS2, GameCube, Xbox

These fighters are a mixture of 2D gameplay in 3D backgrounds. And since these were released around the hype of the first X-Men movie, each is somewhat related - like the movie costumes being available and Patrick Stewart narrating Next Dimension. Don’t remember any fanfare around these titles. Wolverine’s involved, but the results aren’t pretty.


Above: Now with several polygons!

 

Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects (EA, 2004) – PS2, Xbox, PSP, GameCube, DS
When EA and Marvel partnered up, they were like “Hey, let’s create some no-name heroes and have them fight Marvel heroes and people will give a shit.” Clearly not the case, Wolverine battled such Imperfects (a very telling title) like Johnny Ohm and The Wink. Combat was like Power Stone, only suckier. And Wolverine looks like a douchier version of former Creed frontman, Scott Stapp.

 


Above: Can you take me higher, Wolverine?

 

Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 (Activision, 2001) – Every console ever at that time
Along with Spider-Man, Wolverine made an appearance as a secret character. You could flip Christ Airs and a special unlockable “Snikt” move.

 

Ultimate Spider-Man (Activision, 2005) – PS2, Xbox, GameCube, DS
In order to prove how strong Venom is, you get to beat the crap out of Wolverine and throw him through a window.

 

Spider-Man: Web of Shadows (Activision, 2008) – PS3, 360, Wii, PS2, PSP, DS
Wolverine thinks Spider-Man (played by you) is infected by a symbiote and throws down in a brief fight. Later on, the symbiote attacks Wolvie and makes Venom-Wolverine!

 


Above: And all the rest…

 


Above: And here’s Logan’s X-Force threads

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46 Comments
Order Comments: Newest First | Oldest First
Ddz53  - 7 months 2 days ago 
Never the same suit, but always hairy
ELpork  - 7 months 2 days ago 
GHAAA that creed comparison!? why?
bobalou27  - 7 months 2 days ago 
awesome. just awesome
PK64  - 7 months 2 days ago 
3 oh yeah wolverine is homosexual
helix92  - 7 months 2 days ago 
Wow thats a lot of games. The new one looks pretty cool but whats the bet that it will just be another average movie tie-in. They should do a "Many faces of Batman" when arkham asylum comes out.
GamesRadarCharlieBarratt  - 7 months 2 days ago 
@helix92 - Shane already did!

http://www.gamesradar.com/f/batmans-best-and-worst-games/a-2008071195254141016
GamesRadarShanePatterson  - 7 months 2 days ago 
That's not all Charlie! Batman's Best and Worst Games is the first "Want More" link on the 4th page!
GamesRadarCharlieBarratt  - 7 months 2 days ago 
Fourth page? I can't be expected to click three times!
RebornKusabi  - 7 months 2 days ago 
As a huge Venom fan, I ****ing loved Venom-Wolverine in Web of Shadow's! One of the coolest parts of the game, hands-down.
GoldenMe  - 7 months 2 days ago 
Oh you two, calm down. Let's just keep hoping that Wolverine can face Ken again in Marvel vs Capcom 3.

Capcom, please?!
Koouunn  - 7 months 2 days ago 
u guys make fun of the genesis 1, but that 1 was my favorite. then was Marvel vs Capcom 2
CNnegative1  - 7 months 2 days ago 
I laffed at the creed comparison.... well played GR....well played
NipplesTheSuperHippo  - 7 months 2 days ago 
When I was reading this, I found out that if you say x-man around 30 times to yourself, your mind will explode!
good work by the way, really good read.
NipplesTheSuperHippo  - 7 months 2 days ago 
sorry, that would be x-mEn
nyef  - 7 months 2 days ago 
"One day Logan, everything the sun touches will be yours"

lol gotta love the lion king
Corsair89  - 7 months 2 days ago 
Wolverine kicks ass. I can't wait until Marvel vs Capcom 2 comes to XBLA.


reCaptcha: formerly peabody
twishart  - 7 months 2 days ago 
man, I played the SHIT out of Mutant Apocalypse.
Dead  - 7 months 2 days ago 
Oh man I'm getting a HUGE nostalgia rush from that mention of X-men for Genesis. As hilarious as I now realize it was, that was the soundtrack to my childhood.
Dead  - 7 months 2 days ago 
Also I now have to buy Web of Shadows just to see Venom-Wolverine.
BoondockSaint54  - 7 months 2 days ago 
I loved that old arcade game. The one thing I didn't like about the X-Men games was you could only use the powers to much before they went bye-bye for a while.
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