Marvel's Wolverine Game Director Responds To Major Online Backlash
Wolverine Game Director Says Insomniac Is "Pretty Used To" Online Backlash
In an exclusive interview with TheGamer, Wolverine game director Mike Daly pointed out that Insomniac is “pretty used” to online backlash since it “comes with the territory”.
Back when Marvel’s Wolverine was first announced, it was widely considered to be one of the most exciting PlayStation games on the horizon. Insomniac had already more than proven itself with Spider-Man, and everyone couldn’t wait to see what the studio would do with a more violent and mature character.
You’d think that excitement would only grow over time, but that’s strangely not quite the case. For a number of reasons, including PlayStation’s physical release situation that Insomniac has been caught in the middle of and a more linear gameplay style, Wolverine is facing fierce backlash online. Luckily, game director Mike Daly doesn’t seem too worried about it all.
“It’s A Good Problem To Have”
Earlier this week, I had the chance to preview Marvel’s Wolverine and chat with game director Mike Daly. You’ll be able to check out the full interview and preview later today, but one of the more interesting parts of our chat came when I asked Daly how he and the studio are dealing with all of the negative comments about Wolverine.
Daly said that the backlash is something that Insomniac is “pretty used to” and that it’s a “good problem to have” when fans are so passionate. Insomniac and Daly also know from their time with Spider-Man that they can make a “great game that a lot of people love” and that some will still “find stuff to complain about”.
And I rest easy about this, knowing that our goal for the game wasn't necessarily to accomplish these things that people complain about. Our goal really was to focus completely on making the best game for the character. - Mike Daly, Insomniac Games
The director also thinks that the backlash somewhat “comes with the territory” when making both a game based on a beloved character and a first-party release. Daly says that he rests easy knowing that some of the things being complained about, such as linearity, weren’t what Insomniac set out to do in the first place.
Overall, Daly says that the team’s goal was to make “the best game for the character” and, while he thinks it’s great that people want specific experience, Wolverine is “focused completely on this character”. From what I’ve played of the game so far, Insomniac has absolutely nailed it, so you might want to hold off until actually trying it yourself.