Wolverine: Adamantium Rage
Encyclopedia
Wolverine: Adamantium Rage is a 16-bit platform-action video game released for both the Super NES
and the Mega Drive/Genesis in 1994. The Mega Drive/Genesis version was published by Acclaim
and developed by Teeny Weeny Games
, while the Super Nintendo version had LJN
as the publisher, and Bits Studios
as the development studio. Both versions of the title were developed separately and differed from one another in some key areas, but their opening storyline and gameplay remain similar. It's one of the first video games to feature recharging health system.
The Mega Drive/Genesis version had a narrative that was a little more vague in its presentation. Wolverine is shown holding a photograph of someone from his past, and expresses his desire for revenge. He then recounts the procedure that he underwent which bonded Adamantium to his bones. It's at this point where the same laboratory level begins without much explanation as to why, or how Wolverine got there.
The rest of both games see Wolverine chasing down details to his past while meeting and battling several villains and arch-enemies along the way.
's Metroid
franchise, as Wolverine jumps and attacks through large multi-floored levels, attacking doors to give him access to new areas. It's also here where both versions have some major differences as well. The SNES version requires a set amount of enemies to be destroyed before entry to the next area is granted. The Mega Drive/Genesis version has a countdown timer that expires if the player takes too long, whereupon the Wolverine comic character Elsie-Dee
automatically finds Wolverine and kills him, wasting one of his five lives. A password function in the Super NES version enables the player to continue the game at any level. Both games give Wolverine a percentage of his available health, always starting at 100%. Upon taking damage, his energy will recover overtime thanks to his mutant healing factor. The SNES version has this being a slower process, but the player can wait as long as they want to regain 100% health. Mega Drive/Genesis users however don't have that luxury as the previously mentioned count down timer will keep them moving.
Wolverine also has different move sets based on what version the game is being played on. The SNES for example, has Wolverine being able to climb on any wall or ceiling with his claws, and is able to make springing leaps. The Mega Drive/Genesis version has Wolverine being able to roll up into a ball and travel short distances, much like the Metroid heroine, Samus Aran
.
Each stage is usually ended with a boss confrontation, and these differ from level to level between each version as well. The Mega Drive/Genesis game also places more emphasis on basic puzzle solving, and not level navigation and enemy destruction like the SNES version does.
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
and the Mega Drive/Genesis in 1994. The Mega Drive/Genesis version was published by Acclaim
Acclaim Entertainment
Acclaim Entertainment was an American video game developer and publisher. It developed, published, marketed and distributed interactive entertainment software for a variety of hardware platforms, including Sega's Mega Drive/Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, and Game Gear, Nintendo's NES, SNES, Nintendo...
and developed by Teeny Weeny Games
Perfect Entertainment
Perfect Entertainment was a British computer game producer, which ceased production in 1999. It was created in 1994 as a result of a name change from Perfect 10 Productions, a company previously known as Beam Software ....
, while the Super Nintendo version had LJN
LJN
LJN was an American toy company and video game publisher. It created toy lines and video games based on movies, television shows, and celebrities. It was headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, and later in Lyndhurst, New Jersey.-Founding:...
as the publisher, and Bits Studios
Bits Studios
Bits Studios was a British video game developer. The company has had over 30 titles published over the United States, Europe and Asia on multiple platforms. Bits Studios' parent company, PlayWize sold off all assets and technologies held by the group in 2008, due to poor trading results...
as the development studio. Both versions of the title were developed separately and differed from one another in some key areas, but their opening storyline and gameplay remain similar. It's one of the first video games to feature recharging health system.
Story
The SNES version follows Wolverine as he receives a mysterious transmission via computer; someone or something has information about his past and arranges for them to meet at an undisclosed location in Canada. It's here where the game's first stage begins; a laboratory teeming with armed guards and sentry robots.The Mega Drive/Genesis version had a narrative that was a little more vague in its presentation. Wolverine is shown holding a photograph of someone from his past, and expresses his desire for revenge. He then recounts the procedure that he underwent which bonded Adamantium to his bones. It's at this point where the same laboratory level begins without much explanation as to why, or how Wolverine got there.
The rest of both games see Wolverine chasing down details to his past while meeting and battling several villains and arch-enemies along the way.
Gameplay
Both versions share similarities with NintendoNintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
's Metroid
Metroid
is an action-adventure video game, and the first entry in the Metroid series. It was co-developed by Nintendo's Research and Development 1 division and Intelligent Systems, and was released in Japan in August 1986, in North America in August 1987, and in Europe in January 1988...
franchise, as Wolverine jumps and attacks through large multi-floored levels, attacking doors to give him access to new areas. It's also here where both versions have some major differences as well. The SNES version requires a set amount of enemies to be destroyed before entry to the next area is granted. The Mega Drive/Genesis version has a countdown timer that expires if the player takes too long, whereupon the Wolverine comic character Elsie-Dee
Elsie-Dee
Elsie-Dee is a fictional character appearing in Marvel Comics, and an ally of Wolverine. The character first appeared in Wolverine Vol. 2, Issue 37 in an inanimate state suspended in tank of gelatin. Elsie-Dee is a sentient automaton or android...
automatically finds Wolverine and kills him, wasting one of his five lives. A password function in the Super NES version enables the player to continue the game at any level. Both games give Wolverine a percentage of his available health, always starting at 100%. Upon taking damage, his energy will recover overtime thanks to his mutant healing factor. The SNES version has this being a slower process, but the player can wait as long as they want to regain 100% health. Mega Drive/Genesis users however don't have that luxury as the previously mentioned count down timer will keep them moving.
Wolverine also has different move sets based on what version the game is being played on. The SNES for example, has Wolverine being able to climb on any wall or ceiling with his claws, and is able to make springing leaps. The Mega Drive/Genesis version has Wolverine being able to roll up into a ball and travel short distances, much like the Metroid heroine, Samus Aran
Samus Aran
is the protagonist of the Metroid video game series. Introduced in the 1986 video game Metroid, Samus is a female ex-army soldier bounty hunter usually fitted with a powered armor suit with weapons that include beams and missiles...
.
Each stage is usually ended with a boss confrontation, and these differ from level to level between each version as well. The Mega Drive/Genesis game also places more emphasis on basic puzzle solving, and not level navigation and enemy destruction like the SNES version does.
Criticism
Many have considered this game far too difficult, citing the weakness of the title character, high HP of the goons in the level, and the invincibility of the level bosses as the primary reasons.External links
- X-Men video games on Marvel.com
- Wolverine: Adamantium Rage at MobyGamesMobyGames-Platforms not yet included:- Further reading :* Rusel DeMaria, Johnny L. Wilson, High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games, McGraw-Hill/Osborne Media; 2 edition , ISBN 0-07-223172-6...