Summary
Insomniac Games has been on a streak of releasing some of the best modern titles featuring a few of Marvel’s biggest heroes. Last year’sMarvel’s Spider-Man 2continued the excellent path set by the first entry in 2019 and continued in 2020’sMiles Morales, granting the studio a level of renown for crafting quality AAA superhero games. In December 2023, though,Insomniac was the victim of a malicious ransomware attack. While it’s always unfortunate and disappointing when something like this happens, one of the residual outcomes was that some of the developer’s list of future projects became publicly known. In the wake of the attack, perhaps one of the most exciting of these to come to light is anX-Mentitle that is apparently planned.
Marvel’s Wolverinewas known to be in development by the studio beforehand and thought to be next in line after the great success and reception ofSpider-Man 2. However, it’s been quite some time since fans have gotten a high-profile game starring theX-Men, and the possibilities of one with Insomniac at the helm are incredibly enticing.Spider-Man 2saw Peter Parker and Miles Morales working in tandem more than ever before. With the nature of the X-Men’s greater emphasis on teamwork along with some of the fantastic related inclusions from the recentX-Men ‘97animated series, the potential for a game focusing on elaborate combination mechanics between characters is high, and Insomniac may want to take notes from the show regarding how they might be integrated into gameplay.
Other titles revealed by the incident include plans for a thirdSpider-Manentry, aVenomgame, and a newRatchet and Clank.
Insomniac’s X-Men Game Should Capitalize on the Cool Combo Attacks Seen in X-Men ‘97
X-Men ‘97 Provides a Perfect Blueprint for Insomniac to Approach Team-Based Combat in the Game
TheX-Men ‘97series currently streaming on Disney Plus was well-received and praised for a variety of factors. Not only didX-Men ‘97deliver an engrossing and satisfying first seasonvia its narrative, but the action and animation seen in it is some of the most impressive and well-choreographed. Some of the coolest moments of the series occurred when the team did what they do best, pairing off and enhancing each other’s mutant abilities and fighting styes.
One of the standouts among these is Gambit charging up Wolverine’s claws with energy while the two engage in a larger battle assisted by the other members. It’s viscerally badass in a way that also makes total sense and stays true to the spirit of the characters. Insomniac, then, could use this as a jumping off point for elements of its game design.
The X-Men Insomniac Game Featuring Combo Abilities From X-Men ‘97 Would Be an Excellent Touch
Presently, there is barely any information available about the direction of theX-Mengame, and Insomniac was likely not going to reveal its existence or anything about it until much later, even if the hack had not disrupted its plans. Given the studio’s pedigree and history of working with Marvel properties, though, there are some intriguingangles that Insomniac’s plannedX-Mencould cover. One good bet is that, similar to theSpider-Mangames, it’s almost certain that it will find a way to make the combat mechanics fun and satisfying while tailoring them to the personalities and abilities of each X-Man.
Insomniac could take the core of its previous systems and naturally expand them to cover a bigger cast, having a range of combo moves that players could pull off, perhaps with each set effective in various situations or against specific enemies. Thearray of powers that the X-Men haveprovide fertile ground to include a variety of awesome combos, perhaps with gamers supported by an AI partner and/or via building up a gauge during encounters that then allows for a selection of them to be employed. Insomniac drawing inspiration fromX-Men ‘97’s slick depiction of team-ups could greatly inform its own title’s gameplay in this area, and make it truly feel and play like a next-genX-Menexperience.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Spider-Men Peter Parker and Miles Morales face the ultimate test of strength inside and outside the mask as they fight to save the city, each other and the ones they love, from the monstrous Venom and the dangerous new symbiote threat.Explore an expansive Marvel’s New York with faster web-swinging and the all-new Web Wings, quickly switching between Peter and Miles to experience different stories, epic new abilities and high-tech gear.Wield Peter’s symbiote abilities and Miles’ explosive bio-electric powers in battle against new and iconic Marvel Super Villains – including an original take on a symbiote-infused Venom, the ruthless Kraven the Hunter, the volatile Lizard, and more from the Marvel Rogues’ Gallery.
