Wolverine: Adamantium Rage

Wolverine: Adamantium Rage is a 16-bit platform-action 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.

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 Nintendo'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 5 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.

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.