A few months ago, a prominent US movie columnist was fired for reviewing an early and unfinished copy of 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine', which he had downloaded off some unscrupulous site.

No such luck here — I had to wait for the real deal.

Given the mutilations of the past, many gamers are understandably wary of movie tie-ins. So was I, until I met with the unadulterated glee of facing off against Sabretooth, Gambit, Deadpool and other Marvel foes — arguably one of the most multi-dimensional and endearing characters in the comic book pantheon.

Developers Raven have been innovative in their handling of Wolverine's mutant abilities, feral supersense and cold gleam of adamantium. Their latest vehicle brings across a level of realism unprecedented in superhero incarnations — you can almost sense the square-jawed cynic's dislike for boy bands. This is the most fun you could have in a tattered white tank top.

The first time I played 'Bioshock' I waited for an eternity before realising that the movie clip I thought I was watching was in fact, the game itself. 'Wolverine' doesn't fall into the same category with the highlight of an otherwise unspectacular visual experience being the close attention to detail paid to Logan's mutant regenerative ability.

An exposed rib slowly gives way to new muscle in real time, bullet holes are filled out and bloodied brow is wiped clean as our hero's healing properties take hold. This is no game for your nun-chuk toting family funseeker: there are enough shades of crimson here to make even Rambo jealous, including nifty 'kill' animations displaying Logan's penchant for snapping spinal cords. And all this to the guttural approval of Hugh Jackman.

The control system is kept relatively simple, with special Rage moves (head stabs, skewer combos) supplementing the usual light and heavy attacks. Going into berserker mode in a fit of gamepad bashing can pose more threat to your Xbox's health than the Red Rings of Death.

The gameplay, unfortunately, can also be as unfulfilling as an explosion of rage. Dodge, lunge, attack. Dodge, lunge, attack. The repetitive action is dragged down further by the appearance and reappearance of several villains, a meandering plot that dips in and out on a whim of the movie storyline, precious few puzzle elements and an absence of character development.

While there is no denying the feral pleasure of carving your way through a legion of the undead, as far as longevity is concerned, it ranks up there with watching sideburns grow. That said, Raven have set a new standard in porting the big screen to the console.

Although not perfect, 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' is a superior movie / comic book to game interpretation. Forget nouvelle cuisine, this is a huge testosterone soaked slab of red meat, the kind of game that makes you want to rip off rusty bottle caps with your teeth and pull off a set of bicep curls while pulling on a cigar.

The kind of game that makes you proud to be man, with more reward for violence than could ever be sanctioned in a civilized society. Now you'll have to excuse me — I've got to go shopping for some yellow spandex...

6.8/10

Buy this game: PS3 | Xbox 360 | Wii | PC | PS2 | PSP | DS

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