X-Men: Destiny Review

X-Men: Destiny, developed by Griptonite Games for the Nintendo Wii (with Silicon Knights handling other platforms) and published by Activision, arrived in 2011 with an intriguing premise: allowing players to create their own new mutant hero and shape their destiny within the X-Men universe. While ambitious, the Wii version of this action RPG faced the challenge of adapting a complex experience to the console’s unique hardware. This X-Men Destiny Wii review explores its successes and shortcomings.

Gameplay: Choosing Your Powers, Battling for Justice

The core appeal of X-Men: Destiny lies in its character choice. Players select one of three new mutant characters and then choose one of three primary mutant powers: Energy Projection, Density Control, or Shadow Matter. As the game progresses, players can further customize their abilities through upgrades and by collecting X-Gene powers from iconic X-Men like Wolverine and Cyclops. This system offers a decent amount of personalization, allowing for varied combat styles.

Combat is a straightforward hack-and-slash affair, with basic attacks, special moves, and a dodge. On the Wii, this translates to motion controls for some actions, which, while functional, can feel less precise and impactful than traditional button presses. The game features light exploration and simple puzzles, but the focus remains on fighting waves of enemies. A key decision point allows players to align with either the X-Men or the Brotherhood, influencing certain missions and character interactions.

• Create and customize a new mutant hero
• Choose from three distinct primary mutant powers
• Collect X-Genes from iconic X-Men for further customization
• Action-oriented combat with Wii motion controls
• Moral choices to align with X-Men or Brotherhood

Story and Setting: A Divided Mutant World

The narrative of X-Men: Destiny is set in a post-Utopia San Francisco, amidst escalating tensions between humans and mutants. A peace rally turns violent, leading to the emergence of new mutants, including the player character. The story then follows their journey as they navigate this conflict, interacting with both the X-Men and the Brotherhood of Mutants led by Magneto.

While the premise is strong, the execution of the story can feel underdeveloped, with a somewhat linear progression despite the promise of choice. The voice acting for the established X-Men characters is generally good, but the overall plot struggles to reach its full potential.

Graphics and Sound: Wii’s Limitations

Visually, X-Men: Destiny on the Wii clearly shows the console’s technical limitations compared to its HD counterparts. Character models are less detailed, environments are simpler, and textures are lower resolution. While it’s recognizable as an X-Men game, it lacks the visual polish seen elsewhere.

The sound design is decent, with recognizable sound effects for mutant powers and combat. The voice acting, as mentioned, is a highlight for the established characters, but the overall audio experience is functional rather than spectacular.

Legacy: A Missed Opportunity

X-Men: Destiny, particularly the Wii version, is often remembered as a licensed game that had great ideas but struggled in execution. While the concept of creating your own mutant was appealing, the repetitive gameplay and technical compromises on the Wii held it back from being a truly great superhero game.

Is X-Men: Destiny on Wii Worth Playing Today?

For die-hard X-Men fans or retro gaming enthusiasts curious about its unique premise, X-Men: Destiny on the Wii might offer some nostalgic value. However, be prepared for a somewhat limited experience compared to other versions and a game that didn’t quite live up to its ambitious potential. It’s a notable, if flawed, entry in the Wii’s library of action RPGs.