WelcometoExtremeGamer

Reviewed by Downtown Jimmy
Sept. 4th 2004

Introduction:You’re a big green monster set to destroy anything in your path. Now, that is a cool premise for any game. In The Hulk you can play as both Bruce Banner and The Hulk, but it’s The Hulk we really care about. The old Marvel comic is reborn in The Hulk the game.

The Game:The story of The Hulk is taken partly from the movie and then the rest is original. It’s a good abrasive as it can be, I wont say anything just incase you want to see the movie first. The game might give away a few things about the movies plot. The Hulk always seemed like a hard character to balance in a story, but its done well in this game... well this s a action title, who really wants a story... that is more of a plus. Don't worry i will get to the action.

Walk, run, jump, punch, throw, kick... wait a minute... oh yea, and sneak. The Hulk is a pretty strait forward beat em' up style game. Most of the game you will be fighting the rather large forces of the army and other mutated bad guys, but there is another side to this green machine.

The Hulk plays out as both characters and as Bruce Banner you will be sneaking around trying not become enraged. Now that would be bad because that Hulk guy has a temper problem. :) The levels as Bruce are not as fun as The Hulk but they do give you the chance to rest your gaming hand. Bruce Banner will have to sneak through heavily guarded areas trying not to be seen, he will also have to accomplish random objectives (Computer Hacking, Moving Boxes). The segments with Bruce are usually the gateway into the next 40mins of action. These segments also help to move the plot along. Enough about Bruce lets get to the Hulk.

The Hulk is a brute; he knows one direction, strait ahead. When playing The Hulk i was surprised on how well the controls where made. This game flows like no other beat em' up game i have played. They definitely know there genre. The Hulk can jump attack, pick up enemies and other objects (cars, oil drums, steel beams, etc...) and use them as weapons also. The action is really quick and fast in the game; you rarely can stop for a breather. This is good because it’s an action title.

Graphics & Sound:Return of the cell shaded. Now i know it’s been the thing lately to use the cartoonish flair of cell shading for games. In The Hulk, it works. Actually i can't imagine this game any other way... for most part the game flows as well as it does, and can capture the action perfectly because it is cell shaded. It would of would of been a great undertaking to make this type of game with intense polygonal graphics. These work well within the world of The Hulk and the Marvel universe. It was a comic, and now it looks like your playing a comic. Nice touch.

The graphics are impressive and artistic in The Hulk and although there is a limit to the variation of characters everything is done right. I hope if the feel the need to make another superhero game or Hulk sequel the use the same graphic engine and keep the stylized cartoon look.

The sound in The Hulk is done fairly well, nothing really worth mentioning. I didn't like the fact that at times there was a gap of silence when the music would loop. If you waited long enough for it to do so. The sounds effects where done well and the voice overs where of "movie star" quality. The studio acquired the talent from the movie (eric bana) to work on the game as well.

Innovation:The Hulk isn't the most innovated game, and it’s not trying to be. So this score will be a little lower. The whole concept and content of the game isn't anything new that you haven't played before... but one area where it’s mildly innovate is the combat, now you could always jump, grapple, punch etc... But when you can smash parts of the environment away and pretty much use anything for a weapon is innovative. VU Games did a good job of keeping the combat with a fast and easy system to control. Action beat em' up games should all take a look at The Hulks hand to hand combat system.

Mojo:Blicky Blam. The mojo is riding a huge wave with The Hulk. He is one bad mama jamma. The Hulk has all the beat em' up action you can find, throw in a few hundred enimies and the ability to cause mass destruction in one punch and you have it. I really didn't expect much out of The Hulk, the movie or the game. Now that the game has made a good impression on me i am curious about the movie that will be released.

Lowdown:So everything so far is good with The Hulk. The combat, gameplay, graphics and story are top notch. The problem is that the game can be a bit repetitive. I know it’s a beat em' up but this the future (no?) They could have tried to add something new; sure i had fun killing the first 100 soldiers, but another 400... auuu.. Enough is enough. As you would expect the enimies aren’t that varied and seem to stick to a few different types depending on the mission you are on. If you can take that then there isn't much of a downside to The Hulk. It’s a very solid game.

If you are wanting fast action and you can accept that this is a beat em' up and game and not much more this title is definitely worth you $$. I love The Hulk and i had a blast crushing everything in sight.

Gameplay: 7, Graphics/Sound: 7, Innovation: 3, Mojo: 7. Final: 7

FEATURES:
  • Two types of gameplay – employ the powers of brains and stealth as Bruce Banner or take control of the incredible strength and rage of the Hulk.
  • 30 massive, highly-detailed levels featuring environments both directly from the film and exclusive to the game
  • SMASH HULK -- Fully destructible and interactive environments – virtually anything can be manipulated, picked up, destroyed or used as a weapon. The Hulk can smash through walls, use semi-trucks as weapons, throw enemies through walls and more.
  • THE ULTIMATE VILLAINS -- Intense boss battles – the Hulk will battle it out against gamma-enhanced super villains like Flux, Rampage and Half-Life.
  • Hollywood quality voiceover featuring members of the actual film cast, including Eric Bana as Bruce.
  • DEVASTATING ATTACKS -- Take down the Hulk’s foes with more than 25 killer attacks, including super attacks like the Sonic Clap and Gamma Slam.





The Hulk
 
Publisher
VU Games
 
Developer
Universal
Interactive
 
Genre
Action
 
Released
May 2003
 
ESRB
Teen