Hulk (PS2)

Overall a pretty good game to do one spare weekend!

Mean Green Mawling Machine!
Review date: 2003-12-04 Rating: 10 out of 10

This game has one objective (well, two, but only one is really interesting...): smashing everything in sight: exactly as you'd expect from the angriest character in comics and movies.

The game looks polished from the moment you load it up: from the Hulk's roar on the loading screens, to the ominous and disturbing title screen: the name `Hulk' accompanied by a moody soundtrack and suppressed-rage style heavy breathing. Every facet of the game has this same polish: from the rapid changing, industrial-looking menus to the game itself.

The graphics are excellent, in a very appropropriate cell-shading style: they are fast, crisp and full of character with almost no slowdown occurring, even in the largest battles. The Hulk looks appropriately large, gigantic in fact when you get the chance to go as Banner through levels you previously traversed as his alter ego.

The sound is very good with some superb voice acting (notably featuring Eric Bana continuing his movie role- a very nice touch) and wonderfully bombastic sound effects: with the sound up really loud this game sounds staggering: `Hulk Smash!' is done justice!

The gameplay is great: from start to finish the Hulk tears buildings apart, smashes cars, knocks helicopters out of the air, shatters plate glass with hand claps and uses opponents as improvised clubs- he even shatters concrete with his own mass when he jumps. The objective of the game was to give the player `the Hulk experience' and it succeeds magnificently. Vast levels are reduced to rubble by the emerald behemoth, without even trying: purely the side effects of the Hulk's staying on his feet against hundreds of heavily armed foes results in complete devestation.

All this chaos is interspersed with marvellously rendered cut-scenes that integrate very well into the game, the story itself is quite engaging although it feels very much like the Hulk of a few years ago, rather than the Hulk of now (much more akin to the nature of the TV show- Banner hunted but parties unknown, and continually struggling desperately to control the monster that threatens to control him).

The game also features sub-levels where the player takes on the role of Bruce Banner: these are stealth affairs and usually transformation into the Hulk equals game over (ie a hostage dies, a nuke goes off etc etc). These are nicely executed but really just provide a quiet interlude in between demolition sessions.

On the down side the game is one note, but it is a tremendous note- few other games can match the thrill of being the Hulk. If you aren't interested in smashing things up, you won't be interested in Hulk.

There are a great deal of options to unlock and sub games to add to longevity (time attack, smash mode, endurance etc etc) a missed opportunity seems to be 2-player: being able to take on friends in various roles of the villains of the game (or even green hulk versus grey hulk) could have been great fun.

If you're an Incredible Hulk fan for whatever reason you'll love this game; if you like fighting games you'll enjoy it too (about 50 moves & comos)- it is also wonderful for letting off steam after a stressful day!

A great game, not to be missed.

Is it as Brilliant as it is meant to be?
Review date: 2003-11-14 Rating: 6 out of 10

Hi,
After just gettin' The Hulk game, when you play it, it is BRILLIANT. But don't let this first experince fool ya! After completing da game, it becomes well boring really quickly and you don't play on it much at all. Whateva U do, don't use cheats, 'cause it makes completing da game even easier. As I said, it's really good at first, but don't rush to complete it otherwise you'll soon get tired of it. Hope this has been useful news!
TJ Gamester.

YOU HAVE GOT TO GET IT!
Review date: 2003-10-06 Rating: 10 out of 10

Is your brother or sister nagging you? Are you extremely mad at someone? well then, get the Hulk! This is a great stress reliever and a brilliant game in general. The graphics are excellent and there are loads of special features to watch. Also, there are over 30 levels and over forty moves, from throwing crates to punching stomachs.
Bruce Banner is another playable character. He is more quiet than the Hulk and does the spying. Still, he is a bit of a break from the destructive powers of the Hulk. Overall, this is one of the best, possibly the best game I have ever played.