Hulk (2003)

Hulk (2003)

Let us take a step back in time, before every Superhero movie was part of a cinematic universe. At one point, they were singular and self contained. This brings us to the Ang Lee film, Hulk, released in 2003. This was the first live-action big screen adaptation of one of the most popular comic characters in history. Did it deliver a mean, green, fighting machine of a movie? Short answer, no. The pacing, lack of action, bizarre narrative points, and over-dramatic character portrayals received largely mixed reviews. It was also a box-office disappointment. Needless to say, this film was a giant gamma bomb. As was common back in the day, a game tie-in would coincide with the film’s release. How did this one fair? Surprisingly, not half-bad. 

A smashing tie-in

The Hulk video game is a bit of an anomaly when it comes to movie tie-ins. It’s not a portrayal of the film. It’s actually a sequel! Bruce Banner is still on the run from the government, when an old colleague phones him and says he has found a cure. Desperate to live a normal life, Banner accepts the offer. HOWEVER, it was nothing but a trap! Dr. Crawford has betrayed you and stolen your gamma energy to build an army of super soldiers. You must stop Crawford, and destroy his gamma orb. 

Hulk is a beat-em up action-adventure title and it delivers. The Hulk can pick up cars, crates, steel pipes and even enemies to demolish anything in his path. The controls are responsive and well designed. Hulk moves with ease and lets the player feel like an unstoppable juggernaut. Combat is exceedingly simple, just mash the square button to break the face of any foe to come your way. It’s admittedly not the most fleshed out system, but it’s pretty fun knocking around enemies like ragdolls. However, the simplicity of the fighting mechanics can make it feel repetitive. 

One huge area of criticism are the Bruce Banner missions. Similar to how the newer Spider-Man games will hijack control from you to play as regular boring Peter Parker or his friends; there are a handful of levels where you actually play as Bruce Banner and must rely on stealth to advance. Yes, stealth in a Hulk game… Personally, I don’t find these awful and actually kind of enjoyed them. It can actually build up tension while trying to sneak past a giant sleeping hulk dog. However, the stealth missions are admittedly very simplistic. All that is required is simply to stay out of sight, that’s it. There are also a variety of cheats, time attack and endurance modes to keep players engaged. It’s a nice touch, showing that there was some time and effort put into this. 

In short, this game is far from perfect. Combat is repetitive, stealth is overly simplistic, and the pacing can be a little uneven. Even still, this game is far better than the movie it’s based on. The story isn’t very long and doesn’t overstay its welcome. The bonus features included are a fun distraction worth playing at least once. In conclusion, it warrants a playthrough or two. Unleash your fury, break heavy objects on enemies’ heads, and smash all that’s in your way.

Angrily,

Fil

Verdict: 7/10

Verdict: 7/10
7/10

https://opencritic.com

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286716/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1

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