Hulk

"HULK RENT!"

Lots of people say that movie tie-in games are really bad. They also say the same about superhero games. Well, here’s one that’s both. And you know what? This game goes against the norm. It’s actually a great game to play. The only flaw is that it’s too short.

Visuals (9/10)

The cel-shading is done well while keeping characters looking much like their movie counterparts. I can’t really find anything bad to say about the graphics. The camera, however, will often switch angles quickly. Like a Resident Evil game. This can sometimes hinder you in the Banner levels. The sudden change in directions can send you right into an enemy’s sights.

Audio (8/10)

The voices are good, though there are some times when characters just won’t shut up. There are obviously a lot of crashes, smashes, and other assorted sounds of destruction as Hulk tears up the scenery. The music is pretty forgettable, though.

Play Control (8/10)

The initial controller setup is easy to work with. Punch, jump, grab things, and the Gamma attack. The characters move a little slow, and it doesn’t help that the levels are kinda long. Plus, when you pick up some items or enemies, the animation takes a few seconds longer than one would like, and it can result in you getting hit in the middle of it. Another complaint is the special attacks when you’re in Rage mode. They require you to press two buttons at the same time, but often the timing will be off. This causes you to keep using the wrong move as the Rage meter winds down and runs out.

Gameplay (9/10)

The game is a level-after-level story. There are two types of levels. First, there’s the Hulk levels. In these, you must beat the heck out of everything that moves while you smash down walls to create a route to the level end. Or you fight a boss. Then, there’s the Banner levels. These are stealth levels, since Banner can’t destroy stuff. Banner levels consist mostly of sneaking, hiding behind stuff, and solving puzzles to activate things. There’s also a few mini-games you can play from the main menu, but they get boring after one play.

Entertainment (8/10)

Smashing stuff in the Hulk levels is fun. Hiding like a wimp in the Banner levels is not. Smashing, good. Hiding, bad. Just be glad there are few Banner levels. There’s no multiplayer, so there’s another minus.

Buy or Rent?

As fun as it is to destroy stuff, the game loses its replay value fast after you beat the Story Mode. So, as if the title of the review didn’t tell you already, I recommend just renting this. There is no reason to buy the game. No multiplayer + a Story Mode that can be beaten in a day or two – any reason to go back and play it again = a definite rent.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 08/19/03