The Punisher

"Pretty good side-scroller but it has it's flaws."

I'm a big fan of side-scrollers, and was excited when I discovered The Punisher for Genesis. For those who don't know who the Punisher is, he's a comic book character. This game also introduces something new to side-scroller:
Guns

Graphics(9):
Graphics are excellent. The most of the stages looked very nice, but others could use a bit more detail. The characters look great, and everything looks the way it should.

Sound(9):
For the most part, the sounds are realistic. Everything sounds good between the gun shots and the screeching of tires on cars. The music is great,too, but it is repeated too much throughout the levels. The boss music is very good.

Control(9):
Most side-scrollers have good control, and it doesn't disappoint in this category. Auto-aim with pistols make it easy to take out enemies, but with machine guns you'll have to aim manually. The only problems are the jumping physics seem a little off.

Gameplay(8):
You start by choosing one of 2 characters, either the Punisher or another less known comic book character Nick Fury. Each character has their own story, so the dialogue throughout the levels will differ. There are 6 levels, and while the game may sound easy, it's actually very hard, especially around the 4th level. Plus, you must play on normal difficulty or higher if you hope to get past the 3rd level. Now lets talk about the guns. They are very cheap weapons, but are cool to use, because this is the 1st side-scroller to every use them. Plus, one of the coolest weapons is featured in this game: the flamethrower! However, one problem I have with this game is that the characters have so few moves. All you have is one special move, a throw, and one combo of punches and kicks. More moves would have added to the enjoyment of the game.

Replay/Extras(2):
With only 2 characters to choose from, you'll only have to play this game twice to get the most fun out of it. Then you can simply place it your closet to collect dust.

The Punisher is a nice addition to the side-scroller era, and would like to see a remake on the PS2. Also, for those who were wondering, the arcade and console version of this game have a few differences, particularly the enemies you encounter. Overall, this is a great game, and if you find, you should definintly buy it. This game is increasingly becoming harder to find.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 02/28/03, Updated 02/28/03