Hulk (2003) (VG)

Director:

Mark James

Writer:

Jeff Houde (written by)

Genre:

Action

Tagline:

Experience the Incredible.

Plot:

Set shortly after the movie, while on the run; Bruce Banner is contacted by his old mentor Professor Crawfrod...

Plot Keywords:

Super Villain | Super Strength | SWAT Team | Based On Comic | Part Computer Animation

Cast

Eric Bana	...	Bruce Banner (voice) (archive footage)
Katie Bennison	...	Betty Ross (voice)
Michael Donovan	...	Grey Hulk (voice)
Michael Dobson	...	The Leader / Samuel Sterns (voice)
Paul Dobson	...	Madman / Philip Sterns (voice)
Jano Frandsen	...	General John Ryker (voice)
Doc Harris	...	Robot (voice)
David Kaye	...	Soldiers (voice)
Dion Luther	...	Ravage / Dr. Geoffrey Crawford (voice)
Murray McCarron	...	Soldiers (voice)
Wendy Nakano	...	Elevator VO (voice)
Graig Robertson	...	The Hulk (voice)
Lee Tockar	...	Half-Life / Flux (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Justin Gross	...	Soldier (voice)
Michael Hovan	...	Scientist (voice)
Jason Simpson	...	Soldier (voice)
Robert O. Smith	...	Soldiers / Guards (voice)

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Certification:

USA:T

Company:

Marvel Enterprises

Trivia:

When Bruce Banner is sneaking into the military facility, there is a message over the PA system saying that a dog has escaped, and ordering a containment crew to "Sector 7G". Sector 7G is the sector of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant where Homer Simpson works in "The Simpsons" (1989).

Quotes:

Grey Hulk: [while holding a soldier] What are you going to tell your friends?

Movie Connections:

References "The Simpsons" (1989)

It's OK, but it could have been better

After I have played all the way through this game, I can't say I enjoyed playing it an awful lot; the stealth portion of the game is decent, but the horrendous camera angles make it nearly impossible to get past(and unnecessarily frustrating to try your wits at). The Hulk portions of the game are at least a little more entertaining, but unfortunately they are limited to only consisting of the player controlling the huge brute, smashing things into tiny bits and throwing people into walls and such; nothing more is to be found here. It's fun at first, and they captured the style well(which may be enough for those who read about him for the senseless destruction and havoc that the big green misunderstood monster wreaks... looking past the modern-day Frankenstein's Monster tale and the tortured soul within the beast), but it gets old pretty quick, since few of the enemies are difficult to beat, and being practically invincible doesn't keep being entertaining for an entire game. In fact, the lack of any tangible challenge pretty much ensures that it stops being fun within much, much too short a period of playing time. The graphics are very good, crisp and smooth, with solid animation, and I like the diversity that the environment offers; you can pick up virtually any object and use it as a club, a throwing weapon or simply put it to good use, by smashing it directly over the next adversary's head. The controls are relatively simple, but at times you(I certainly did) wish that there had been more functions, as they only allow for reasonably few different ways of beating up your opponents(which, again, makes it get boring long before the game is over... and it's supposed to be the main attraction of the thing(honestly, the sneaking seems tacked on, more than anything)). I think the story is OK(though much of it seems as if it is written as an excuse to have a bunch of scenarios where the game can send endless swarms of mostly easily defeated enemies at you... and every so often turning The Hulk back into Bruce Banner, to put you through yet another insufferable stealth-level), it's kind of good that it picks up where the movie left off, but I think the numerous enemies, especially the bosses, were too much alike; every other boss is just another giant creature a la the title character itself. Another good thing is that they use so many well-knowns from the graphic novel as enemies; most fans will immediately recognize them. It's a pity that a game based on such a classic character, and one with such potential in many mediums, not just comic books(which is the only place I've seen him flourish so far), has to be a by-the-books beat-'em-up title. This could have been an interesting and intense production where you try to keep Banner's tension level(perhaps monitored through a meter in the HUD(Heads-Up Display, a la the suspicion meters of the Hit-man series or similar) down, to avoid turning into his unfriendly alter-ego and having to yet again live with more destroyed property, and possibly injured(I don't believe he's ever actually killed anyone, though I haven't read too many of the more recent stories) people. I'm not even particularly much of a fan of the character or the comic books... and that was just off the top of my head. Unfortunately, it would seem that the production company behind this fail to realize that not all comic book readers are children and/or have low standards... many of us appreciate depth, as well as thought and effort put into what we play, watch and read. This title is purely superficial. It looks and sounds nice, and it lets you control a fascinating creature, with all his physical strength and his impressive presence. If that is all you require of a game, then look no further... and good for you. I'm happy that some enjoy this game, but I'm afraid I was rather disappointed. The game is of reasonable length(though it could have ended sooner, in my opinion... but I may have been too tired of it by that point). The levels are fairly different from each other, though all are entirely linear. The visual design stays quite true to the source material... the colors all seem to have the exact right tone, and going by my limited knowledge of the graphic novels, the villains all look right, as well(and the choices aren't bad). In-between levels, there are animated cut-scenes that further the story, and I must admit, they are impressively done. The levels convey the sense that everyone's out to get you, which fits quite well with how the muscular and discolored man-like being must perceive the world, with his enormously limited intellect. If you accept that the game is a simple production that tries to do little more than put the player in the body of the title character, I suppose it's fine for what it is. It just feels like such a blatant attempt at cashing in on the popularity of the source material(I may not particularly care for Ang Lee, but I'd still say that he at least tried to do something interesting in the film), and I generally disapprove of such... if you just want to have fun and for your audience to enjoy themselves, then make up your own thing(or spoof someone else's), but if you're going to work from someone else's creation, show some respect and try to live up to the name and reputation of it. Overall, the game is OK if you loved the movie, or I suppose if you're a long-time fan, and one who's been waiting for a game for a long time. You just have to get used to the controls, and accept that the regular levels get tedious and repetitive very quickly... and that the Bruce Banner portions are overly difficult, due to a half-hearted attempt at programming a camera system. 6/10