World Matt Murdock Reviews...

[Spectacular23]

Cool pics Matt.t:

 

[Matt Murdock]

This thread'll have to get a name change at some point, but I have a new review! The Heroes and Villains wave review is coming along quite well, albeit at a snail's pace, so I've decided to give y'all a new one while you wait.

This week, it's...

THE INCREDIBLE HULK
THE VIDEOGAME

Alright, folks, first thing is first.

HULK WANT YOU TO BUY THIS GAME.

*Ahem*

...Now that my inner-Hulk has been quelled, let's get on with the review.

Yesterday, I went to my local Gamestop to pick up the videogame adaptation of the next week's blockbuster, The Incredible Hulk. However, in no way is this movie, or it's game, the sequel to Ang Lee's abomination hehe of a film, HULK.

If one feels compelled to take this videogame quest as a sequel to anything, look at it as a second coming of The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction. If that sort of free-roam comic book inspired game is your cup of tea, then go purchase this now.

And, if having a movie-based game drawing off of a comic-inspired game for it's background doesn't quite satisfy you, you can view it as a sequel to May's Iron Man.

Mmhm. You heard me.

This game both starts the Hulk's heroic journey, and continues that of Tony Stark.

In fact, given recent internet buzz, Hulk's movie, as well, could be viewed as a sequel to Stark's cinematic debut.

Now, as for the game itself, it's surprisingly well done. Onto the review.

Presentation: ***3/4

What you've got here is a top-notch story, great voice acting, and superior graphics.

Without giving too much away, the crew for The Incredible Hulk has managed to create a unique, stylized version of New York City that, much like the previous Spider-Man series, has utilized a "random violence" mechanic. However, in my opinion, the Hulk team has managed to keep the gameplay interesting with the way that they deliver this randomized violence.

The start-up screen was fantastic, as well. I actually just sat quietly and watched it for a few minutes to see what happened. The premise of the opening screen is that the player is viewing the Hulk's rampage from a serene alleyway. You watch people sprint for their lives, taxis roar, people are hurled and when you press the "Start" button, Hulk demolishes a nearby wall and roars onto the screen. The load times are bearable, and the extras are easily accessible. The only complaint I have is that the bonus content, and, thus, unlocked characters, cannot be utilized during the in-game experience. It can be somewhat distracting.

Graphics: ***

The first think you'll say when you pop this game into your console, X-Box 360 for me, is "wow." The game just looks great. It has almost flawless shadows, every time you punch a guy, throw a guy, throw a car, throw a pole, punch a building, punch a car, anything, it just looks fantastic.

HULK TAKE TRAIN NEXT TIME!

One thing that really amazed me is that when the Hulk is running, leaping, climbing, or sprinting, his muscles ebb and flow beneath his skin. It's just amazing to look at.

There are some choppy parts, and some characters appear and disappear a few feet from where they're supposed to be, but, overall, the game looks surprisingly good.

We've only seen one more New York like this before, and that was in the Next-gen version of Spider-Man 3. I know it's a surprising precedent to break, but The Incredible Hulk blows that away for one reason above all.

Gameplay:***1/2

Remember how in Ultimate Destruction only about nine buildings could be completely, utterly, totally demolished?

Not the case here.

Everything you see, and I mean everything, can be destroyed. Wanna destroy a building? Hurl a car at it. The best part is, the car stays. Yup. Cars, poles, newspaper cases, trees, and even people stay, essentially squashed right where you hurl them.

Now, buildings can't be destroyed on a whim. They do take some serious beatings, but, in the end, the Hulk is the strongest one there is, and nothin' can stop him.

The combo system is extraordinary, boasting an extremely fast cycle. Meaning that if one executes a 3-hit combination attack, the next hit in the following combo is immediately executed. This leads to a continuous stream of punches, slams, and kicks. Another improved function is the unique ability to direct a single blow in a combo to any enemy in the immediate vicinity of the Hulk. If you're surrounded by three enemies, you can deliver a crushing blow to the one directly in front of you, and, using the control stick, pivot behind Hulk and punch the one behind you. It's far more fluid than the first "destroy everything" Hulk game, and it leads to a far more immersing experience.

The game boasts a new targeting feature, allowing you to either press-and-hold a button to focus on a target, or a quick tap to that locks your camera on a given target, focusing the game on them. The camera use in the game is unique also. Should the player pick up a car and hurl it, it tracks the path and angle of the camera, making rapid and emergency aiming far more accessible and easy to use.

The sprint button from the first Hulk experience still exists, but cannot be used to run up walls. Now, instead, the Hulk instinctively leaps up buildings, throwing himself up skyscrapers with ease. Now, when you press the jump button, Hulk pushes himself off of the wall at a 90-degree angle, soaring into the skyline.

The upgrade system is also a unique digression from the norm. Instead of an aggravating point scale, The Incredible Hulk utilizes a system of feats and expectations to grant the player upgrades. One upgrade requires that you destroy ten buildings, run for at least five miles collectively, and leap three total miles in-game. All of the requirements for upgrades can be found in the upgrade pane of the pause menu, and enables users to prioritize their upgrading goals.

Much like the last Hulk platform adventure, there is a destruction gauge, strike teams are deployed if you blow enough stuff up, or land on one too many cars, and if you do enough damage, Tony Stark himself is sent out to stop you.

Sound:***

Sega was able to contract the entire cast of the movie to reprise their roles for the game, which is a lucky break on their part. The acting itself is decent, though Norton does seem to come off as somewhat 'disinterested.'

The score is excellent. The composer from Spider-Man 3: The Game came back and delivered his powerfully electric guitar-driven style for The Incredible Hulk. While I felt the choice was somewhat absurd, a rock anthem for an elegant, graceful character, in Spider-Man 3, it fits perfectly with this game, in my opinion. A track is available for a limited download at:

http://incrediblehulkthegame.marvel.com/index.php

All you've got to do is check out the first line in "News and Updates" and see if the song is to your liking.

Hulk's roars are direct ports from The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, which adds a nice element of nostalgia to the game's sound.

The real gripe I have with the audio of the game comes from unlockable characters. I have played the Gamestop exclusive Red Hulk character and, from what I've read in the comics, this character is more intelligent than the Hulk that we all know and love, but you wouldn't be able to tell from the game. He just grunts and roars like his green counterpart. It's a nuance, but it is somewhat disappointing. The same is the case for Joe Fixit, who was surprisingly witty and comical in the last game.

Lasting Appeal:****

The game is entirely open-ended; the first truly, destructible version of New York that Hulk fans have seen. The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction was good, but it never even scratched the surface of what was truly possible. In The Incredible Hulk, everything in the city is destroyable and accessible.

THE INCREDIBLE HULK

The extras for this game are, dare I say it, equal to the long-striven for Spider-Man for the Nintendo 64 and Playstation. There are comic covers, secret tokens, unlockable challenges, and even mini-games. All of which go to the sole purpose of unlocking concept art, making-of videos, or new playable characters. In short, there's no reason not to come back.

Overall:***9/10

If you're a Hulk fan, this is the game you've been waiting for. It's that simple. It's not without flaws, but it's damned near perfect.

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