PS3/Xbox360/PC/Windows
It’s back, Another Hulk game. This is one I was waiting for. Ever
since The Incredible Hulk Ultimate Destruction came out, I have been
playing that one and having a blast. Now the New game comes out, The
Incredible Hulk based on the new film with Edward Norton and Liv
Tyler. Let me start this review with these immortal words… “What the
Heck happened?” For a game that seemed to borrow so much from
Ultimate Destruction, one would think that the game would be at
least worth more than an hours look. Some how all the life has been
sucked out of this game and a shallow mish mashed attempt at a story
line has been attempted, on top of all that many of the game design
choices leaves you scratching your head and wondering if anyone
associated with The Incredible Hulk Game picked up a comic and read
any of the stories at all, or had a look at any of the films or
shows.
Looks and plays very well on the PS3 while the Xbox360 version seems
to have some problems with lockups. The graphics on the 360 look
very nice but with that and some control quirkiness’ I’ll be content
to be playing the PS3 version. While the PC version tested on the
Alien 5100 played very well, it was an insult to the Alienware
system to even install the game. The PC version just leaves you
wondering why even more than the other versions. I really want to
like the game, but the game drops the ball in so many areas. The
Alienware system is a top notch system that just makes most games
shine to their full potential. When you’re ready to make your next
PC computer purchase for your ultimate gaming rig; check out
www.alienware.com .
Just a few more nit picks and I will move on. First off what is up
with the physics? So, ok The Hulk is really powerful I get it, I am
a fan. I just don’t get that the hulk grabs an opponent (Human or
otherwise) throws them like say off of a car and they bounce off
that and then also hit a building causing more destruction. Ok
folks, here’s how it would work, the energy of that moving object
would spend most , if not all of it’s energy in hitting the first
object. So bashing into one thing and bouncing off and hitting
something else with the same force would just not happen no matter
how you try to take creative license. There where a few clipping
bugs here and there as well as character interaction inconsistence
with the game play. Jump on a car and it explodes and turns to a
burned out husk, walk on a car and not so much as a dent. What the
heck? A little more research and game quality control please….Let me
charge forward here.
Sound and voice acting are so-so, which is really a surprise here.
Edward Norton’s voice over work for the game is almost a hollow
sleep walk of a performance, really a surprise considering the
acting caliber of the guy. Who knows maybe the game voice work was
rushed. Ambient sound is passable, building being bashed and crushed
and all the destruction sounds pretty good in the surround sound
department. It’s at least the kind of sound that makes the neighbors
wonder what the heck you’re doing.
Game play is pretty simple with the controls very easy to learn;
sometimes you just don’t get the ease of control of the character
that you want but for game play is passable.
Graphics are ok on most of the platforms, but the PC port just
suffers in looks, Console versions are much better, nothing that
screams out at you to go wow that looks spectacular. At best the
Hulk looks good, with the city of New York as a supporting actor in
this game it represents fairly well. It is very understandable for
the game programmers and designers having to find the best balance
of eye candy and as much interaction with the surround environments
as possible. Hats off in this department, it’s fairly satisfying.
Some of the game ideas have such potential, as with the past game
much of the environment can be used as a weapon, either to pick up
and bash things with or throw it at your intended target. Using rage
which is sort of the Hulk’s thing anyway, new moves are unlocked as
the Hulk builds up rage. The mix of the Marvel universe additional
characters and situations not in the move while interesting at
times, just makes for a confusing mess more times than not.
The curse of the really bad game based on a movie seems to have
struck again. The Incredible Hulk title is in this case, misleading.
A more apt name would be the So-So Hulk.
Have fun, play games
Edwin Millheim
