Hulk: Ultimate Destruction

In the world of video games, a licensed product is usually a one way ticket to a bad game. However, as licenses become more mature and game makers realize that they can capitalize on a hot new movie license without using explicit movie references, good games are actually being made on non-video game based franchises. The most recent example that I have played is “The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction.”

When I first heard about the game, it was described as Grand Theft Auto meets the Hulk. I thought that sounded like a good idea, but I was extremely skeptical, since so many games based on movie/comic characters end up being mediocre at best. Since I am not a big Hulk fan, I decided that I would probably pass on the game. When professional review started coming in, I felt like my decision was justified because it was getting fairly average reviews. Reviewers complained about camera problems, frame rate issues, and the whole gamut of things that plague hastily developed games.

What those reviewers missed was the pure fun that the Hulk offers regardless of the aforementioned problems. When the player first picks up the controller and starts running down the street, cars and buses are knocked away like plastic toys (but with a satisfying weight none-the-less). This kind of momentum and power is present throughout the game and it gives the experience a kind of sandbox like joy that I didn't think the developers would be able to capture. The core dynamics of the hulk leave very little to be desired, and it is clear that the game was developed with fun at the top of the priority list.

The missions in the game are placed within the city, and can be accessed at any time, so the player can advance the story at their discretion. My initial feeling was that the missions would feel tacked on and the player would only want to complete them to unlock other features or areas to play with. That feeling stemmed from the description of the game as a GTA type game. However, each mission has real weight, and never feels like it was added to artificially lengthen the game. If a player has no desire to complete the serious story missions, there are also goofy side missions to play for fun. Personally I didn't enjoy the side missions immensely, but the design of the game is such that I could completely ignore them if I so chose.

The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction is a fantastic game and a must-play for anyone with an interest in action or beat-um-up games. It should provide many hours of engaging story-based play, as well as many hours of free-form romping.