Score
Gameplay:	9
Graphics:	8
Sound:	8
FunFactor:	10
PlasmaFactor:	7
Overall:	8.4

The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction Review
December 14, 2005 by Matt Wetsel

by MattW - December 14, 2005

Anyone remember the Hulk movie that came out 2 years ago, or the game that was loosely based on it? Neither one of them were awful, but at the same time I felt like they both could have been better. Indeed, I was beginning to wonder if the jolly green giant would ever be done justice outside of the comics. That was before The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction came out, and now that it has, I have an answer to my question - and that answer is a resounding yes. Not only does this game do justice to the character, the length and depth of the game make it a candidate for the best comic book game ever made. Furthermore, you don't have to be a fan of the Hulk in any way to enjoy it - it's just that entertaining. Read on, True Believer, and find out what makes this game so good.

It ain't easy being green - just ask Kermit. Of course, he probably has it easier than Dr. Bruce Banner, since he rarely ends up destroying everything that moves. Banner, on the other hand, suffers from a little condition that turns him into a 12 foot tall all-powerful behemoth whenever he gets angry. If you do some research on the Hulk's backstory, you'll see there's quite a bit more to it than that, but for the purposes of an action game like this, that's all you need to know. Banner is in search of a cure for his less-than-convenient condition, forced into hiding by the military who want to see him killed or locked up. During a raid, Emil Blonsky stumbles upon equipment Banner was using and accidentally gets exposed to a not-so-healthy does of gamma radiation, eventually leading to his transformation into the Abomination, the primary villian in the game. The story borrows plenty of characters from Hulk lore, so comic fans will find much to appreciate, and new-comers to the character will get a fairly accurate understanding of the series.

2003's The Hulk wasn't a terrible game, but there was little depth to the combat system and the action was interrupted by "stealth" scenes where the player had to control weaponless, powerless Banner. To make an understatement, both of these problems have been resolved. Banner only appears in cut scenes (as he should), and as the Hulk you'll have access to over 150 different attacks and combos. The game takes place in 2 large, free-roam environments, reminiscent of Grand Theft Auto or the recent Spider-Man titles - go anywhere you want, whenever you want, smashing anything you want. Just about everything in the environments (particularly the city) can be picked up, carried, thrown, or broken into smaller parts and used as weapons - even buildings can be destroyed, although that won't occur until much later in the game. So, what's there to do in the city? For starters, there are mini-games scattered throughout, similar to the races in Spider-Man, only they're entertaining and often innovative. Some of them will see Hulk racing through a set course (yawn), while others have you seeing how many cars you can place on top of a tall building in a set amount of time. Heck, Hulk even goes hang-gliding on a giant balloon! More importantly, these challenges are completely optional, so if they aren't your thing, then don't think twice. Unlike other games which use mini-games to extend length, H:UD is longer than most games of the genre and it never gets boring. It does, however, get difficult.

In the beginning, Hulk will have limited moves which are much stronger than necessary to take out the local law enforcement who are after him. Before long, though, the military steps in, martial law is declared, and Hulk will have his hands full. Suddenly, those weak moves are replaced by strong and sometimes even rediculous ones, but the enemies increase so much in difficulty as the game progresses that you won't exactly be cleaning house with them. They'll also make sure you make use of all the moves available, as some cater to specific enemies or attack styles, and this could not be more welcome. Too many action games have a lot of moves available, only to find the 3-button combo you started with is still the most efficient way to dispatch enemies. Strategy? Depth? In a Hulk game? Few things are as pleasantly surprising.

Aside from his attacks, Hulky moves around by running, leaping, and climbing (or running) up buildings. He's incredibly mobile - it's no big deal to run, do a charged jump into a building, begin vaulting upward without breaking your step and leap over the top of it, only to land 20, 30 stories below and keep moving. If you thought swinging around New York was fun in Spider-Man (and I did), just wait until you play Ultimate Destruction.

Huge Environments, Huge Enemies

While the environments in the game get a little redundant once you're about half way through (city, badlands, city, badlands...), at least they look great. More importantly, you won't have time to notice very often because there's usually a lot going on. Once you get a decent way through the game, you'll be assaulted by tanks, helicopters, and a variety of mech-style "Hulk-Busters", ranging from fighters not much bigger than Hulk himself to machines which are 4-5 times his size, roughly a small building. You can expect to be throwing cars, light posts, signs, and even pedestrians at would-be attackers, and the damage models for the majority of destructables are quite thorough - some vehicles seem to have between 3 and 4 different appearances before they finally explode or are ripped to shreds. Plenty of chaos, action, missles, and explosions, and the frame rate rarely skips a beat - exactly what you'd want from an action game like this.

Many recent comic book and movie-based games have been rather dialogue heavy, and they've actually managed to have decent voice acting - and H:UD is no exception. Cut scenes are where most of the conversations take place, usually reverting to a slightly better looking FMV-style. Voices fit all the characters nicely, and they all help to convey the urgency of the plot and to make you pay attention to the story. The sound effects are equally appropriate, with plenty of crunching metal and smashing glass; likewise, Hulk's grunts, roars, and thumps all do an excellent job emphasizing just how big and powerful he is. Music is sparse, but the action is so constant you'll barely notice it's absence.

I Smash, Therefore I Am? A Surprising Amount of Depth

It's difficult to find much wrong with this game, aside from it being occasionally difficult. You don't know how many times I fought a boss battle and expected for the game to end, only for another mission to appear. The final battle against Abomination will have you trying every move in your arsenal to find something both quick and effective, which is something I'd like to see more of in this genre: less gimic and more strategy. As stated before, Hulk has over 150 different moves, and they serve their purpose well in making sure the game never gets boring. At first, the smaller Hulk-Busters beat you into the ground like there's no tomorrow. Then, you unlock the ability to grab them out of the air, leap with them, punch them all the way down and let them break your fall. Not only is this awesome, but it helps pace the game so you aren't too powerful too early. When you've completed all that story mode has to offer, you can replay with all your acquired moves, plus a few other fun unlockables which add some replay value.

Maybe it's my previous lack of fandom for the character, or maybe it's past disappointments from games based on comic books, but I can easily say that The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction is easily one of the best the genre has to offer. For a game who's protagonist's ambition in life is to smash, it has an incredible amount of depth comes highly recommended.. Allow me to reiterate that anyone who enjoys a good action game should check it out - not just over-analytical comic book fans like myself. Besides, it's all the fun of being the Hulk without looking like this guy, and that alone is worth something.