Hulk - Ultimate Destruction Video Game Review

Publisher: Vivendi Universal
Retail Price: $49.99
Rated: T for Teen

Quick Content Guide: Violence, some scary scenes, action.

The Story
Dr. Bruce Banner has always looked for a cure for his condition, a way out of being the Hulk and back to a normal life. But this time, Banner must rely on the Hulk if he is going to survive. There is a dark and sinister being lurking at the edges of Banner’s consciousness and time is running out to subdue it. With the help of Doc Leonard Samson, Banner, as the Hulk, works to assemble a machine that will help Bruce confront this evil and put it to rest, once and for all. There are those that wish to oppose Banner though, such as General Ross with his Hulkbusters and the enigmatic Emil Blonsky, with his own secrets for wanting to stop the Hulk. Together, they form a formidable team that will plague the Hulk at every turn.

Review
As far as a game goes, The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction is great. As a comic book based game is concerned though, this is one of the best I have played in some time. The team that put this game together has really hit the mark when it comes to making the player feel like they are the Hulk.

The game boasts GTA style missions. For those of you not familiar with Grand Theft Auto – GTA, the game allows you to go the course of advancing the story, do the many side games for bonus points, or, if you feel like it, destroy the surrounding land as much as you want – and you know you do. This makes the gameplay of Ultimate Destruction a very valuable thing with a lot of replay. The mini-games alone allow a person to spend countless hours playing Golf, smashing soldiers as far as you can, and racing through the city and badlands in the quickest time. Not to mention the huge amount of extras that are available, such as secret codes to change game elements, movie galleries, and an enormous collection of comic book covers.

One of the greatest things that I enjoyed in playing this game was the controls that were available to you as the Hulk. You are able to control the Hulk as never before, bounding through city, picking up cars, running up and down walls, and smashing your opponents into the ground. The word that comes to mind is fluidity. When I first saw how many different moves I was going to be able to amass, I was a little concerned. Remembering a list of combos is not my forte, but the moves you pick up seem very natural in how they work. The things you are able to do build off of each other and the new elements you add just seem to work as one would imagine they would, allowing you to wreak even more destruction.

The other parts of the game, such as the graphics and storyline were great as well. The little there is to complain about the game is few. The mini-games did feel a little silly at times, so you may have to take them with a grain of salt. Another little bit of a letdown was the few amount of buildings you get to destroy. When I hear, “Ultimate Destruction,” I expect to be able to destroy anything and everything. But I guess my dream isn’t meant to be. As one can see, these are small things to complain about.

Conclusion
If you are looking for a comic book based game that is a lot of fun, has a good storyline, and will take you into what it is like to be the Hulk, then pick this game up. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. It is great to see a game that finally gives you the freedom to explore the power that the Hulk has at his disposal. The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction has a lot to offer the comic book fan as well as the video game fan and it is fun to see the two realms come together in such a great combination.