Hulk | DJcube

Hulk Smash!

NA release: 28th May 2003
EU release: 13th June 2003
JP release: N/A
Developer: Radical Entertainment
Publisher: Universal Interactive
NGC Magazine Score: 65%
Mods Used: Widescreen Code

Similar to Wolverine’s Revenge, this is a movie tie-in game that isn’t actually based on the movie, but rather is a completely different story set in its own world. This one does have Eric Bana playing Hulk. Yes, this is linked to the much forgotten pre-MCU Hulk film by Ang Lee. That said, from his performance, Bana clearly doesn’t care about doing a video game role and they would have been better off without the stunt casting.

The game is a basic beat-em-up where you play as a rather pitiful Hulk, with enemies that take plenty of hits. It makes sense later on as you’re fighting gamma infused monsters, but then the generic human goons and soldiers last too long. I feel like a Hulk game should be somewhat of a power trip that lets you feel the immense strength of the character, especially in terms of the most basic enemies, but you won’t find that here.

There are also a few levels where you play as Bruce Banner, which take the form of terrible stealth sections. Lots of slowly walking around, awkward camera angles and you never knowing what really triggers enemies. Oddly the later ones are actually easier, especially one where you get a disguise. They do add some much needed variety, as the Hulk levels all feel the same, just us and the same few moves, smash through enemies and move on.

You do have to adjust tactics for bosses, as some attacks won’t affect them. The first is a vampire that comes out of nowhere and you can’t hit him directly and have to use Hulk’s clap alongside throwing objects. The final two bosses both do the really annoying thing of getting a new health bar and spawning additional enemies once you defeat them. It’s not a bad game, but it’s a bit repetitive.

Fine

Hulk’s biggest problem is that it just doesn’t surprise you enough. The first level starts things off and it doesn’t ever manoeuvre itself away from that same template. The result – unless you really, really love using the same moves and abusing the same people over and over and over again – is that you quickly tire of it.
Tim Weaver, NGC Magazine #82

Remake or remaster?

Nothing for this.

Official Ways to get the game

There’s no official way to buy Hulk.