The Incredible Sulk
The Incredible Hulk on DS isn’t the free-roaming adventure that you see on the console versions. Instead, it’s a side-scrolling 2D platformer that is as ugly as the green monster whose name is emblazoned on the box. You take the role of Marvel’s most powerful Super Hero and quite simply get to smash things to pieces and pummel enemies into submission with your giant fists.That doesn’t sound too bad, right? Wrong. The game consists of 30 grainy uninspiring levels that span across three locations: Alaska, Brazil and the United States. You move across the levels (generally from left-to-right although there is also some vertical play) whilst you collect tokens, platform hop and destroy everything in your path, including dozens of enemies that try and take you down with an arsenal of weapons, such as flamethrowers, rocket-launchers and even tanks.
Take out all of the baddies and you get a bonus. Smash everything in sight and you pick up some collectible skins along the way to make your new Hulk friend look silly or cool, depending on your thought-processes.
Disappointingly, the touch screen capability of the DS hasn’t been used at all, a wasted opportunity methinks, and the lower of the two dual screens is solely used as a map to guide you through the maze-type levels.
You can use your fists and also execute a few special moves to smash through enemies and make your way to end of each level. Once your reach the end, which will take you no longer than 5 minutes, you’re tasked with destroying a satellite (for some bizarre reason) in order to open up the next level.
On the screen there’s a metre which fills up as you destroy objects and people and once it’s full you can unleash a gamma boost which brings up a circular force-field effect around you and allows you to take out everything in your path for a limited time.
The Hulk controls well and you can pick up many objects including rocks and can also pummel the ground sending soldiers flying in all directions. You can also unleash uppercuts, super-jump and execute a small number of acrobatic attacks through the use of the d-pad.
It’s beat-‘em up gameplay at its most simplest and even the occasional boss battle doesn’t prevent the action from becoming stale and repetitive.
The developer has managed to do something that could be deemed as worthwhile in creating this DS version of The Incredible Hulk. If other developers want to see how not to create a decent movie-tie in, they can refer to it so they too don’t make the same mistakes
The Incredible Hulk on DS is enough to make you go green with rage at the sheer audacity of the developer for creating such a poor game and then charging people £29.99 for the privilege.
Pros
Hulk controls well.
The box makes a great coaster for your coffee mug.
Cons
No story.
Bland level design.
Looks awful.
Repetitive gameplay.
Part with your cash for this game and you’ll soon be doing the Incredible Sulk
