The Big Game Idea: Level 3 Middle - A 1UP classic from Oct 04, 2006

Below is a series that I originally ran on 1UP in 2006. In it I proposed an original video game based on the Incredible Hulk. I called it "The Big Game Idea." Over a few weeks I described the graphics, game play, visuals, and plot from beginning to end, including bonus features. I made a few minor edits, but it is more or less exactly the same as it was almost 20 years ago. I hope you enjoy it.

CINEMA: Joe Fixit and the Professor turn to silvery goo and sink into the cracks of the volcano. The volcano erupts in a violent display of smoke and fire. From the peak a gigantic dragon rises from the smoke. It is Fing Fang Foom, the first dragon. He flies by the Hulk and sets him on fire, then skies upward into the night.

The Hulk runs up the side of the Volcano and jumps. He lands on the back of a bomber circling the island.

Level 3 Middle
Location: Nightmare Island
Objective: Destroy the bombers and defeat Fing Fang Foom.
Learn: Air lock, air dash, and the "Critical Pain" flying headbutt.
Unlock: Ability to mega jump anywhere.
Level Design: This level takes place in the air and consists of themes from the first level. As with the Orion missile the Hulk can target parts of the bombers and tear them apart. As with the aircraft carrier and battleships from the second portion of level 1 he can target lock and jump a great distance between them. For those that can't imagine what I'm talking about here's a diagram of the ocean fight from Level 1.

The Hulk could jump between the battleships and aircraft carrier. The only ship that moved was the submarine as it patrolled the waters. The Level 3 battle takes this formula up a notch. There is no stationary platform to land on, the two bombers and Foom are circling the island. While the Hulk can still target lock and jump great distances between them, cloud and rain particle effects limit the draw distance, thus making it harder to lock onto the targets and time jumps.

One plane circles the island clockwise while the other goes counter-clockwise. Foom flies between the two in a figure 8 pattern. The Hulk is shot at while on the plane and while jumping between targets by the gunners on the bombers. The high-powered anti-aircraft rounds do light damage to the Hulk. Foom can grab the Hulk, set him on fire and throw him at the bombers which does far more damage.

In case you're not familiar with Fing Fang Foom let me bring you up to speed. He's 150 feet long, knows magic, martial arts and can bring himself back from the dead. He mostly hassles Iron Man or Doctor Strange. This is one of the rare times he fights the Hulk.

So what happens if the Hulk falls while jumping between targets? The first two times we see the Hulk land at the edge of the volcano and jump back to the target. The third time he hits the lava hard and sinks into the core of the volcano... game over! Players learn not to fall or else! Aside from destroying the bombers the Hulk has to make his way up the spine of Foom and tear off his wings in order to finish the level.

The unique camera angles used on the Orion missile level return here. When riding the back of the planes or Foom they will twist and bank, we might catch a shot of the island below or the horizon line in the distance, these shots help add a sense of vertigo.

Those familiar with Shadow of the Colossus know that this fight was inspired by the Phalanx (flying serpent) level. Of course we can expect Kratos to have some sort of wicked flying-based adventures in God of War II. The Hulk, being my answer to the epic hero, has to battle both the classic flying monster and the modern flying monster. We make the fight more interesting by adding the weather elements and timing between jumps.

So is Foom the demon that stole the soul of Betty Ross Banner? Tune in tomorrow to see the conclusion of level 3!

I love dynamic stage battles. What about you? Tell me in the comments section. As always if you enjoyed this blog, and would like to sponsor me please visit my Patreon page and consider donating each month, even as little as $1 would help make better blogs and even podcasts!

The Big Game Idea: Level 3 Beginning - A 1UP classic from Oct 03, 2006

Below is a series that I originally ran on 1UP in 2006. In it I proposed an original video game based on the Incredible Hulk. I called it "The Big Game Idea." Over a few weeks I described the graphics, game play, visuals, and plot from beginning to end, including bonus features. I made a few minor edits, but it is more or less exactly the same as it was almost 20 years ago. I hope you enjoy it.

Hello everybody. Today we look at the first part of level 3, I think action game fans are really going to love this level.

CINEMA: We see that the Hulk is sailing through the air. He lands on top of a mountain and pushes off for another leap. Now he is somewhere over the Pacific Ocean. An airliner is in the distance, the Hulk catches up to it, lands on the wing and leaps forward again. The plane rattles and we can hear a radio transmission "This is the captain speaking, sorry for the turbulence."

"You are almost there." Yagan appears in front of the Hulk pointing toward the ocean.

The Hulk drops a few thousand feet, stomps down on an oil tanker and leaps forward again. The oil tanker sounds off an alarm in the distance as the Hulk sails far from it. The clear blue skies over the Pacific give way to dark gray. The Hulk enters a violent thunderstorm when he passes through the cloud. It is now dark as the Hulk lands in the ocean during a tempest. A volcanic island is near. In the distance we can see a few bomber planes flying around the island.

"The demon that stole Betty lives on that island." Yagan floats above the Hulk.

Level 3 Beginning
Location: Nightmare Island
Objective: Defeat the military protecting Nightmare Island.
Learn: Shockwave stomp and hammer toss large objects.
Unlock: Defense power up.
Level Design: Nightmare Island is as unique a level as there has ever been. This level actually begins in the middle of a raging storm out in the ocean. The Hulk has to swim toward the island, around the wrecked ships (both modern and ancient) sitting on rocks jetting from the water, all the while he is tossed about by big waves. Right before he gets to the island a tentacle drags him underwater where he has to fight an alien-looking giant squid in a mini-game. Once the Hulk tears off one of the weird glow-in-the-dark squid's tentacles he can swim the rest of the way to the island.

The island is mostly a grassy plain with some rolling hills and a few trees. There are some foxholes, bunkers, sandbags and barb wire fences. Nightmare Island is defended by a military convoy. The soldiers on the island all look odd, they lack color, that is to say they are all in a grayscale. They have no skin tones, no camouflage color, no color at all. Not only that, the soldiers, their uniforms and their weapons are all from World War II. They do not appear like zombies, all of their weapons and clothing look brand new. These are the soldiers that died during the Pacific campaign... their restless souls continue to fight unseen monsters. Circling overhead are some old WW II bombers that let paratroopers out over the island.

There is little the soldiers can do to stop the Hulk. Their tanks can only slow him down. Every time the Hulk beats a soldier or destroys a tanks it melts like mercury and rolls uphill. These puddles of mercury eventually reform near the peak of the volcano, which the Hulk has to reach.

CINEMA: Soldiers melt in the ground around the Hulk. The silver goo begins to coalesce and takes a smaller mirror shape of the Hulk.

"I always knew the army men were soft. Just never this soft." One of the silver figures turns full-color, it is "Joe Fixit," the Hulk's gray persona. He takes a punch at the Hulk. The Hulk stays planted and lets out a roar.

"You can't injure the salad brain like that." A second blob turns into the "Professor," a smart version of the Hulk. Over his shoulder is a large cannon. He pulls the trigger and a beam of energy knocks the Hulk back.

Objective: Defeat Joe Fixit and the Professor.

The Joe Fixit and Professor battle is more complex than previous boss battles. While neither character can go toe-to-toe with the Hulk, they make up for it by double teaming and fighting dirty. Fixit has some brawling moves that the Hulk doesn't know and the Professor can keep the Hulk at bay with his energy cannon. The player has to figure out how to damage both impostors at the same time.

The cues from the wreckage, ocean and weather surrounding the island are taken from the Ship's Graveyard in Hydro Thunder. The stormy weather and lightning help add a layer of depth to the stage. Although the soldiers the Hulk fights lack the strength in artillery they make up for it in numbers and unique weapons. They have flamethrowers which add a unique dynamic to the combat engine. While the Hulk cannot be injured by traditional weapons, the fire can stick to his skin and it ends up illuminating the dark island and scorching the grass as the Hulk progresses.

If he grabs a soldier while he's on fire they will also catch fire and burn. These soldiers will scream as he throws their flaming carcass. A bit violent I know, but these are not real people but rather illusions.

The Nightmare Island and various encounters for this level were inspired by the challenges the Hulk faced in the story arc "Tempest Fugit" by Peter David. Hulk fans and comic book fans in general should pick up the trade paperback, the revelations in that book helped spawn the idea for this game.

Are you enjoying my game idea so far? Tell me in the comments section. As always if you enjoyed this blog, and would like to sponsor me please visit my Patreon page and consider donating each month, even as little as $1 would help make better blogs and even podcasts!

The Big Game Idea: Level 3 Cinema - A 1UP classic Oct 02, 2006

Below is a series that I originally ran on 1UP in 2006. In it I proposed an original video game based on the Incredible Hulk. I called it "The Big Game Idea." Over a few weeks I described the graphics, game play, visuals, and plot from beginning to end, including bonus features. I made a few minor edits, but it is more or less exactly the same as it was almost 20 years ago. I hope you enjoy it.

Hello everybody, I hope you had a good weekend. My brothers and I ate like kings at a great Japanese place. We were celebrating my big brother's b-day. Also got to hang out with the cousins a little and relax. So it was a good weekend.

Right now let's get back into the game, picking up right at the defeat of the Absorbing Man...

CINEMA: The sun is rising, strands of light pour from between the peaks of the mountains. The Hulk is standing before the wreckage of the Absorbing Man.

"Hulk, we must leave." Yagan signals to the Hulk. "Betty is in danger. We must go." Yagan points west and Hulk begins running and jumping.

FADE OUT

A minivan pulls up to a military base just on the border of New Mexico. A soldier walks out from a guard post with his rifle at his side. "This is restricted land." He says. "I'm going to have to ask you to turn around and get back on the main road."

An older man, Professor Crawford, limps out of the van. He is wearing a hat and a Hawaiian print shirt. He looks like a typical tourist. He is barely able to to walk with the help of two canes. "I am sorry son. I got lost. I was just looking for directions. He slowly and painfully makes his way toward the soldier.

The soldier shoulders his rifle. "Were you looking for the 70? We get a few civilians that take the wrong route at least twice a year."

"Oh no, no, not really. I was looking for the rumored Gamma Base." Crawford says as he gets within arm's reach of the soldier. He reaches out and grabs the soldier by the chest. He lifts him in the air and throws the soldier through the guard post. Crawford looks at his hands and sees the dog tag and badge he ripped from the soldier. "Thank you for this." He swipes the card at the post and the gate behind begins to open. He walks to the minivan and drives into the base.

Inside of the base we see rows of computers. Crawford limps over to one and brings a chair close to him with his cane. He sits down and powers up the terminal. When it prompts him for identification Crawford reaches into his pocket and pulls out a number of identification badges. They are all covered in blood. He locates one for Major Talbot. "Ah, here it is." And he pushes the card into the face of the computer.

"Access granted." The computer says.

He presses a button and all of the monitors change to show the darkened cell. We can see a large green shadow, it seems to be asleep, it is the face of the Abomination. "Your freedom will come soon enough Mr. Blonsky." Crawford smirks.

"Now Bruce, I shall learn all of your secrets." Crawford opens the Banner files on the computer. On the rows of monitors in front of Crawford various video clips begin playing. Banner when he started with the gamma bomb project, the Hulk in various battles with the military... and a grainy file that reads "The Maestro." Crawford opens this file and catches a glimpse of the past. He sees a few seconds of film of Banner running on the field of the first gamma bomb test. He grabs a teenager sitting under a tree and forces him to run towards a ditch. Just before the bomb goes off a large creature suddenly appears standing directly in front of the gamma bomb. The blast destroys the last few frames of the film.

"Yes, this is what I was looking for." Crawford rewinds the film and goes back to the final frames. "I see now what you were trying to keep from the world my young student." He looks down to the computer terminal and opens up several pages labeled classified and containing the text on the Maestro. "You cannot stop the inevitable Bruce. The time of the Maestro has arrived."

FADE OUT

Ozymand noticed something about this blog. I forgot to let you guys know who Professor Crawford was and why he could toss people around. Apologies! The good professor is the alter-ego of Ravage. In the comics he was bound to a wheelchair but for the sake of the game I put him with two canes. He suffers from a degenerative disease, he thought that gamma radiation would cure him from his ailments as the Hulk cures Banner from any injuries Bruce may sustain. It helped with his body but unfortunately his demons got the better of him and he went mad with the power of Ravage.

Ravage, Banner and just about all the other super-strong gamma creatures can actually tap into their alter-ego power without becoming them. Banner calls it keeping the Hulk on a short leash. With just a fraction of that power they can remain human yet do amazing things like throw people through buildings or even sucker-punch powerful supervillains.

I suppose I should write in the part where Ravage turns into Crawford and kills a family to steal their minivan...

Tell me in the comments section. As always if you enjoyed this blog, and would like to sponsor me please visit my Patreon page and consider donating each month, even as little as $1 would help make better blogs and even podcasts!

The Big Game Idea: Level 2 End - A 1UP classic from Sep 28, 2006

Below is a series that I originally ran on 1UP in 2006. In it I proposed an original video game based on the Incredible Hulk. I called it "The Big Game Idea." Over a few weeks I described the graphics, game play, visuals, and plot from beginning to end, including bonus features. I made a few minor edits, but it is more or less exactly the same as it was almost 20 years ago. I hope you enjoy it.

Peeps, today is a busy day so I'm going to keep it short. Here's the final part of level 2, I hope you like it!

CINEMA: The power fluctuates in the cell of Ravage, he turns and grabs a generator and throws it at the Hulk. As soon as the power returns the Hulk freezes in the blue field. "We shall meet again boy!" Ravage punches a hole through the wall and jumps away. Soldiers in power armor surround the Hulk.

"We have the Hulk in custody." Says a soldier as he gets close to the Hulk. The power begins fluctuating again and the Hulk breaks the field surrounding him. The soldiers open fire on the Hulk. A giant metal fist drops down and smashes the Hulk.

"Correction. I have the Hulk in custody." A booming, metallic voice can be heard. The soldiers back away as the walls and ceiling of the Vault peel back and crumple into the shapes of a forearm and biceps. The night sky can now be seen from where the Vault once was. Out of the floor the shape of a face appears, soldiers run and yell when they see this. A torso rises out of the ground. The Hulk is on one knee.

"I guess I didn't hit you hard enough that time." The living monolith made out of stone and steel calls out. It is Carl Creel, the Absorbing Man. We see the energy that was powering the Vault is being re-routed into him, he begins glowing red-hot and spotlights beam from where his eyes should be. He raises his fist again. "I can see you." He taunts before taking another swing at the Hulk. The Hulk rolls out of the way.

Level 2 End
Location: The Vault, surface level.
Objective: Defeat Vault Security and Carl Creel the "Absorbing Man."
Learn: Grab large objects and use them as weapons, roll and dodge.
Unlock: Strength level up.
Level Design: We are at the surface of the Vault, what was previously a super-prison are now ruins in the desert night. This is the first major boss battle in the game. A battle where the entire level is used for only one enemy. The Hulk has to learn where the Absorbing Man's weaknesses are. Since it is late at night the entire level is dark, making it difficult for Carl to spot the Hulk. He actively scans the ground with his eyes-made-of-light. When he sees the Hulk he warns or taunts him first and then attacks with beams of energy from his hand or by trying to smash him with his other hand. As you can imagine a player learns to hide behind the ruins of the Vault and wait for the beams of light to pass before attacking. Creel is no fool and begins flattening the remains of the Vault walls if he can't spot the Hulk.

Electricity is coursing through the metal skin of Creel, so it makes touching him out of the question. If the Hulk tries to run up and punch him he is blown back by the electrical discharge. Seasoned gamers learn to look for the source of Creel's power... I'm sure you can guess where it is from the illustration. The mini game involves pulling the gigantic cables from the back of Creel and taking away his energy blast with one cable and then his vision with the other. The night sky becomes illuminated with the approaching sun and it allows the Hulk to see and begin tearing Creel apart.

END OF LEVEL 2

Anybody that's played Shadow of the Colossus knows that a lot of the Absorbing Man fight is based on the various colossi. The lessons learned from Ueda include using the environment in part of the strategy for fighting Creel and using camera angles to create a sense of scale and awe. Plus I learned that if you limit the draw distance you can create larger bosses and more detailed visuals. Hence the level is at night and the environment around the Vault is only slightly illuminated. The idea of a ruined Vault was also inspired by David Jaffe's War of the Monsters, the Vegon boss battle to be exact which takes place inside the ruins of a nuclear reactor.

So there is is people, we are only two levels into the game... can you believe it?! What about Betty? What about Ravage? Will the Hulk ever grow his hair back? Wait until things really kick off next week for Level 3!

EDIT 2025: Three years after I wrote this blog, and I saw the game Batman Arkham Asylum had a boss battle with the Scarecrow that was eerily like that I had envisioned. I wonder if the studio happened to read my blog post back then, and it shaped the development of that battle. What do you think? Tell me in the comments section. As always if you enjoyed this blog, and would like to sponsor me please visit my Patreon page and consider donating each month, even as little as $1 would help make better blogs and even podcasts!

The Big Game Idea: Level 2 Middle - A 1UP classic from Sep 27, 2006

Below is a series that I originally ran on 1UP in 2006. In it I proposed an original video game based on the Incredible Hulk. I called it "The Big Game Idea." Over a few weeks I described the graphics, game play, visuals, and plot from beginning to end, including bonus features. I made a few minor edits, but it is more or less exactly the same as it was almost 20 years ago. I hope you enjoy it.

Heya peeps, I hope your week is going well. Things are moving along fine over here. It is humpday after all. Lets get back into the game idea...

CINEMA: "Betty is dead..." The Hulk stands at the bottom hangar of the Vault looking around at the destruction.

"Hulk. They lied to you. A demon took her." Yagan appears out of thin air.

"Who lies to Hulk? Banner? Ross?... YOU LIE TO HULK!!!" He swings and misses Yagan again. "Leave Hulk alone."

"I cannot leave you alone Hulk. Betty asked me to find you. Betty believes that you can save her... that you can save all of us." Yagan slowly walks toward the Hulk.

"How do you know Betty is alive? How does Hulk know you are not a liar." The Hulk looks Yagan in the eyes.

"The first time you took Betty away from Ross she had a cut on her head." As Yagan speaks the hangar becomes dark and we can see the Gray Hulk carrying Betty in his hands. The Savage Hulk looks in disbelief. "You brought her a first aid kit and fixed her." We can see the Gray Hulk giving Betty an entire medicine cabinet. "She still has a tiny scar just under her hairline." Yagan points to a spot on her scalp as Betty and the Gray Hulk disappear.

"Betty?" The Hulk reaches out into thin air as the hangar comes back into focus. "Where is Betty?" The Hulk turns to Yagan.

"A demon has taken her. You must get out of here and find her." Yagan says.

"You will show Hulk where Betty is?" The Hulk asks.

"Yes. I will show you but be careful. There are many levels above you. This prison is dangerous." Yagan warns the Hulk.

"Hulk no care. Hulk gets out now and little ghost will show Hulk where Betty is." The Hulk jumps straight up and plows through the ceiling.

"Hulk, no!" Yagan yells.

Level 2 Middle
Location: The Vault, middle levels.
Objective: Defeat Vault inmates Blob, Juggernaut and Ravage.
Learn: Grapples, clotheslines and wrestling moves.
Unlock: Strength power up.
Level Design: Each of the chambers on this floor are similar to the previous floor. There are some automated weapons to disable but these must done while fighting an opponent. The attacks learned so far have different effects on the characters. The Blob for example is difficult to lift and throw. A minigame has players pushing buttons rapidly in order to pick him off the ground.

A better strategy might be to try pulling the Blob once his feet are planted or attacking him with steel beams from the environment. Hint: the Blob is susceptible to fire.

Each opponent is separated by an elevator shaft and tunnel that the Hulk must break into. Every time the Hulk breaks into a different wing of the Vault he lets some inmates escape. The player can't really tell who all these inmates are as they are wearing orange jumpsuits. They all scamper away into emergency exits that the Hulk can't fit into or holes in the wall. Some of the inmates escaping are obvious like Doctor Octopus crawling away with his metal arms or Carnage, slinking out with his Venom-like symbiote suit.

The Hulk has his hands full when he accidentally releases the Juggernaut. The Juggernaut should have the ability to start running and be able to bowl the Hulk over, as the Hulk could do traffic in Ultimate Destruction. This is the first time in the game where the Hulk can be tackled through walls. The minigame around the Juggernaut would be trying to stop his charge and reversing it. As the Hulk has been one of the few, if not only, to ever do this in the comic.

The final "boss" battle for this level is with Ravage. Ravage, for all intents and purposes, has the same strength and fighting ability of the Hulk. The Hulk accidentally releases Ravage from his stasis field. This battle is interesting because the walls in Ravage's cell are all charged with blue stasis energy. If either the Hulk or Ravage touch the walls they suffer great damage. So it's up to the Hulk to send Ravage back into stasis without being trapped himself.

So there you have it, Level 2 is taking shape, what do you think so far? Is this a game you'd be interested in? Are the challenges and plot meeting your expectations?

The Hulk continues to battle armored soldiers, robots, and now three of the strongest characters in the Marvel universe. Are you eager to see where the battle leads to next? Tell me in the comments section. As always if you enjoyed this blog, and would like to sponsor me please visit my Patreon page and consider donating each month, even as little as $1 would help make better blogs and even podcasts!

The Big Game Idea: Level 2 Beginning - A 1UP classic from Sep 26, 2006

Below is a series that I originally ran on 1UP in 2006. In it I proposed an original video game based on the Incredible Hulk. I called it "The Big Game Idea." Over a few weeks I described the graphics, game play, visuals, and plot from beginning to end, including bonus features. I made a few minor edits, but it is more or less exactly the same as it was almost 20 years ago. I hope you enjoy it.

So the previous blog was a long cinema eh? Well, here's the actual start of Level 2. The Hulk has broken out of his cell and is now running through the halls of the Vault.

Level 2 Beginning
Location: The Vault, lowest level.
Objective: Disable Vault Security.
Learn: Larger Combos. Weaponize military vehicles. Strengths and Weaknesses to electricity, fire, explosives, radiation.
Unlock: Healing level up.
Level Design: The Vault is a series of tunnels and chambers where different types of defenses try and halt the progress of the Hulk. The corridors are polished metal and poured concrete. Although dimly-lit there are red flashing lights and the occasional spot light that illuminate the progress of the Hulk.

The automated defenses are unique to this level. Suppression foam expands and turns into concrete so the Hulk needs to keep moving to avoid it, or punch solid blocks of it once it dries. Bullets from machine guns and even auto-cannons do not hurt the Hulk, they are in the game to add a sense of danger and fancy lighting to the darkened tunnels of the Vault.The fire and explosives used on the Hulk can slow him down but not stop him. The soldiers patrolling the Vault are armored and have access to high tech weaponry, including laser cannons, like those used in the old Johnny Quest series.

The Hulk is more susceptible to radiation burns from automated cannons. These cannons can burn the flesh and muscle right off of the Hulk. This is the first time a player can see the healing factor at work. The Hulk can tear the automated defenses out of the wall or out of the ground, however the case may be. Some of the cannons have a limited energy supply so the Hulk can zap defenses with a laser once he's pulled it from the ground.

The Hulk finds that there might even be a tank and robot-suits waiting for him in the corridors. These are similar to the combat warden and capture warden robots in Ultimate Destruction.

The most dangerous criminals are placed in the lowest level of the Vault. This level introduces another Marvel character, Venom. From time to time Venom shows up and fights the Hulk. Although Venom is not in his same league as the Hulk he challenges him because he thinks the Vault defenses have left him weak. The symbiote suit protects Venom from getting killed when the Hulk "splats" him against walls.

Venom serves to teach the Hulk new combo attacks. A quick thunderclap will knock Venom in the air, the player can now use a grapple attack to catch Venom and then slam him to the ground or against a wall. By the end of the level the player has unlocked at least three new grapple attacks and can work those into combos.

Although this level is not timed the Hulk has to keep moving. There is a green mist being released by the air vents that is slowly draining the gamma radiation from the Hulk. Players learn that by staying active, fighting the opponents rather than running through the level they have a better chance of warding off the effects of the gas. The more destruction the Hulk causes the faster the healing factor works and the stronger the Hulk becomes. A player than can string together a long combo of attacks and destruction will discover that it makes the levels a little easier to get through. With enough practice a player can fight from one end of the level to the other without breaking a combo chain and "max out" the Hulk's statistics.

The "boss" for this level is defeating a capture warden robot while avoiding attacks from Venom.

Yagan guides the Hulk through the maze-like Vault. The Vault was featured in many different Marvel comics, it's a super-prison where the most dangerous meta-humans, mutants and evil geniuses (geniusii?) are sent. The Hulk holds the record for breaking out of the Vault more times than any other character in the Marvel universe. Even the "weaker" Joe Fixit has managed to break out by himself.

In the game most of the walls can be knocked down and a player can eventually find the right way out of the level if they choose to ignore Yagan. The Hulk did fight Venom once in the comics and it was lopsided. Venom got beaten terribly but it all turned out to be a case of mistaken identity, with each monster realizing that they weren't the real enemy. The confrontation in this game serves to show how far the Marvel power scale goes, especially when the Hulk is compared to the Venom from the previous Ultimate Spidey game.

So will the Hulk ever make it out of the Vault? Tune in tomorrow to find out!

Did you ever anticipate a video game where you got a chance to fight against multiple super villains? Tell me in the comments section. As always if you enjoyed this blog, and would like to sponsor me please visit my Patreon page and consider donating each month, even as little as $1 would help make better blogs and even podcasts!

The Big Game Idea: Level 2 Cinema - A 1UP classic Sep 25, 2006

Below is a series that I originally ran on 1UP in 2006. In it I proposed an original video game based on the Incredible Hulk. I called it "The Big Game Idea." Over a few weeks I described the graphics, game play, visuals, and plot from beginning to end, including bonus features. I made a few minor edits, but it is more or less exactly the same as it was almost 20 years ago. I hope you enjoy it.

Heya peeps, I hope you had a great weekend. I did, I saw Jackass 2... fans of the first will not be left down. It's best enjoyed with a friend or family member that can literally appreciate good toilet humor.

In other news... when we last left off Bruce Banner had been captured by the military. He has been taken to the super prison known as the Vault. Let's get back to the game...

We see Banner strapped down in a metal bed. There are tubes in his mouth and various wires in his arms. Each of these tubes and wires is connected to a machine regulating all of his vital functions. The walls of the room are a dark metal and bare. A skinny figure slowly fades into the room out of thin air. He is barefoot standing on the opposite side of Banner's room. We can see that he is an aborigine. He slowly approaches the bed.

The dark cell changes and becomes bright. Banner is now kneeling on the ground in a grassy field. Pine trees are scattered on the horizon. He is nailing some boards together on what looks to be the frame of a house.

"Dr. Banner? Dr. Bruce Banner?" The aborigine speaks.

"Yeah." Banner says without looking back.

"I am Yagan. My people are in need of your help." He approaches. Behind the trees in the distance more aborigines walk out. Women, children, elderly people show themselves and join Yagan.

"Sorry I can't help you. I'm building a house." Banner says.

"Dr. Banner this is a dream. You are in a prison right now." As Yagan speaks the blue outdoors begins to fade away and the darkness of the cell comes into focus. "We need your help."

"No. I am safe here. I am making a home so that I will never have to leave." The darkness turns to light once more and Banner continues nailing boards together. "I can't help anybody. Not with what I've become."

"A demon is taking over the souls of this Earth and no one will fight him. None of your champions." Yagan says.

"Not interested." Banner pulls a nail from his mouth and hammers it into the frame.

"This demon has taken many of my people. He has taken many of yours." Yagan pleads. Banner does not reply. "I seek your help because the demon has captured the one you know as Betty."

"Betty?" Banner stops hammering and the world becomes a dark green. The aborigines back away. "No, there is a mistake. Betty died a while back." The cell becomes visible and we can see the heart monitor hanging over the bed. A sedative is injected into Banner's arm. The pulse begins to slow down. The world slowly becomes blue again. "That's right. Betty is dead. So just walk away and look for somebody else to help you."

"There is no mistake. The demon has Betty and she calls for you." Yagan walks toward Banner.

"You are messing with the wrong person." Banner drops his hammer and turns to Yagan. "Betty died of radiation poisoning more than a year ago... I held her as she died." As Banner says that the world changes to show Banner holding a lifeless Betty in a corner of the room. Banner and Yagan look over. The scene changes to a coffin. With Banner, his friends Rick Jones, Marlo Chandler and father-in-law General Ross standing in front of it.

"She did not die that day. Her father lied. Like you she sleeps in suspended animation." The coffin turns into a glass chamber that mirrors the opposite side of the cell where Banner sleeps. "He did this in the hope of finding a cure." Yagan says.

"Betty, no." Banner walks over to the glass chamber and places his hand on it.

"Her soul lives on as long as her body remains in the chamber." Yagan speaks once more. "However her soul is no longer with her. The demon has taken it from her." A black cloud goes over the glass chamber and pulls a glowing orb from it. The room goes dark. "Betty is neither alive or dead now."

"If what you say is true how will I find her? How do I bring her back?" Banner asks.

"I can lead you to the demon but I am not strong enough to fight him. Only you can. She believes that you can." Yagan says. "I can help you carry her soul back to her body once she is free."

"But I cannot wake up." The blue skies and green meadows disappear. The spirit of Banner is standing at the foot of his bed. "They won't let me wake up from this nightmare."

"I will wake you. But you must escape quickly before the security systems in this prison activate." Yagan says and Banner nods. "Will the Hulk listen to reason?"

"If Betty is in danger he will. If Betty is alive then no force on heaven or Earth will stand in his way." Banner says before his spirit returns to the bed.

"I hope you are right Dr. Banner." Yagan stands next to the comatose Banner and places his hand on his forehead. He waves his free hand in the air. "I ask the spirits to guide you, the spirit that is your totem Doctor Banner, the serpent... awaken." The shape of a snake skeleton floats in the air above Banner. It sinks down and infuses itself like a tattoo to Banners arms and forehead. Banner wakes up screaming. The Hulk kicks the bed over and stumbles forward. He runs his hand over his bald head and snarls. His eyes are red as he focuses them on Yagan.

"Hulk listen to me!" Yagan steps back as the Hulk begins knocking the medical equipment over. "Betty is in danger!" The Hulk turns to Yagan and takes a swing at him. Yagan turns to smoke and then regenerates. "HULK LISTEN TO ME! BETTY IS IN DANGER!"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" The Hulk yells and blows the doors off of his cell. A siren goes off and red lights flash in the corridor. "BETTY IS DEAD!!!" The Hulk begins running through the corridors. Yagan flies behind him.

END OF CINEMA

Betty Ross Banner died of radiation poisoning in the Hulk comics. She was secretly put in suspended animation. Bruce didn't find out about it until much later. So is Betty alive or dead? Nobody at Marvel has bothered to tie up this loose end. In the comics they've put the screws to Bruce and stripped him of his humanity. The comics have given us various versions of the Hulk and not once gone back to explain what happened to Betty. So I have to trim down the incarnations of the Hulk and just give the audience the most familiar one, the "Savage Hulk" that speaks in third person. I will run the gamut of looks he has had but still only use that one, familiar, personality.

The bald Hulk and Banner were first written by Bruce Jones. Banner changed his apperance while he was on the run in a previous story. The aborigine character and Hulk and Banner with tribal paint were written by Peter David during the more recent "House of M" event in Marvel Comics. Peter David called the aborigine the "Old Man" but never gave him a name. Peter's version of the Hulk and his various plots come back in the game just so you know.

The hook for the game is giving the character of Banner a second chance, a chance that Marvel seems to think he doesn't deserve. In order to do that I have to take the character on a journey, send him through hell and back (much like Kratos) and prove that this is Marvel's best shot at an epic game. I hope you are willing to come along for that ride as Level 2 takes shape...

Do you think the Hulk will be able to break out of the most secure prison in the Marvel Universe? Tell me your guess in the comments section. As always if you enjoyed this blog, and would like to sponsor me please visit my Patreon page and consider donating each month, even as little as $1 would help make better blogs and even podcasts!