The Big Game Idea: Level 1 (end) - A 1UP classic Sep 21, 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.

When we last saw the Hulk he was battling the Navy in the Atlantic Ocean. If a player does enough damage to a ship it begins sinking. You hear sirens go off and actually see the sailors jumping into the water. The Hulk can swim around and push the sailors in the water but he cannot harm them. Eventually all the sailors swim to small life rafts. The player has to successfully sink all of the ships in the ocean, including the submarine in order to progress. Once they do so this is what happens next.

CINEMA: The Hulk is sinking into the ocean and crushing the front end of a submarine when a dozen depth charges go off nearby. He is knocked out and keeps sinking. In the background we can see an army of Atlanteans swimming toward the Hulk.

Banner wakes up inside of a cave. Water is dripping from the ceiling and there is a bank of computers and radioactive material lining the walls. He looks down and sees that many tubes are coming out of his arm. There is a small pool of water nearby and Prince Namor rises out of it with an Atlantean scientist under his arm.

"Banner, as I suspected." Namor says and drops the Atlantean. Namor goes to Banner and begins removing the tubing from his arm. "We have precious little time Dr. Banner. Attuma, the vile barbarian, has breached the gates of Atlantis and I fear that it is in part due to your alter-ego.

"What?" Says Banner.

"Price Namor is correct. Attuma has learned of the Hulk's radioactive blood and is infusing it with his own to give him tremendous strength." The Atlantean scientist explains to Banner as he helps him to his feet.

"How long?" Asks Banner.

"We detected a human fleet two days ago. The depth charges they used on the Hulk caused a break in Atlantis' defenses. Attuma and his barbarians seized the opportunity and have been laying siege to my kingdom." Namor explains.

"How long!" Banner points at his arm.

"We estimate that they captured the Hulk and drained you of your blood 10 hours ago... Yet still you live?" The Atlantean scientist explains. "Attuma must be using the plutonium rods from the ships the Hulk sank in order to keep your blood strong."

"I will destroy this lair. And you, Banner, will come with me and repay the damage caused by your human strife." Namor grabs Banner and walks back into the pool.

"But I can't breathe underwater." Banner says.

"This will help." The Atlantean scientist gives Banner an injection that turns his skin blue. "Try to breathe normally." The three dive into the water as Namor pulls them both through an underwater tunnel out into the ocean floor. He turns and presses a button on his belt. Explosives go off in the tunnel and the cave collapses in the background. The shockwave sends Banner spinning. He becomes angry and transforms into the Hulk.

"RARGH!!!" The Hulk looks at Namor and the scientist. "Why is Hulk blue? Who made Hulk blue?! Hulk is supposed to be GREEN!!!"

"Attuma did this to you." Namor smiles. "Attuma says he is the strongest one there is."

"Where is Attuma?!!!" The Hulk demands.

"This way. Follow me." Namor swims toward Atlantis.

Level 1 End
Location: Underwater.
Objective: Defeat Attuma.
Learn: Basic controls. Direction and camera movement. Punch / Kick / Small Combos. Grab and climb. Destroy the environment.
Unlock: Mega Directional Thunderclap.
Level Design: There is a small open area between the caves and Atlantis. Small groups of soldiers are fought here. Despite being called barbarians, both the good and evil Atlanteans have access to advanced weaponry, including pulse rifles and laser beams. The heavy artillery both sides use are shaped like sea-life. Think of the fish robots from Darius to get a better sense to the design and technology.

The closer the Hulk gets to Atlantis, the more soldiers and artillery show up. Eventually he catches up to Attuma who is rampaging near the heart of the city. Attuma becomes the first boss battle in the game.

The reason for setting the first mob battles underwater is to give players a chance to learn combos and tactics. The Hulk moves about 15% slower underwater, as does everyone else, so players can learn to range their opponents for different attacks. Barbarians will swim and dogpile on the Hulk and drag him to the ocean floor. The Hulk can walk on the ocean floor or swim. A player can spin the analog sticks to shake the barbarians off or using combinations of buttons along with the analog pads, they can grab and throw opponents off or even roll on the ground and crush the barbarians. The Atlantean buildings can be destroyed, especially after the Hulk learns his strongest directional Thunderclap.

This thunderclap is presented differently than the shotgun-like thunderclap in the original Hulk game or the dome-shaped thunderclap used in Ultimate Destruction. Thunderclaps are still directional but invisible now, they have no magical green glowing ring around them. We can still make them out because they distort the visuals like a transparent ripple. This shockwave travels away from the Hulk and blows things away with hurricane-force.

Attuma has a sword that sends bolts of electricity to keep the Hulk at bay. He is slightly larger than the Hulk but doesn't posess the same strength. This battle is based on an actual crossover between the Hulk and Namor. The game teachers players to charge up thunderclaps for ranged attacks and halfway through the battle with Attuma you unlock the mega thunderclap which allows you to completely level most of Atlantis with one strike.

CINEMA: The Hulk tears the box off of Attuma's stomach, green blood pours out from the box. Attuma passes out and begins shrinking. The Atlantean soldiers clear the remaining barbarians out of Atlantis. Namor grabs the Hulk and places him on the back of a whale. The whale begins swimming away. A soldier swims up to Namor and hands him a bag.

"Hulk, I will take you away from Atlantis. Away from the water men." Namor assures the Hulk.

When they reach the surface the Hulk turns from blue to green. He jumps off of the whale, walks under a tree and sits down. Namor flies over and opens the bag. He gives the Hulk a bunch of energy bars.

"These are for you." Namor says as the Hulk begins eating the bars.

The Hulk yawns and slowly turns into Banner. "Huh?" Banner looks around.

"Easy friend. The Hulk was able to subdue Attuma. Although his rampage still destroyed a good portion of Atlantis." Namor explains.

"I see." Banner says and continues eating. "So what now?"

"This is for you." Namor gives Banner the bag. "There is a change of clothes for you and some of your currency."

"Thanks." Banner says as he puts on a shirt. He digs through the bag, pulls out some money and stuffs it into his pocket. He puts the shoes on. "Little loose, they'll do." He nods to Namor.

"Where will you go now friend?" Namor asks.

"I have to keep on moving Prince. Just try to remain calm and keep on moving." Banner stuffs the rest of the energy bars back into the bag. "I'm probably headed west." He begins walking away.

"Take care then Dr. Banner. May the Hulk remain at peace." Namor jumps back into the water.

Banner enters a restroom at a train station. A wanted logo with his face is plastered on television monitors around the station. Banner searches in the bag and finds a razor. He shaves off his hair and continues digging in the bag. He finds some sunglasses and then quickly walks to a train as it departs.

Banner settles into a seat near the exit. He clutches the bag and rests his head as the train pulls away from the station. Banner becomes drowsy and notices that everyone else on the train is unconscious, some travelers are passed out in the aisles.

"What?" Banner tries to stand but instead falls onto the floor.

"We have located Dr. Banner." A couple of soldiers in gas masks and carrying machine guns walk into the train compartment. They grab Banner and drag him out.
END OF LEVEL 1
I decided to work the Atlantis level into the shape of the main story because I found it fascinating. Not many games begin with as many back-to-back battles, nor in such unique environments. This was the next best thing to taking the Hulk into space and having him fight on some weird alien planet (which may happen...). The level introduces players to other unique characters in the Marvel Universe, like Namor the Sub-Mariner. The color trade between the Hulk and Attuma was exactly as it was in the comic book. Plus it shows what a pallet swap looks like on the Hulk.

The long shots of Attuma in the background, while the Hulk fights barbarians, are pulled from the angles used of Ares when Kratos first enters Athens in God of War. Although you can move the camera in the game, many of the shots are semi-fixed to create an epic, almost cinematic feel.

Level 1 ends with a twist and a nod to the Bruce Jones version of Banner. Jones had written a few arcs with Banner as a fugitive, who kept changing his apperance and cutting his hair short. The game will pull from multiple stories and I'll try to clue you in to which plots I take my cues from.

So what happens next? You'll have to wait and see!

Now you can see why the Hulk makes for a great superhero game. There aren't many Marvel heroes that could survive at the bottom of the ocean. Does the game seem to be holding your attention? 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!