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
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