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!