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!