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!