The Big Game Idea: Level 5 End - A 1UP classic from Oct 19, 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.

Hello peeps. I don't know what's going on, I logged on this morning and my view count was way up. Maybe it's GH sending people my way, who knows? Thanks for reading so far and here is the last part of level 5. We are nearing the end!

CINEMA: Banner appears in the middle of a snowstorm in the frozen wastes of Asgard. He begins shivering. Loki appears in front of Banner. "So Dormammu and Mephisto could not hold their claim? I wonder why." He raises his hand and sends Banner flying through the snow. Banner crashes about a mile away. Banner lifts his head, his face is bruised and covered in cuts, his nose is bleeding and he has a black eye. He looks up and sees a giant club about to smash him into the ground. The Hulk catches the club.

Level 5 End
Location: The mountains of Asguard / Hel.
Objective: Defeat the Frost Giants, Loki and Destroyer.
Learn: Uppercuts into air combos.
Unlock: Final Rage Power Up.

Level Design: This is a two-part fight, similar to the Dormammu level. The first half has the Hulk fighting in the frozen wastes, a rocky terrain covered with snow and during a blizzard. Nearby is a magical barrier behind which a large castle sits in a pool of fire. The opponents are frost giants, massive blue-skinned men with clubs and axes each about 30 feet tall. Some of the frost giants appear to be more primitive, made out of ice crystals and they use rocks and trees as weapons. Even though there are only about a dozen frost giants in this level they are capable of doing more damage than any other group the Hulk has faced.

The Hulk has to use every trick and technique he has picked up through the course of the game in order to defeat the frost giants. They seem to recover quickly from the Hulk's blows. At random parts throughout the level Loki turns up, snaps his fingers and makes a boulder appear overhead to flatten the Hulk. When the player defeats all of the frost giants the magical barrier separating the frozen wastes from Hel disappears. The player can now chase Loki through the doors of the nearby castle.

CINEMA: Loki and the Hulk run into the throne room of Hela. "Sister Hela. Might I bother you for the enchanted armor of the Destroyer?" Loki asks as he backs away from the Hulk.

"Allfather Odin forbids all from possessing the armor. I am not allowed to interfere in your battle." Hela says from her throne.

"Please sister! I fear the green mortal is quite angry now and not in the mood for tiny, insignificant details!" Loki begins groveling at her feet.

"You may not have the armor." Hela does not look down.

"Rargh!" The Hulk raises his fists and Loki faints. "Huh?" The Hulk looks down and taps Loki. He looks at Hela for confirmation. She looks down as well and shakes her head.

Suddenly a wall in the throne room explodes and a high-powered beam of energy knocks the Hulk down. The Destroyer steps through the wall and approaches the Hulk.

This battle takes place in Hela's throne room. She sits on her throne and oversees the battle. She is surrounded by a magical barrier so she cannot be hurt from attacks by either the Hulk or the Destroyer. The Destroyer is enchanted armor, about half a foot shorter than the Hulk. It was created by Odin himself. It is indestructible, possesses limitless strength, durability and the ability to fire beams of energy of all types from his hands. Its most powerful attack is the disintegrator beam. Which can disintegrate anything in its path. The visor on the suit lowers and the blast comes from the face. It cannot fire disintegrator beams in rapid succession, it must close its visor and recharge after doing so.

Try as he might the Hulk cannot break the armor. He can fist fight with the suit, survive blasts of energy from it and even knock it down but it will always get up. A player can even reach a rampage status against the suit and still be held to a draw (for hours on-end if the player is good enough) as the suit cannot be destroyed by any physical means. Loki's voice can be heard coming from within the suit, taunting the Hulk. However we can also see Loki lying down near the throne of Hela. Hmm, it seems that Loki projected his essence into the armor (which is the only way a character could use the Destroyer in the comics) but he left his physical body open to attack. As a game player what do you suppose you have to do in order to pass this level? After using Loki's body as a club, a shield and a ranged weapon against the Destroyer the Hulk eventually breaks his control over the Destroyer.

CINEMA: The Destroyer collapses in the middle of the throne room as the essence of Loki, represented by a glowing light, returns to his body. When Loki wakes up he begins moaning and writhing in pain.

"Say Betty is not yours!" Yells the Hulk.

"No, no she's not... oww." Loki moans, his face is bruised and his clothes torn from the thrashing. He crawls away.

"You have met the challenges Hulk. The soul of the mortal belongs to you alone." Hela stands and moves her cloak to the side. The crystal containing Betty Ross Banner appears and floats over to the Hulk.

END OF LEVEL 5
The throne room battle was inspired by the final battle in the game Ico. Particle effects gave players the illusion of magical blasts being used to freeze Ico. A clever strategy involving magical statues had to be used in order to defeat the Shadow Queen. With the Destroyer I wanted the same type of feel every time he uses his disintegrator beam. The Hulk has to find a hiding place or an object that reflects energy to avoid being fried.

I hope to make players learn that in this game, just like in the comics, even the Hulk can be brought to a draw, sometimes the Hulk has to find new ways to defeat his opponents. Using the body of Loki like a ragdoll hammer against the Destroyer helps inject some humor into the game. Especially as Loki begs and pleads with the Hulk not to do that.

Does a battle against Loki, and the Destroyer feel like one of the most epic fights in the game so far? 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!