Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The Incredible Hulk delivers on its promise of raw, unrelenting power by placing you directly in control of the Jade Giant as he rampages through a faithfully recreated New York City. From the first moment you step into Hulk’s enormous boots, the game’s focus on environmental destruction becomes immediately apparent. Cars, buses, lamp posts, and even skyscrapers crumble beneath your feet, offering an exhilarating sense of potency that few games can match. The core controls—mapped to the left and right analog sticks for movement and camera control, and the face buttons for punches, jumps, and grabs—are intuitive, letting you unleash combinations of jump attacks, charge strikes, and devastating ground pounds with ease.

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One of the game’s most engaging mechanics is the ability to pick up debris—ranging from chunks of concrete to entire vehicles—and hurl them at enemies or smash them across the urban landscape. This not only heightens the visceral thrill of being the Hulk, but also adds a layer of strategic depth: do you continue your assault with bare fists, or do you seize a nearby bus to fling at armored soldiers? The variety of collectible items scattered across the city further enhances replayability; tracking down hidden crates and viral board collectibles unlocks bonus art, special characters, and new mini-games, rewarding exploratory play.

Story missions are interspersed with free-roam carnage, allowing you to switch between pushing the narrative forward and indulging in wanton destruction. While the main objectives typically involve battling waves of Enclave soldiers or confronting hulking military hardware, the game spices things up with occasional vehicle chases, timed destruction challenges, and boss encounters that require using your strength in more tactical ways. Despite some repetition in enemy types and mission structure, the tactile joy of smashing remains consistently entertaining.

Controls remain responsive even when the action turns chaotic, though camera angles can sometimes struggle to keep pace with Hulk’s rapid movements. Combat flows smoothly, with a satisfaction that grows as you unlock new abilities—such as ground slams that generate shockwaves or midair combos that send foes flying. For fans of brawlers and open-world mayhem, The Incredible Hulk’s gameplay loop of smash, pick up, and smash again is an adrenaline-fueled dream come true.

Graphics

Graphically, The Incredible Hulk impresses with its faithful adaptation of both the 2008 film’s aesthetic and the comic book’s signature color palette. Hulk himself is rendered in vibrant green, with detailed muscles and a convincing sense of weight as he strides through the streets. The destructible environment gleams with realism: glass shatters into shards, metal twists when you rip lamp posts from their bases, and debris particles fly convincingly when buildings collapse. These visual flourishes reinforce the feeling of unstoppable force that defines the Hulk.

New York City feels alive despite the chaos you unleash upon it. Civilians scatter and vehicles screech away as you approach, lending a dynamic quality to the urban setting. Lighting effects—particularly the glow of streetlights and the flare of explosions—add atmosphere to nighttime missions, while daytime levels showcase detailed building facades and weathered streets. Frame rates remain mostly stable during large-scale destruction, though occasional dips occur when multiple structures collapse simultaneously.

While some textures—especially in the city’s background skyline—can appear slightly dated by modern standards, the core spectacle of Hulk’s rampage more than compensates. Character models for secondary figures, such as Enclave soldiers and Rick Jones, are solid if unspectacular, but their facial animations occasionally feel stiff during cutscenes. Overall, the visual presentation captures the essence of smashing urban environments to bits, even if it falls short of the polish seen in top-tier open-world titles.

Story

The narrative of The Incredible Hulk follows Bruce Banner and his trusty sidekick Rick Jones as they race against time to dismantle the sinister Enclave and evade the relentless pursuit of the Army. Unlike some licensed tie-ins that merely scratch the surface of their source material, this game weaves key plot beats from the film into its own original missions. Major set-pieces—such as military ambushes, laboratory break-ins, and high-stakes escapes—feel lifted from the cinematic thriller, giving fans of the movie familiar, yet fresh, story moments to enjoy.

Hulk’s inner struggle and Banner’s quest for a cure provide emotional stakes beyond the typical “smash everything” premise. Cutscenes, voiced by actors closely resembling their on-screen counterparts, convey the tension between Banner’s desire for normalcy and the Hulk’s unstoppable rage. Rick Jones serves as a helpful guide, offering mission briefings and occasional witty commentary, though his presence can sometimes feel underdeveloped compared to the game’s heavy-hitting action sequences.

While the story mode progresses at a brisk pace, a few missions suffer from formulaic objectives—eliminate all enemies before moving on or escort Rick through a swarm of soldiers. These moments can temporarily dampen the narrative momentum. Nevertheless, cinematic set pieces, including an epic showdown against an Enclave-created monster of Hulk’s own size, recapture the thrill and scale fans expect from a Hulk adventure.

Overall Experience

The Incredible Hulk offers a uniquely satisfying playground of destruction that will appeal to fans of brawlers and superheroes alike. Its open-world New York City, plentiful collectibles, and dynamic combat systems combine to create an experience that feels as chaotic and rewarding as being the world’s strongest one-man wrecking crew. Even after completing the story, the lure of hidden items and high-score mini-games keeps players coming back for more.

Repetition in mission objectives and occasional camera quirks prevent the game from achieving greatness, but these are minor blemishes on an otherwise entertaining package. Audiovisual consistency, robust control mechanics, and the sheer thrill of punching through tanks or ripping out lamp posts ensure that smash-hungry players will find plenty to love. For those who want to unleash unspeakable fury on a digital metropolis, The Incredible Hulk remains one of the most enjoyable destruction-focused titles available.

Whether you’re a die-hard Marvel fan or simply someone craving the cathartic release of urban chaos, this game delivers a compelling blend of storyline and sandbox action. Its strengths in environmental interactivity and combat depth far outweigh its narrative hiccups, resulting in a brawler that stands out among movie tie-in games. Prepare to feel truly unstoppable as you tear through enemy lines and leave a crumbled cityscape in your wake.

For potential buyers seeking over-the-top action and an authentic Hulk experience, The Incredible Hulk is a worthy addition to any collection. Its mix of storyline progression, collectible-driven replayability, and unapologetic destruction makes it a memorable adventure—one that captures the essence of smashing with style.

Retro Replay Score

5.5/10