Coming from a long line of failed video game adaptations of comic books The Punisher manages to squeak through the failure and retain some fun and interesting concepts. I really enjoyed the arcade game that feature The Punisher and Nick Fury, so I held this game in high hopes. Though flawed this game is very much Punisher. It is very violent and very gruesome.
(IMG:
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2005/018/reviews/919350_20050119_screen005.jpg)
STORY
The story of the game is pretty much generic punisher with a bit of a twist. You (the punisher) have been arrested and are being interrogated by the police. The game unfolds as you tell your tale to them. For anyone who has read the comics i'm sure you will be pleased to know that the story telling is uncompromised. Yes the punisher does squeak out one-liners, but they are not in a comedic sense. Like I said this game feels and plays like a Punisher game should.
(IMG:
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2005/018/reviews/919350_20050119_screen001.jpg)
GAMEPLAY
The gunplay in this game is a bit flawed, but after a while it is not as bothersome as one might think. Some of the games physics are off, and sometimes control just does not feel right. I did not see anything that brought the game down greatly accept for the fact that during interrogation sessions the punisher is almost impervious to damage. Though the game is nice it has a bit of a sloppy feel to it. Sometimes I get the impression that this game was either rushed out the door to ride the profits of the DVD that came out or it just did not get enough funding or attention. I say this because at times it just feels like a cookie cutter FPS featuring punisher, but fortunately the whole game is not like this. The parts of the game that really stand out as far as game play are the interrogation sequences which can be done on any enemy at any given time. As a bonus the game allows for special interrogations where the punisher uses the surrounding environment muster out some information. Drill presses, saw benches, electric eel tanks, everything is used. Some other things that stand out are the slaughter mode, which is just a way to make punisher move faster do more damage, and become a lot more aggressive, and the special kills. By now I am sure that most everyone has heard that during special kills the screen puts up a black and white filter so that it makes the scene less intense. Most people did not like this in the least, but personally I feel that it gives the game even more of that Punisher feel. The punisher himself sees in black and white. Either the person is guilty or innocent, there is no in-between. I think the filter kind of fits in with what the punisher is about.
(IMG:
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2004/screen0/919350_20040430_screen009.jpg)
GRAPHICS
The graphics in the game are not the best, but they are not bad either. In game looks... ok and the FMV sequences look pretty good. The game does offer a lot of detail for the punisher though, which is nice.
(IMG:
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2004/screen0/919350_20040430_screen011.jpg)
SOUND
The sound of the game is a little lacking, but it is not bad at all. It sounds decently good, and it offers no twang (which is a big thing with me).
(IMG:
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2004/screen0/919350_20041110_screen007.jpg)
BOTTOM LINE
Even with it's flawed game play and somewhat generic graphics the game is definitely a rental and a buy. If you don't like punisher rent it, but if you do pick it up. The game does have a lot of replay value so gamers should find that appealing.
The game is good, it could have been better but I GIVE THE GAME A 7 FOR NOT FALLING INTO THE TRAP OF COMIC BOOK TO VIDEO GAME CRAP WE SEE A LOT.
