Published by:
THQ
Developed by: Volition
Release Date: January 18, 2005
Available only on:
XBOX, PC,
Playstation 2
INTRO: In anticipation of the
upcoming
Punisher: War Zone movie, this week we
are taking a trip back. We hearken back to the days of 2005 when the
original Punisher hit the screen, delighting audiences in mediocre ways. In
the video game world, The Punisher dropped in our laps, which left many of
us thrilled. A monster of a man who shows no remorse while doling out
punishment, all in the vein of getting revenge? I would love to play a game
that got that right. And so, we revisit this last-gen game, which was a true
gem.
GAMEPLAY:
So, what would you expect or hope for from a Punisher game? I imagine it
would involve a whole lot of killing, and just as much blood with a hint of
revenge, right? Well, they nailed this one right on the head from the get
go, because this is just about the definitive Punisher game. I mean the
whole thing is just non-stop brutality. Are you tired of sneaking around
walls and slowly breaking necks, only to set off alarms and get killed?
Well you can kiss subtlety goodbye because you’re busting into places and
just shooting the ever-loving crap out of everything. Are you taking too
much damage? Grab a human shield! Shield getting holier than Swiss cheese?
Well simply tap a button and have that fellow swallow your shotgun. These
context kills never get old and although they are slightly goofy at times,
they’re a ton of fun and quite visceral. You can even go into ‘Slaughter
Mode’, a sort of poorly done version of Bullet Time where you toss knives at
your foes.
The next big feature comes from context-sensitive interrogations where
you try to get information from a stooge. Toilets, window sills, power
tools, heights, you name it- you engage in a mini-game that forces you to
literally create the line between torture and death. You must strike the
right balance in order to get your information and if you don’t, the level
becomes longer and more difficult.
Enemies are pretty dumb, but can become aggressively cheap as the game
goes along. Weapons are responsive and upgradable, and only add to the fun.
You can even tear guys apart with your bare hands. Sure, things can get a
little repetitive after awhile and there are some cheap kills going on from
time to time but if you’re a fan, you won’t mind.
Gameplay: 8/10
GRAPHICS:
This is a last-gen game, so let’s treat it as such. Still, this one is no
slouch. Castle himself looks great graphically, but his animations are a
little stiff. Bosses aren’t huge enough for my likings, but most enemies
look pretty good. Environments are okay, nothing to write home about, and
the textures are pretty well detailed.
Graphics: 7/10
AUDIO:
Audio is pretty damn good too, with a great orchestral score. I really
like that it wasn’t all cheesy ‘Nu-Metal’ stuff here. The guns don’t sound
as well as they should, but the voice acting is spot on (Tom Jane for the
win!).
Audio: 7.5/10
FINAL VERDICT:
I was thrilled to go back through this game and whoop its sorry behind
all over again. At the end of the day, The Punisher is a FUN game,
especially for fans of the series. The plot is decent, the action is
plentiful, the gore is brutal, and the interrogation kills add extra oomph.
If you haven’t played this yet, pick it up at today’s bargain prices.
Final Score: 8/10
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