The Punisher
Developer: Volition; Publisher: THQ
Preview by Havoc (7 March 2005)
| advertisement |
|
|
AT FIRST THIS GAME appears to be a simple third person shooter, a way to capitalise on the horrible movie that preceded it, but after taking time to fully explore the unfortunately very short demo one sees that there are some very cool features that differ this game from others of its class.
The first instinct is to take the shotgun you start with and apply it liberally to everyone in your way to the end of the level. Though relatively easy (you are the punisher after all, you eat bullets for lunch) it seems to lend the game an uninspired, same-old feel. Then you realise that you can pick up two of any gun, ANY gun, and fire them separately with the left and right mouse click. Walk through a room with double M4A1 assault rifles and tell us this game is the same as usual.
In close quarters you can grab enemies to use as shields, or for quick interrogation. In the demo the first man you meet can save you from an ambush, after a quick encouragement by holding his head over a piranha pool. These interrogations are manually controlled, for example you could happily douse the man's head and pull back a skeleton if you so chose, and later another victim can be head butted, punched or generally beaten at the control of your movement keys. After you are finished with them you can use them as shields for incoming bullets, pulling them around in front of you, or you can dispose of them with the quick kill option, usually consisting of a point blank shot to the chest or the head.
Graphics-wise this game is no Half Life 2, but nevertheless the levels and animations are crisp and well done, good enough so you don't notice it. The game controls are intuitive and easy to use, with the third person perspective optional at a button press. The demo was too short to reveal any elements of the storyline, but one can expect the usual tale of revenge and sacrifice etc etc etc. When it is released this game should be well worth playing.
Features:
- Become the Punisher, the Marvel vigilante and ultimate anti-hero, in a non-stop action experience.
- Embrace the Punisher's tactics by interrogating criminals! Will you break them and gain information?
- Interactive environments and unique 'hotspots'. Create dozens of environment-specific kills and interrogations that create interactive, cinematic 'Punisher Moments'.
- Over 101 unique deaths await those that stand in the Punisher's way.
- Punisher armory. Use an upgradeable assortment of guns and weapons to wage an onslaught of two-fisted firepower.
- Original story from acclaimed Punisher writers Garth Ennis and Jimmy Palmiotti.
- 'Best of Everything Punisher' combines over 30 years of Punisher history, including his greatest enemies and allies.
Check out the Official Site.
|
