Skip to content
Posted: June 7th, 2003.
VIVENDI UNIVERSAL GAMES EXPANDS THE HULK MOVIE EXPERIENCE IN THE NEXTGENERATION VIDEO GAME
Game Combines Popularity of Marvel Comic Book with Power of Theatrical Releaseto Create High-Impact Interactive Entertainment Action-Adventure
Vivendi Universal Games’ The Hulk video game, based upon Universal Pictures’highly anticipated film version of one of Marvel Comics’ most memorable andpopular Super Hero© series, will street June 13, 2003 in the UK. The action-packed game is being developed by Vancouver, Canada-based RadicalEntertainment for the PlayStation©2 computer entertainment system, the Xboxvideo game system from Microsoft, Nintendo GameCube and the PC. The ValhallaMotion Pictures/Good Machine Production will hit UK theatres July 18, 2003.
With a brand new storyline set after the events of the film, The Hulk videogame will deliver gamers an incredible experience beyond the movie. The gamecombines visuals from the original comic book illustrations with the film’sremarkable digitally-created graphics and environments, along with new imagerycreated exclusively for the game. Players can master two types of game play aseither Bruce Banner or The Hulk as they battle lead characters from the film,familiar enemies from the Marvel Universe or new villains created specificallyfor the game. With fully destructible and interactive environments, playerscan virtually manipulate, destroy or use anything as a weapon. With hissuperhuman power fueled by rage, The Hulk can smash through any physicalobstacle and annihilate his foes with over 45 devastating attacks.
“We have worked side by side with our theatrical partners to extend theHulk experience beyond the big screen and deliver it to the hands of gamers,”said Luc Vanhal, President & COO of VU Games, North America. “Themovie uses CGI to create a fully-realized character onscreen and we havedeveloped a game that brings all the power and personality of the moviecharacter to gamers everywhere across a variety of platforms. You can expectThe Hulk video game to be every bit as powerful as the film will be.”
“The Hulk videogame represents a three-pronged approach in building theultimate action Super Hero franchise — from comic book to film to interactiveentertainment,” said Tim Rothwell, senior vice president, UniversalStudios Consumer Products Group. “Our goal is to provide fanseverywhere with a massive Hulk experience that will launch in the theater andon video games screens simultaneously.”
“The transition for our characters from the Marvel Universe to theinteractive universe is virtually seamless and only helps to enhance theoverall experience,” said Russ Brown, Executive Vice President, ConsumerProducts, Promotions & Retail Sales, Marvel Enterprises, Inc. “The Hulkhas worldwide recognition and appeal, He is one of the most physicallypowerful and emotionally compelling Super Hero characters ever created. Byextending this franchise across these mediums we are able to create excitingnew chapters in Hulk lore.”
Interactive Extension of Movie Story
With a brand new storyline distinct to the game and set after the events of thefilm, The Hulk follows the plight of troubled scientist Bruce Banner and hisenraged alter ego, Hulk, as they battle against familiar enemies from theMarvel Comics world and new villains specific to this adventure. Betrayed byhis long-time colleague and mentor, Professor Crawford, Bruce unwittinglyreleases the essence of the Hulk into an Orb, falling prey to the Leader, avillain intent on using the Hulk?s energy to unleash a relentless army of’gamma’ creatures. Now Bruce must pursue his new foe through San Francisco,into Alcatraz, out of heavily guarded military installations and finally tothe terrifying, surreal Freehold of the Leader himself. Only by facing his own shattered identity and gaining control of the beast within him will Bruce havethe ability to destroy the insane intentions of the Leader.
Dual Gameplay and Action
The Hulk game allows players to master two different gameplay styles unique toboth Bruce Banner and The Hulk. As Bruce Banner, the player must employ thepowers of logic and stealth while struggling to contain the Hulk inside of himin order to successfully complete missions. As the Hulk, the player mustpower their way through 25 massive, highly-detailed and immersive environments,directly inspired by the film and exclusive to the game. They will face fiveintense boss battles, smash up to 10 enemies at once and destroy foes withover 45 devastating attacks.
Real-World Simulation
While the player controls the incredible power and rage of the Hulk, objectsreact to damage as they would in the real world, displaying behaviorsconsistent with the real effects of mass, matter and gravity. For example carsbounce off walls to show body damage, glass shatters, broken pipes roll. Thesmashing gameplay is enhanced as virtually any object can be manipulated,destroyed or used as a weapon.
About The Hulk Film
Universal Pictures presents in association with Marvel Entertainment Group aValhalla Motion Pictures/Good Machine Production of an Ang Lee film, The Hulk.Acclaimed filmmaker Ang Lee?s concept for his film adaptation of the classicMarvel Comics series, The Incredible Hulk, combines all the elements of ablockbuster visual effects-intensive superhero movie with the brooding romanceand tragedy of Universal’s classic horror films. In depicting The Hulk asboth a superhero and a monster, a wish fulfillment and a nightmare, Lee andhis team have stayed true to the subversive spirit of the classic comic bookcharacter while completely updating The Hulk and projecting him into thedangers and aspirations of contemporary times.
Eric Bana stars as scientist Bruce Banner, whose inner demons transform him inthe aftermath of a catastrophic experiment. Bana plays both the human Bannerand, through groundbreaking visual effects technology provided by the Oscar-winningIndustrial Light and Magic – the superhuman Hulk. Jennifer Connelly portraysBetty Ross, whose scientific genius unwittingly helps unleash The Hulk; NickNolte plays Banner’s brilliant father, who unwittingly passes on a tragiclegacy to his son, and Sam Elliot portrays the commander of a top-secretmilitary research center.
News page content input by Dominic Robinson, 2003.
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.