Game Reviews - Indews

Most of the Punisher basically involves killing people. Never before has a game offered so many methods of dispatching foes. In The Punisher there are over 100 different ways of torturing and killing enemies. 100! That is simply an unbelievable number. Whether you want to go hand to hand, bust out a blunt weapon, pull out an uzi, or use a stationary object in the environment like open flames to punish your enemy with, it's all there and it's all just so much fun to do. The Punisher is also equipped with some good acrobatic moves as well as a wide selection of deadly weaponry. The weapons range from machine guns to shotguns to flamethrowers to grenade launchers. All of the guns you'd expect to find show up, and each has its use for dealing with the enemy (and some seem to be there just because they are cool, like the flamethrower). The moves range from "quick kills", essentially stabbing your knife through a guy's head for an easy kill, to grabbing an enemy and using his body as a shield to protect yourself from enemy bullets. Very useful, indeed, however, the game is still an ordinary action game at heart, and that is represented by the frequent bosses that must be faced (and they aren't quite as easy as the regular baddies to take down).

Visually, the game is quite beautiful and it does well to add to the gameplay. Each well designed kill is backed up by beautiful graphics that spew out detailed blood and show your pitiful enemies in tons of terrible pain. Characters and moves are well designed and animated, helping to make those deadly kills more exciting. The levels are also detailed quite well, and the environments match the game by all means. The game isn't Splinter Cell, but the graphics are just where they need to be to make the game fun.

Luckily, The Punisher also sounds superb in most instances. The music isn't exactly Halo (okay, sorry for the two comparisons, I'll stop now, I swear), but it gets the job done and matches the fast-paced action feel of the game very well. The sound effects are amazing and the gurgling sounds and screams of pain really make you feel like you are in the shoes of the Punisher, dealing punishment to all the baddies. There is just nothing like holding your enemy over the side of a building and hearing him whine and beg for his life as he belches out all the information you need to know (and then the satisfaction is only increased when you let go and let the bastard fall four stories to his death). The voice acting is also superb and the dialogue was very well written and presented, helping to draw gamers into the pretty good storyline in the game.

The Punisher may not go down in history as being one of the pioneering video games that broke the monotony of movie to game transfers, but it still ends up being a fun, quality game that most gamers can come to appreciate and enjoy. It won't win any awards, but it may find a comfy little spot right on your shelf in the near future.