Hulk can smash his way to finding a cure all he wants; it doesn't mean we'll be greatly entertained.
Just to get our facts straight, this game is not based on the 2003 film of the same name. And frankly, the story that replaces the movie isn't all that great. You are forced to make assumptions on the backgrounds of the characters that are introduced, because the game lacks the explanations on who they really are and how they became that way. The story unfolds and makes more sense as you progress through the game, but the ending is a confusing cliff-hanger that makes no sense at all.
The actual gameplay itself is somewhat fun. You can smash, crush, or at least damage practically any object in your path, and your puny enemies don't stand a chance against your mighty fists. However, your "paths" are very limited, because the game consists of preset levels that offer very minor amounts of free-roaming. The combat is limited also; it consists mainly of punch/kick combos, slams, and sonic thunder-claps. And even though new enemies are introduced as you move along through the game, you end up fighting the same enemies around every corner. Soldiers, gamma dogs, gamma soldiers, mechs, tanks, and the occasional helicopter are the only non-boss enemies that stand in your way.
In most levels, fighting isn't even necessary; all you have to do is simply get to the end of the level by overcoming the obstacles that prevent you from reaching it. This shows that the main aspect of the game is using the repetitive combat to beat your enemies to death, which really gives the game no depth or substance at all. In some levels, you play as Bruce Banner in his human form. These levels require you to use more logic and strategy to maintain stealth, which is actually a pretty good idea. However, sometimes these Bruce Banner levels take a little too much time to complete and become boring as a result, while others are ridiculously short and pointless. In each boss fight you are pinned up against gamma-infected freaks of less-than-equal strength, and you use the same moves to defeat them as you use to defeat lesser enemies on the battlefield. Overall, the battles are simple and unexciting.
The graphics are good, but there are still some issues that are quite noticeable. The bodies of the Hulk, soldiers, and gamma-infected enemies are a little bulky, and there isn't enough detail in the colors of their exteriors. Frame rate problems pop up now and then, especially when you destroy an object or a wall, which basically is just disintegrating them into thin air with your punches. In addition, movement seems a little stiff and out of whack at times. The sound is okay; the sound effects are nice, but there is practically no script at all, and thus voices are seldom heard. The grunts from the Hulk and the growls from packs of gamma dogs quickly become irritating. Surprisingly, there isn't any dialogue between the soldiers, who for some reason decide to take on the Hulk one-on-one instead of working as a team.
All in all, Hulk is a short, limited game that deserves no more than a rent. It's worth playing through once or twice just for fun, but you'll get bored with it quickly if you play it excessively. Please be mindful of the narrowness of the gameplay and plot so that you make the right decision when choosing to try this game out or not. Hulk isn't a bad game at all, but it certainly isn't in my top 10 either.
Score: 6.8
Grade: B-
Preference: Fair