The Punisher (2005 video game)
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| The Punisher | |
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| Developer(s) | Volition, Inc. Amplified Games (mobile) |
| Publisher(s) | THQ |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2 Xbox Microsoft Windows Mobile Phones |
| Release date | January 18, 2005 (NA), April 12, 2004 (mobile) |
| Genre(s) | Action |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB:Mature (M) PEGI: 18+ BBFC 18 OFLC RC (Original rating) 18 (re-rating) |
| Media | DVD |
The Punisher is a 2005 action game which stars the Marvel Comics vigilante, The Punisher. After his family was murdered by the mafia, Frank Castle devoted his life to the punishment of those who do evil to others. Players take control of the vigilante hero to track down criminals and make them pay for their deeds. The game's story is a loose mixture of the 2004 film, as well as the 2000 mini-series, Welcome Back, Frank, written by Garth Ennis and pencilled by Steve Dillon (with the title character designed to look like Dillon's depiction of the character), wherein the Punisher has no aversion to committing acts of extreme (if not gratuitous) violence. A mobile phone game based on this series was also released.
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[edit] Gameplay
Somewhat similar to Rockstar's controversial Manhunt, gameplay in The Punisher offers a combination of exploration, stealth and combat. When he comes across an enemy, who could help further the mission or one simply deserving of punishment, the hero can attack immediately, or sneak up to perform a one-button "quick kill". Depending on the villain, the current location, and a player-determined level of aggression, one of the many gruesome and fatal assaults will be performed. The game's environments also feature interrogation "hot spots", where the vigilante can commit violent and torturous acts on his enemies, coercing them to share information that may help him in his quest.
All of the console ports (Xbox and PS2) saw Frank's torture sequences with the game's various villains censored to some degree (limited blood and gore, no finishing death scene, etc.). Much of this can be removed with a Codebreaker or Gameshark. Internet codes and a modified Xbox allow some of the censoring to be negated. Other patches intensify the gore and violence.
The game is well-known for cameos of Marvel Comics characters, such as Iron Man, Nick Fury, Black Widow, Daredevil (seen only briefly as Matt Murdock), Bushwacker, The Kingpin and Bullseye. Not to mention several memorable characters from the Welcome Back, Frank comic book storyline such as detectives Martin Soap and Molly Van Richtofen, the Punisher's neighbors Joan and Spacker Dave, Ma Gnucci, The Russian and General Kreigkopf.
[edit] Story
The game starts with a short video that Castle is captured by law enforcement officers after assaulting a building. He is then transferred to Rikers Island Prison and being interrogated by two police officers, during the time he talks about the various hits he committed up till that point.
At first, the Punisher infiltrating a crackhouse near his apartment. After almost getting hit by a car upon his leave, he traced the vehicle to a garage alledged as a "chop-shop". After killing every mob in the shop, he learns that the Gnucci family was behind the scene, along with drug trade. Punisher then wages the war and kill Bobby Gnucci, one of the Gnucci enforcers.
The death of Bobby enrages Ma, and she orders Jane, then the neighbor of the Punisher to be captured. The Punisher traces Jane to the local zoo, and kills the Gnucci mob before rescuing Jane. The next war is set at the funeral home, where the Punisher kills all the mob attending the funeral along with Eddy Gnucci, the right-hand man of Ma.
During Castle's assault at the Gnucci residence, he learns that the Gnuccis are getting drug money from a group of Russian mercenaries controlling the dockyards. Subsequently he "pays" a visit to the dockyard, and hears that a certain General Kriegkopf plans to smuggle nuclear weapons to destroy New York City. After attacking a cargo ship alleged to carry the nuke (it was not onboard) and being assaulted by a huge man called "The Russian", Punisher decided to assault the Grand Nixon Island, where the nuclear device is held and carried on a missile.
Castle meets up with Nick Fury on Grand Nixon Island, and pressed on until reaching the launch zone. With Fury's help, Castle is able to defeat General Kriegkopf, the Russian and prevent the launch of the nuclear device. Both escaped before the missile detonates, destroying the island.
Upon returning home, Castle learns that two major crime syndicates are fighting for control over the Gnucci's previous operations. One of these syndicates is being run by Wilson Fisk, aka the Kingpin of crime and the Eternal Sun, a division of the Japanese Yakuza, lead by none other than Castles old enemy Jigsaw. Castle decides to deal with Fisk first, so he attacks Fisk Industries, but is interrupted by the Eternal Sun.
Castle then pays a visit at the Stark Towers; a facility owned by Tony Stark aka Iron Man, after learning that the Eternal Sun are attempting to steal some high tech amour.
After foiling several attempts on the Eternal Sun, Castle decided to assault the Takagi's building, a place where the leader of the gang lives. He comes to know that Jigsaw has been infiltrating the Eternal Sun, and is gaining followers in the gang that essentially Jigsaw is running the business instead. While Jigsaw is being imprisoned in Riker's Island, the Eternal Sun is already planning to bust him out. After killing Takagi (Takagi wanted Castle to end his life) and escaping the Takagi building, Castle allows himself to be captured by the police and taken to Rikers Island, hoping to end this war once and for all.
The time then returns to the present. During the interrogation the prison erupts into a riot, with the inmates start killing the guards with help from the Eternal Sun. Castle takes up the chance and help from detective Martin Soap to escape his cell, and starts fighting his way through the inmates. Eventually he reaches the rooftop after killing most Yakuza members and imates in the process, only to meet Jigsaw face to face.
Castle finally defeats Jigsaw, who is wearing a suit of high tech armor stolen from the Stark Industries completed with a jet pack. As Castle leaves in a flying helicopter, he throws Jigsaw out thereby killing him. On the other hand, Kingpin is angry on the Punisher for his attack on Fisk Industries, and swears revenge on him.
[edit] Main characters
- Jigsaw - Archenemy of the Punisher. The Jigsaw character is different from his comic book incarnation. He is presented as John Saint, the disfigured son of the movie villain, Howard Saint.
- Detective Martin Soap - Friend of the Punisher, helped him escape from custody at Ryker's Island prison.
- Lieutenant Molly Von Richtofen - A lesbian[1] police investigator who wants the facts and will pressure any criminal for them.
- Spacker Dave - The Punisher's neighbour, and technical wiz who helps him during the raid on Stark Towers.
- Joan - The Punisher's next door neighbor. She is a shy woman who wishes to escape the fear she feels while lives in New York and dreams of moving to the country. She is kidnapped by Bushwacker in the Central Zoo as bait for The Punisher.
- Bushwacker - Real name is Carl Burbank. A former CIA agent and one of the most dangerous foes of both the Punisher and Daredevil. Cybernetic weaponry implants make him a dangerous adversary.
- The Russian - He is a hitman hired by General Kreigkopf, he later appeared as a cross-dressing villain in the comics.
- Damage - The leader of the crackhouse where everything begins.
- Tom & Larry - Two crackhouse thugs who trash talk The Punisher in the first level of the game.
- Ma Gnucci - The matriarch of a mob syndicate. Her sons serve as her lieutenants in her operations.
- Bobby Gnucci - Ma's favourite son and the boss of the Lucky's Bar scene.
- Eddie Gnucci - Son of Ma Gnucci, encountered in Gray's funeral home.
- Lou - A Gnucci member in charge of the drug operations in the Meat Packing Plant.
- Carlo Duka - Another Gnucci lieutenant who is in charge of the Chop Shop operations. He is also the uncle of Micky Duka, a character from the 2004 film.
- General Kreigkopf - A former U.S. military general, now heading an organization of Russian mercenaries. Plots to steal a nuclear missile and fire it at New York.
- Russian Boat Captain - Brings in women to feed prostitution rings.
- Russian Tank Commander - The man piloting the T-80 tank at the end of the Pier 74 mission.
- Takagi - The leader of The Yakuza gang called "The Eternal Sun".
- Takagi's brother - The man in the black suit without sunglasses in the meat packing plant level.
- Yakuza Helicopter Pilot - Pilots the helicopter in the last area on the Stark Towers raid.
- Black Widow - Also known as Natasha Romanoff. She helps the Punisher take down the first of the Russian Mercs.
- Nick Fury - Member of S.H.I.E.L.D., aids the Punisher on Kreigkopf's island.
- Matt Murdock - The appointed lawyer for the Punisher, he is the secret identity of Daredevil, but does not appear as the superhero.
- Iron Man - A small cameo during the raid on Stark headquarters.
- Bullseye - Attacks The Punisher during the raid on The Kingpin's headquarters.
- The Kingpin - Runs most of the illegal activities in New York. The Kingpin does not appear to have a vendetta against The Punisher until the end of the game.
[edit] Trivia
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- The Punisher character is voiced by actor Thomas Jane, the same actor who portrayed the title role in the 2004 Punisher film. However, as denoted in early demos and trailers, a different voice actor was attached to voice The Punisher.[citation needed]
- THQ had not originally planned on asking Thomas Jane to voice the character. Jane came into the studio and did such a great job on the voice acting that they hired him for the part.[citation needed]
- A famous quote by Leonardo da Vinci can be seen in the game’s playback trailer: "He who does not punish evil commands it to be done."
- At one point in the game, a detective points out a license plate: 'ASM-129'. Amazing Spider-Man 129 was the first appearance of the Punisher.
- One of the scientists in the Iron Tech division of Stark Industries, Dr. Freeman, talks about extradimensional portals during the alarm sequence, a reference to the Half-Life game series.
- Two mafiosos are conversing at Lucky's Bar. One asks if "Daredevil could take Sonny Corleone". The other remarks that "Daredevil is (just) a comic book character". This is a joke at the fact that the entire world is based on comic books.
- The Punisher was rated AO during production of the game. It was immediately cut and re-rated M before the release.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- The Punisher at MobyGames
- The Punisher (PS2) at GameFAQs
- The Punisher (XBOX)at GameFAQs
- The Punisher (PC) at GameFAQs
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