Play Incredible Hulk, The (Europe)

The Incredible Hulk (Europe) – A Classic 16-bit Rage-Fueled Adventure

During the golden age of 16-bit gaming in the early 1990s, superhero titles became a popular trend, with major comic book icons finding their way into pixelated adventures on home consoles. Among these was The Incredible Hulk, a game that let players embody the raw power and fury of one of Marvel’s most iconic characters.

Released in 1994 across multiple platforms including the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), and the Master System/Game Gear, The Incredible Hulk offered a side-scrolling beat-’em-up experience with some light platforming and exploration. While the American and European versions were largely similar, the European version had slightly altered cover art, some regional language support, and was often distributed under the publisher U.S. Gold, a familiar name in PAL territories.

Though the game received mixed reviews upon release, it has developed a small cult following, particularly among fans of Hulk and classic comic book video games.

Gameplay Overview

The Incredible Hulk is primarily a side-scrolling action platformer. You play as Dr. Bruce Banner, who transforms into the Hulk — the unstoppable green-skinned powerhouse — when enraged or threatened. The gameplay revolves around moving through linear levels, smashing enemies, solving light platforming challenges, and occasionally using your Hulk rage strategically to survive tougher boss fights.

Hulk Forms and Health System

One of the game’s unique mechanics is its health-based transformation system. Hulk can be in one of three states:

1. Bruce Banner – the weakest form, completely vulnerable, with no real offensive capabilities. Banner is necessary in some stealth-based moments or puzzle sections.

2. Normal Hulk – the standard green Hulk with basic strength and combat abilities.

3. Savage Hulk – when at full health, Hulk enters a more powerful rage mode, with enhanced strength, higher jumping power, and a more aggressive stance.

As Hulk takes damage, he reverts to a weaker form, eventually transforming back into Banner. Health pickups (represented as chemical vials or energy capsules) are needed to maintain or restore Hulk’s strength. This layered transformation mechanic added a layer of strategy not seen in other superhero games at the time.

Combat and Controls

Hulk’s combat is primarily close-range melee. He uses:

• Punches and uppercuts

• Ground smashes

• Clap attacks

• Wall climbs and jumps

Each enemy has its own behavior and pattern. Some are weaker grunts, while others, like robots or turrets, require timing and mobility. Boss fights are multi-phase and require learning attack patterns.

Though controls were straightforward, they could feel a little stiff at times. Hulk’s large sprite and slightly delayed jumps made precise platforming occasionally frustrating — something reviewers at the time pointed out.

Level Design and Progression

There are five main stages, each based on familiar Marvel locations or scenarios:

1. Science Lab – The place where Banner becomes the Hulk, with labs and containment areas.

2. City Streets – Urban environments filled with soldiers, tanks, and traps.

3. Military Base – Featuring high-tech weapons, stealth sections, and explosive hazards.

4. Subterranean Complex – Underground lairs and monster-infested tunnels.

5. Leader’s Lair – The final stronghold of Hulk’s nemesis.

Levels involve both fighting and exploration. In some parts, players must figure out how to switch between Hulk and Banner, activating switches or sneaking past enemies. Secret areas and alternate paths exist, and there’s a password system to continue from later levels — a helpful feature in the pre-save era.

Enemies and Bosses

The Incredible Hulk pits the green goliath against a host of familiar Marvel villains, including:

• The Leader – The main antagonist, who appears in the final level with mind-controlling technology.

• Abomination – One of Hulk’s strongest rivals, featured in a difficult mid-game boss fight.

• Riot Squad – A lesser-known team of supervillains from the Hulk comics.

• Madman – A twisted, clown-like adversary who tests Hulk’s endurance.

Each boss has unique patterns and requires Hulk to use both brute force and timing. For its time, the enemy variety was decent, especially considering the hardware limitations.

Graphics and Sound

On both the SNES and Mega Drive/Genesis, the game features detailed sprites and comic-inspired backgrounds. Hulk is large, well-animated, and has a satisfying sense of weight and power in his movements. The European version is visually identical to the North American release, except for packaging and slight timing differences due to PAL 50Hz standards.

Cutscenes use comic-style panels to tell the story, capturing the feel of the original Marvel comics. Backgrounds, however, can feel repetitive and overly dark in some levels, a criticism echoed by many reviewers.

The soundtrack, composed by Jeroen Tel (for the Mega Drive version) and Dean Evans (for SNES), includes brooding, intense themes that reflect Hulk’s inner turmoil. Sound effects are chunky and effective, especially the earth-shaking slams and explosion sounds.

Differences Across Platforms

While the core gameplay is similar across platforms, there are some differences:

Mega Drive/Genesis

• Slightly faster performance

• Grittier sound due to Yamaha FM chip

• Preferred by players who like more responsive controls

SNES

• Better color depth and backgrounds

• Smoother music and sound FX

• More polished menus and UI

Master System/Game Gear

• Simplified gameplay and downgraded graphics

• Fewer levels and enemies

• Portable option but a very different experience overall

The European version was published by U.S. Gold and sometimes featured different box art or cartridge designs, but the game content was essentially identical except for some region-specific tweaks like languages and timing.

Reception and Criticism

Upon release, The Incredible Hulk received mixed reviews:

Praised for:

• Faithful use of the Hulk license

• Unique transformation mechanic

• Solid graphics and sound (especially on SNES)

• Use of Marvel villains and comic-style cutscenes

Criticized for:

• Repetitive level design

• Stiff controls and awkward platforming

• Lacking innovation compared to other superhero titles

• Limited moveset (for such a powerful character)

Magazines like Mean Machines and Super Play gave it average scores, generally around 60–70%, praising the presentation but critiquing the gameplay’s repetitiveness.

Legacy

Though not as well-remembered as Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage or X-Men, The Incredible Hulk has remained a favorite among retro fans who enjoy 90s comic book games. It was part of a broader wave of Marvel games during the 16-bit era that helped build the foundation for future superhero titles.

For many European players, the U.S. Gold release was one of their first introductions to Hulk outside of comics or the old TV show. Despite its flaws, it offered something cathartic — smashing enemies with brute strength, jumping into danger, and becoming a virtually unstoppable force.

The Incredible Hulk (Europe) is a product of its time — a flawed but charming beat-’em-up platformer that gave players the chance to unleash their inner rage through one of Marvel’s most iconic antiheroes. With its unique transformation mechanic, memorable bosses, and comic book style, it stands as a solid entry in the pantheon of 90s superhero games.

While it may not reach the heights of Batman Returns or X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse, it offers a nostalgic, punch-filled ride through the Marvel universe that’s still worth revisiting — especially for fans of retro gaming and the Hulk’s long, green legacy.