Frustrated? Angry? Then perhaps you should consider a little anger-management, Hulk style. Smashing tanks and helicopters and throwing soldiers against walls should help vent your frustration in Radical's forthcoming action beat 'em-up. Yes, it's another game based on a movie, based on a comic book super-hero. So what makes The Hulk different from the others?

Despite the incredible physical strength of the Hulk, which you can take advantage of with some 45 different attacking moves, the emphasis of the game is rarely on the beating up of hoards of enemies. Though if this is what makes you happy you can let Hulk smash them until the cows come. Alternatively you can smash up the scenery or even use it to smash more enemies. However when you tire of smashing everything in site, the level objectives tend to be more specific, from tracking down certain henchmen (then smashing them) to reaching different parts of the level, or to finding special things in the level (and more often than not, smashing them).

It's not all smash, smash, smash though. A number of the 25 levels will put you in the role of the Hulks less angry alter ego Bruce Banner. In these levels you will have to be more cautious, and avoid foes. If you do happen to run into trouble you do have a small number of offensive moves at your disposal, but you're hardly going to rip a huge pipe from the wall and swing it around until all enemies lie defeated (as you can with the Hulk). In fact, should you get too involved in fisticuffs and take one hit too many, Bruce could get angry and turn into the Hulk, blowing your cover, leaving you back at the start of the level. As Bruce Banner you will also have to solve puzzles, which increase in difficulty throughout the game.

Most of the levels will place you in the more mighty frame of the Hulk, because frankly, smashing things is more fun. What's more as if being angry enough to turn into the Hulk isn't enough, you also have a rage meter, which fills as you take on more enemies. Once this is maxed out your attacks double in strength, and you have the chance to perform one of two mega-moves. The super hand slap, and the super stomp will create carnage around the screen, but they also put your rage meter back at the beginning, so they should be used only when necessary.

As the game is to be released by Universal, who are also responsible for the movie, they share a similar look. In fact, the story is said to follow on from the movie, visiting many of the same locations. The transformation from Bruce to Hulk also matches the movie version, and the opening cut scene is inspired by the movie trailer that had Banner wiping a mirror to reveal the face of the Hulk. As the game is so closely tied to the movie, there are many cut scenes to drive the story along. Despite it being so story driven, it's not too linear. Whilst objectives are defined, and green arrows will point you in the right direction, there's more than one way to achieve your goals. For instance to defeat one boss character you can either slowly pound away at him, or smash the power generators to pieces, and them throw him into one of them.

All in all The Hulk is looking good. It seems to have enough substance to stop it being a superficial smash-a-thon, and there are plenty of unlockable extras such as survival battles in which you have to defeat as many enemies as possible, to keep it interesting. If Radical can harness the potential that the title is showing, and balance difficulty levels and have a decent camera system, Hulk could well smash itself towards that title of top super-hero game.