The Punisher (パニッシャー) is a 1993 beat 'em up arcade game developed and released by Capcom. It stars Marvel Comics' anti-hero vigilante the Punisher and co-stars S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Nick Fury Sr. as the second player's character as they embark on a mission to kill the crime lord the Kingpin and bring down his organization. While following the same general formula as Capcom's previous beat 'em ups, the game has a range of usable weapons and a comics-style presentation.
The Punisher gained significant popularity in arcades and is widely regarded as one of the best titles in the beat 'em up genre as well as one of the best video game adaptations of comic books. The game is known as the starting point of Capcom and Marvel's partnership which would eventually led to the existence of the Marvel vs. Capcom series.
A Mega Drive/Genesis port was developed by Sculptured Software and published by Capcom to mixed reviews and commercial failure. Decades later, The Punisher would be re-released through the collection title Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics in 2024.
Gameplay
The Punisher follows the same side-scrolling beat'em up formula Capcom established in Final Fight (1989) and Captain Commando (1991) as the protagonists engage ordinary foes and stage bosses. As in most beat'em up games of this kind, progression through the game is achieved by systematically dispatching all varieties of henchmen to proceed onward to either right or left, and defeating the ringleaders whom the player(s) encounter at the boss stage of each level. Much like the limited roster of playable characters in Street Fighter (1987), the size, abilities and tactics of both player characters (the Punisher and Nick Fury) are essentially interchangeable; they both use the same basic moves, such as punches, kicks and throws, which can be chained into combos, as well as similar special attacks. Basic attacks can be combined to cause extra damage to enemies. The game is presented in a comic book-like style, including featuring on-screen onomatopoeias such as "BLAM!" for gunshots.
Various melee (including baseball bats and Japanese swords) and thrown weapons (including knives and shuriken) as well as improvised weapons (such as lead pipes, car tires and a crude flamethrower) can be picked up during regular combat. Weapons can be dropped by killed enemies or obtained from smashing various containers throughout the stages. When the player is armed with a weapon, its durability will be displayed alongside the player's health, showing how much it can be used until it breaks apart. Treasure can also be found in containers, awarding the player with bonus score points once collected (jewelry also appears after defeating female enemies). Health can be replenished by picking up food, which can also give bonus points. The game distinguished itself by the relatively high level of violence in a video game of the era, as well by the frequent use of firearms, including an Ingram and an M16. There are several sections of the game when gun-wielding enemies appear to which the characters draw their handguns, enabling the player to shoot them. Player characters can also pick up and collect hand grenades that can be deployed at a moment of choice.
Story
Art by SENSEI.
In the game's intro, U.S. Marine Captain Frank Castle enjoys a picnic with his family in Central Park. The Castle family accidentally discovered a mob killing. Fearing any witnesses, the killers gunned down the family. To avenge them and all others like them Frank becomes The Punisher. The game begins in an illegal casino and the streets of the New York City, with the merciless vigilante Frank "the Punisher" Castle (optionally partnered with S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Nick Fury) in pursuit of the Mafia enforcer Bruno Costa who ordered the killing of Castle's family; the chase ends with a fight against Chester Scully (a minor villain from the comics). Frank "interrogates" Scully, gets the information he needs, and then promptly shoots him. Still on track of Bruno, the Punisher infiltrates the mob's Pantaberde resort in Florida via a water duct. He breaks into a hotel and corners Bruno, who is suddenly killed by a robot called Guardroid, who tells Frank the Kingpin has programmed him to terminate him, which the Punisher must then take on.
The Punisher then raids a major drug-smuggling ring at the local harbor, which ends with him confronting Bonebreaker in a waterfront warehouse. After that, the Punisher attacks the Kingpin's poppy field at a cave in Arizona. The Punisher boards and destroys a freight train which is commanded by Bushwhacker.
At that point, the Kingpin decides that he has lost enough henchmen and money to the Punisher's actions. He puts a hefty contract out on him, and he is chased by assassins from his hideout and through a forest. After defeating another Guardroid, the Punisher in turn assaults the King Building skyscraper. He fights his way through Jigsaw and other enemies to the final showdown against the Kingpin himself. After the Kingpin is defeated, the entire tower collapses, but the Kingpin is not found among the many dead criminals in the rubble.
Development and release
Arcade
The Punisher for the arcades was released in April 1993,[1] marking the beginning of the partnership between Marvel Comics and Capcom, which led to the series Marvel vs. Capcom.[2] The game used a new arcade system, allowing over 10 enemies to appear on screen at the same time without slowdowns.[3] A pre-release version included some cut content such as rocket launchers.[4] A version for the Capcom Power System Changer was planned and previewed but never released. Artworks from the game were featured in the 2012 art book Marvel vs. Capcom: Official Complete Works by Udon Entertainment.[5] In 2019, the game was announced as one of the titles to be included in the Marvel Arcade1Up arcade cabinet.[6]
In June 2024, Capcom announced that The Punisher would be among the games included in the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics compilation, set for release later the same year, marking the first time the original arcade version would be ported to consoles without changes.[7]
Genesis
A console port of The Punisher was released for the Genesis in North America in 1994 and for the PAL region Mega Drive in April 1995.[8] This version, while still published by Capcom, was developed by the independent American company Sculptured Software.[9] In addition to the downgraded graphics and sound, lesser variety of enemies, and a smaller number of objects on screen than in the original, many of the previously breakable background objects were rendered unbreakable due to the limitations of the Genesis' hardware.[1]
This version also contains some content censorship, including removing the most explicit violence as well as the animation of Fury smoking his cigar,[10] and female ninja enemies with skimpy outfits becoming fully clothed.[1] The port also comes with three difficulty settings,[11] but the Easy setting ends after only three stages and the game can be properly completed only on Normal or Hard. A PlayStation version was reported in works by Crystal Dynamics, but was never completed.[12]
Credits
Arcade Version ["The Punisher Team" All Staff]
Plan and Visual Design: Akiman
Game Design: Maeda, Jun Keiba, Buchi, Ohn
Program Design: K.Nakai, T.Ueno, Y.Kawabata, Mitsu, Y. "ZZR" Mikami
Object Design: Eripyon, Matsunaga, Mayo Seriya, Daniel, Vlad.T, Inukichi, Minobeyan, Yokozo Yokota
Scroll Design: Koizumi, Iwai, Go, T.Tathivana, Mikiman, Marilyn Higuchi, Harusan
Music Compose: "Pi-Bomb" Shimomura, Isao Abe
Sound Design: Toshio Kajino, Syun Nishigaki, Nobu.Oouchi
Direct: Poo
System Advise: Jaboon
Illustration Design: SENSEI
Special Thanks: Tanuki, Ikebomb, Yuko, Koguma, Alex, Scott, and All Capcom Staff
Q-Sound System
Q-Sound chips have been developed by Archer and incorporate Archer's proprietary Q-Sound sound enhancement technology.
© 1993 MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.
© CAPCOM Co., Ltd. 1993
Presented by: Capcom
Gallery
Videos
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Damen, Pepijn (22 May 2013). "Klapper Woensdag The Punisher". Gamestalker.
- ↑ UDON Entertainment (2012). Marvel vs. Capcom: Official Complete Works. Hong Kong: Diamond Comics. p. 2.
- ↑ "Quarter Crunchers: The Punisher". GameFan. 1–08: 90. July 1993.
- ↑ "The Punisher". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Vol. 46. May 1993. p. 58.
- ↑ "Blog Archive » Marvel vs. Capcom Official Complete Works (UDON 2012 in Review)". Udon Entertainment. 14 January 2013.
- ↑ [https://www.marvel.com/articles/games/classic-marvel-arcade-cabinets-announced-at-e3-2019 "Classic Marvel Arcade Cabinets Announced at E3 2019 | News | Marvel". Marvel Entertainment.
- ↑ Marston, George (2024-06-18). "Capcom is finally rereleasing Marvel Vs Capcom 2 along with six other classic games, including the first true arcade port of The Punisher in 31 years". Gamesradar.
- ↑ "The Punisher". Hobby Consolas (43): 56–57. April 1995.
- ↑ "The Punisher for Genesis". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013.
- ↑ Richardson, Josh (6 March 2010). "Top Five Marvel Arcade Games". IFanboy.
- ↑ Video Games & Computer Entertainment issue 80 (September 1995), page 26.]
- ↑ "Dynamic Changes at Crystal Dynamics". GamePro. No. 86. IDG. September 1996. p. 21.