YMMV / The Punisher (THQ)

• Complete Monster: General Kreigkopf is the leader of the Russian Syndicate in the second portion of the game. An associate of the Gnucci Family, Kreigkopf would supply them with drugs and money from the harbor. When Castle attacks the harbor, he discovers Kreigkopf has been smuggling in weapons, including a tank and a nuke. Frank discovers that Kreigkopf is also part of a Human Trafficking ring. Kreigkopf sends the Russian to attack Castle at his apartment. When Castle and Fury invade Grand Nixon Island, he prepares to launch the nuke at New York City, and manages to get it to the point it's supposedly irreversible before Frank kills him.
• Crosses the Line Twice: Pretty much a given whenever the character is Played for Laughs, but one example especially qualifies. There's a level at Stark Industries where the Punisher essentially tears the entire place to shreds; at the end, Iron Man himself comes in and sees what Frank did, and it sends him Off the Wagon.
• Enjoy the Story, Skip the Game: The game is universally praised for its story and for capturing perfectly the spirit of the original Punisher comics, in no small part thanks to Garth Ennis himself being among the writers and Thomas Jane portraying the titular protagonist. As for the gameplay, while not bad, it's frequently criticized for being repetitive and not sticking out from the countless third-person shooters that were around at the time. The exception being of the interrogation and special execution mechanics, which are fan-favorites and arguably the most iconic elements of the game.
• Harsher in Hindsight: The Vanity Plate for Volition shows the company logo's head being repeatedly shot and falling from the V. It seems oddly prophetic, as Volition would close its doors in 2023.
• Heartwarming Moments: After planting bombs on the ship and speeding away with several of the girls Frank has just rescued from slavers, he hands one of them a detonator, letting her blow her captors sky high.
• No Problem with Licensed Games: The game has been very well received both on the gameplay and writing side.

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