Cool box art is the first thing one sees when purchasing a new game. Frank Castle is totally recognizable on the box of the game standing next to a stylized rendition of the Punisher's trademark skull emblem. The game came on 3 CDs. To be honest, I wish game manufacturers would release DVD editions of their games, especially if the game is going to be more than 2 CDs. You can fit a lot more information into a 4.7GB DVD versus a 700MB CD-ROM, allowing longer movies, a longer game. Further, pressing a DVD costs the same or less than pressing 3 CDs. The manual is comprehensive and allows you to delve into the game quickly.

Marvel Comics killed off the Punisher a couple of years back. Recently they did a "Welcome back Frank" storyline in their comic books. The computer game follows the story in many places and ties into the continuity of the Punisher comic book. The story takes Frank into several areas of New York's steamy underside. As you can imagine the story has a lot of twists and turns. The beginning is a sort of on-the-job training scheme. You are introduced as Frank Castle The Punisher in a introductory short movie. The first mission has you going into a drug house. Nice touches include druggies on the couch stoned out of their minds. As you progress through the game the story is told in a series of cutscenes started by either people with a skull floating on top of the head or by choosing a mission.

The second mission has you breaking into a "chop shop". In case you do not know what a chop shop is, it's a facility where criminals break down automobiles for spare parts to sell on the black market. There you meet your first real stooge that leads you to the third mission, that of killing Bobby Gnucci. He was the first boss in the game and was fairly easy to beat. Killing Bobby ticks off the mother and your next mission is to save your neighbor from Bushwacker. For those that know Marvel Comics, Bushwacker is a felon with a gun for an arm. Other classic Punisher enemies make appearances throughout the game. The G’nucci family is one of The Punisher’s longtime nemeses and appears in the game as well.