The Punisher is a scaled-back port of Capcom's arcade brawler. It's based on the Marvel comics of the same name and features projectile-heavy Final Fight-esque gameplay.
New York, a jungle of steel and concrete. Where predators of all kinds mercilessly prey on all. Anytime, anywhere.
Central Park, an oasis of green offering respite from the grey.
Here U.S. Marine captain Frank Castle enjoys a picnic with his family.
On that day, the Castle family accidentally discovered a brutal mob killing. Fearing any witnesses, the killers gunned down the hapless family.
On that day Frank Castle's family died.
On that day Frank Castle died.
On that day I was born.
To avenge them and all others like them.
I am, the Punisher!
If you're guilty, you're dead.
Due to hardware limitations, there are far fewer simultaneous onscreen enemies in this version. Also, many background objects are no longer breakable.
This version censored a few aspects of the original. The Punisher no longer shoots bosses but throws them offscreen instead. Nick Fury no longer smokes a cigar and the female ninja enemies now wear more conservative clothing.
Jun '94
Playing this crippled version of the original is weird. It's definitely palatable, because hey, it's Final Fight with guns. But the graphics, sound, and polish are way below Capcom standards (it's a Genesis game after all). It's alright if you're starving for something other than Streets of Rage but you might as well just play the original.
