As this era of Marvel video game adaptations continues, there are plenty of heroes and villains that would make great game protagonists, but one is more obviously suitable than most: the Punisher. Frank Castle's straightforward nature would make building a game around him less of a challenge than many other Marvel heroes would pose. An outstanding Punisher game would essentially just be a well-executed shooter, and in that regard there are plenty of games from which such a title could draw inspiration.
There are many Marvel characters that would be difficult to do justice in a video game, but the Punisher is certainly not one of them. One of the best examples of how a Punisher game could be executed is the Max Payne trilogy, whose fluid combat, weighty gunplay, and chaotic action would translate perfectly to the Punisher's signature brutality. Even without borrowing the franchise's iconic bullet time, a Punisher game using Max Payne's shooting mechanics as a baseline would have many potential avenues to expand and distinguish itself from the rest of the genre.
The Punisher Deserves A Max Payne-Esque Shooter
Beyond compatible gameplay, the Max Payne series shares a substantial amount of DNA with the Punisher mythos. The eponymous Max Payne and Frank Castle have similar backstories and motivations, with both characters' properties focusing on corruption, organized crime, and revenge. These tenets are part of the reason why the Punisher fits the video game format so naturally: his goals are simple, and the fantasy of embodying the character as a player doesn't extend much farther than engaging, deadly combat. While a new Punisher game would be tricky to produce in a tonally sensitive manner, the design of its gameplay would be a far simpler barrier to overcome.
The narrative backbone shared by Max Payne and the Punisher is fortunately versatile, providing the opportunity for creative alteration rather than stifling it. An adaptation of the Punisher's origin and anti-heroic exploits could take a number of shapes, as long as it's ed by solid gunplay. Such a game could smartly set itself apart from Max Payne by employing an open world. The Punisher's anti-heroic deeds fit neatly within that style of framework: a more personal main quest, with world events allowing the player to target different criminal organizations and upgrade their arsenal. Alternatively, a more linear and narrative-heavy approach - the kind of Punisher game The Last of Us' director would likely want to make - could embrace the character's darkness and tell a more mature story.
Given the versatility of the Punisher as a character and the popularity of his recent live-action appearances, a standalone Punisher game seems like an obvious move for Marvel. A street-level superhero shooter would be a refreshing break from the flashy abilities and epic scopes of titles like Marvel's Spider-Man and Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. Max Payne proves that visceral gunplay and outlandish action can be complementary, and with that combination and an appropriately emotional narrative, a Punisher game could easily be Marvel's next smash hit.
