Cheat The Punisher
The Punisher follows the same side-scrolling beat'em up formula Capcom established in Final Fight and Captain Commando as the protagonists engage foes and stage bosses. As in most beat'em up games of this kind, progression through the game is achieved by systematically eliminating all common enemies and proceeding to the right (or left), and defeating the bosses met at the end of each stage. Unlike in Final Fight, the player characters Punisher and Nick Fury's size, abilities and tactics 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 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 distinguishes itself by the frequent use of firearms, including an Ingram and a 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.
Plot
The game begins in an illegal casino and the streets of the New York City, with Frank "the Punisher" Castle (optionally partnered with Nick Fury) in pursuit of the Mafia enforcer Bruno Costa; the chase ends with a fight against Chester Scully (a minor villain from the comics). Still on track of Bruno, the Punisher infiltrates the mob's Pantaberde resort via a water duct. He breaks into a hotel and corners Bruno...who is suddenly lasered to death by a massive Guardroid, which Castle must then take on.
The Punisher then raids a major drug-smuggling ring at the local harbor, where he's pitted against four gorgeous-but-lethal ninja-sisters: Mizuki, in blue; Misa, in black; Midori, in green; and Luna, in red. (Misa is brunette; the others are blonde). Finally, Castle confronts Bonebreaker in a waterfront warehouse. After that, the Punisher attacks the Kingpin's poppy field at an underground cave in Arizona. There Castle 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 Castle, who 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.