Deaths number roughly 70 to 100 people per mission by way of shooting, explosions, knife work, strangulation, and any number of creative deaths. There is also "slaughter mode," which allows the character to enter a psychotic haze of violence to get out of tricky situations. Victims gurgle, scream, whimper, and whine, especially when being interrogated. Interrogation is particularly disturbing because the player has an active hand in how much torture to inflict.

Violence aside, The Punisher has an intriguing storyline that overshadows the rather average graphics. There is a great deal of dialogue between the characters as well as the Punisher's inner monologue, which includes flashbacks to Vietnam, the death of his family, his attempt to lead a normal life, and so on. Even in easy mode, the game requires serious problem-solving skills to advance, but the challenges aren't unreasonable and the patterns are consistent. Overall the game is intriguing, but the violence overwhelms all.