 "The Punisher" follows the same side-scrolling beat'em up formula Capcom established in "Final Fight" and "Captain Commando" as the protagonists engage ordinary foes and stage bosses.As in most beat'em up games of this kind, progression through the game is achieved by systematically dispatching 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 size, abilities and tactics of both player characters (the Punisher and Nick Fury) 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.