Make a Video Game of These Movies
Video games and movies have had a long and rocky relationship. While classic titles such as Disney’s Aladdin and Fate of Atlantis manage to capture the spirit of the franchise, games such as E.T. and Fight Club lose sight of the source material to deliver soulless cash grabs. Due to the sheer volume of awful releases linked to famous films, gamers lost interest and Hollywood’s video game endeavor began to wane. Recent successes have re-sparked interest from both industries with triple-A publishers now working on blockbuster properties. So, join me as I explore which movies should get a new video game.
The Crow
Strangely, the iconic film starring Brandon Lee never got a video game adaptation but its horrific sequel did! The Crow is an incredible film that blends powerful themes with dark imagery. With its distinct art direction and Eric Draven’s powers, this story would perfectly lend itself to video games. An open-world title that takes the Eagle Vision mechanic from the Assassin’s Creed series and the Nemesis system from Shadow of Mordor, packaged in Rocksteady’s Arkham aesthetic would be the perfect combination.Â
Old Boy
The South Korean classic is one of my favorite films of all time. Its alluring premise and Park Chan Wook’s signature direction combine to deliver a story like no other. A memorable sequence involves Oh Dae-su, a hammer and a corridor full of enemies: the perfect recipe for a video game. While Sifu includes a homage to the scene, I would love to see Sloclap produce a virtual iteration of the second entry in the Vengeance trilogy.
Sisu
Any film where you watch Nazis getting the crap kicked out of them is good in my book and Sisu does this impeccably. Aatami Korpi hits the jackpot and discovers nuggets of gold that will change his entire life. As he lugs his findings towards the bank, he stumbles across Nazis that want to take his precious cargo. Like any total badass, he isn’t letting his treasure go without a fight, and fight he does. The ex-soldier, nicknamed the ‘one man death squad’, slaughters all that cross his path in bloody, violent ways. The simple premise, ingenuity with crafting and focus on combat would make this a glorious game.
Knives Out
After Rian Johnson ruined Star Wars, he went on to create a fascinating murder mystery with a wonderful ensemble cast. The premise remains similar to classics of the genre with a famed investigator central to the plot. Benoit Blanc, played by Daniel Craig, is an eccentric character who is adept at interrogation and able to read people with ease. While he is key to both Knives Out and Glass Onion, the rest of the characters change which would make it simple to tell a new video game story. Charles Cecil and the rest of the talented folks at Revolution Studios would be the prime candidates to create the adaptation. Their flair with storytelling, witty dialogue and multilayered characters would allow them to tell a complex story that would keep fans asking, ‘Whodunit?’
Goodfellas
Gangsters in games just work. Yakuza, Mafia and GTA have huge fanbases as they let you live the life of an outlaw. A number of films have been given the video game treatment: The Godfather, Scarface and The Warriors, but arguably the best film in the genre never got an adaptation. Martin Scorcese’s crime epic has it all: great characters, plot twists and intense sequences. While this could follow the conventions of others and be an open-world title, I would prefer a Quantic Dream-style narrative-driven experience. As Henry Hill, you could try to influence those around you, make decisions that alter the narrative and even see what happens if you don’t rat your friends out.
Big Trouble in Little China
Okay, I know there’s already a Big Trouble in Little China game but it doesn’t do the film justice. Jack Russell as Jack Burton is magic. Confident, cool and goofy, he is the perfect action hero. However, every protagonist needs an antagonist and this has it in troves. Lo Pan is the creepy overlord and his henchman, Lighting, Thunder and Rain, are the formidable blockers that Jack must defeat. The art direction is spectacular and a virtual rendition would look insane on new consoles. Due to the enclosed environment, a focused, cinematic, linear experience would suit the source material. This would need a company like Naughty Dog at the helm to successfully reimagine John Carpenter’s classic.
The Raid
The story is simple, you raid an apartment with the intent of arresting criminals that reside inside. What happens is some of the most intense action sequences ever to be captured on film. Due to the clutter-free narrative and focus on combat, this would be an incredible franchise for a company like PlatinumGames to adapt. They are the masters of fast-paced action so this seems like a match made in heaven. As the raid uses the environment as a tool for the action, PlatinumGames would be able to be creative in their approach to combat. With an upcoming US remake on the horizon, this seems like a prime candidate to make the jump to consoles.
There you have it, those are my top picks. Are there any on the list that you would particularly like to see? Are there any that you disagree with? Which films would you like to see adapted into a video game? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook or Twitter, and don’t forget to subscribe to us on YouTube for some great video game content.
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