For nearly five days, there’s been a mini rage at this site about video games and their relationship with films. My take-don’t care. If I see a movie, it should be good regardless of the source material. However, video game designers have not been shy about taking inspirations and liberties with their favorite films and have included them to make great cinematic scenes. Devil May Cry and Max Payne? Thank John Woo for creating his epic action films in the late ’80s and giving fans dual wielding with trench coats. Is there a Grand Theft Auto franchise without The Godfather and Scarface to pilfer from? And where would most games be without bullet-time from The Matrix?
But how many times can designers go to those wells before its officially dry? Here’s a list of movies, shows, and comic books that would perfect to see in game form.
The Wire
Incredible writing, incredible performances, intricate plot lines that are connected for years, refuses to dumb anything down-The Wire was too good of a show to be on an American network. Shows this incredible are usually canceled by the end of the third year. On paper, it was a show about Baltimore’s drug trade and how it affected city government, law enforcement, schools, and the media. Give one episode a glance and viewers found an incredibly acted story about the lives and people caught in this web. Best of all, there’s no such thing as a cheap thrill: every action had a consequence. What can it do for gaming? An urban crime game that actually treats the characters with some dignity. And show some character growth. And Omar Little, the best anti-hero on a TV show, as a playable character
The Bourne Supremacy
While I never seen all three films fully, some of the best parts from the second film was the incredible car chase scene, that was more destruction derby than high speed. What can it do for gaming? While Burnout has got the destruction derby portion locked up, it can be used in action games more extensively. And even though Jason Bourne has been depicted as a human war machine, I’ve always appreciated him being a man on the run looking for answers. A game being on the run would be more interesting than just beating answers out random drones.
True Blood
While vampires is the new in-thing in entertainment, Castlevania would be a lot more awesome if it contained some of the southern dialogue, especially if it was set in New Orleans.
Y: The Last Man
One of the best graphic novels in the last 10 years dealing with the loss of anything with a Y-Chromosome and the only man and monkey sidekick traveling the world as the only bearers of those chromosomes. What can it do for gaming? It can sure make for a more compelling post-apocalyptic world in sci-fi games. And most gamers would probably enjoy the possibility going around impregnating so many women. Much more compelling than just shooting crap.
Preacher
Another great graphic novels with its dead-on satire of American culture and over the top. Okay-most video games have tried that-especially the over the top part. Still, the diverse cast and point-on satire has yet to been matched. What can it do for gaming? Thankfully, all consoles do have a microphone input. Custer’s main power of being able to give anyone any command which cannot be disobeyed would open numerous possibilities for puzzle design.
Grave of the Fireflies
The only anime I included for good reason. While most it has fueled numerous action games and RPGs from Japan, Grave of the Fireflies is one of the best non-stereotypical animes. It’s mainly the best anti-war film ever made. What can it do for gaming? Being in control of two kids who are suddenly orphaned after a fire bombing will be more emotionally complex than just being thrown in a war zone with a bunch of guns. It’s probably an effect of war that doesn’t get talked about a lot.
Requiem for a Dream
Quite possibly, the scariest and most heartbreaking film about addiction and how it fuels nightmares and dreams alike. What can it do for gaming? Most games are all about collection and hoarding items for the sake of survival. Why not have a game that shows the negative effects of obsessively collecting besides it being a temporary status effect?
Those were my picks. What are yours?
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Bourne Identity/Supremacy would be terrific as a video game (storywise).
What about stealing from Murder She Wrote? Imagine a game with Angela Lansbury using her sly granny ways to murder the shit out of various murderers and then frame them for their own murder. Awwww yeah son!
The Training Day storyline and general concept would still make a tight game. Think about it – go on missions with a partner with random twists to the rules and an eventual showdown.
I want something as bright and trippy as the new Willy Wonka and Alice in Wonderland movies.
I want a Curb Your Enthusiasm based Sims game.
How about a Donald in Mathemagic Land based game? Oh wait, that would suck.
Yes Kush, agreed!
And The Wire would be insanely good – great idea man.
@Hundredz
I totally agree with you. The Bourne Identity/Supremacy game will definitely have a fantastic storyline. In short, the film is just perfect to have a game adaptation.