Top Ten Movie Based Games

  Hollywood has a bad reputation of putting out terrible movies based on video games, but even worse video games have been based on movies. Hell, E.T. for the Atari is rumored to have caused the video game crash of 1983 (even though it totally didn't). However, if you look through the shit long enough you'll find some roses. There's a couple rules I have for this list. As always these are games I've played. So, don't freak out if you don't see your favorite on it. Also, I'm limiting this list to one movie franchise per entry. Hell, I could fill this list with Star Wars titles alone. So, I present to you BS' Top Ten Movie Based Games.

Honorable Mention- Jurassic Park: Trespasser 

 

  I once stated that Jurassic Park: Trespasser was one of the worst games ever made. I still stand by that statement. Aside from the fact that you needed state-of-the art hardware just to run the damn game, the lucky few that actually got to play it were welcomed with physics, and graphics that were so under developed that it was nearly unplayable.  

  So, why is this game on the list? Well, Jurassic Park: Trespasser is widely accepted as the forefather of rag-doll physics, and for that it makes my list of favorite movie based games. Rag-doll physics are used in practically every modern game produced from FPS, to RPG, and especially open world sandbox type games. 

  Just because Trespasser was bad, however, doesn't mean there weren't any good Jurassic Park games made... 


10) Lost World: Jurassic Park (Arcade) 

  I would like to detour, for a moment, from the argument that most movie based games differ too much from the source material. If playing a game based on a movie/book about bringing dinosaurs back to life would you rather explore the implications of reviving ancient, hostile creatures into a modern landscape, or would you rather shoot some dinosaurs in the goddamned face?! That's were The Lost World: Jurassic Park got it right. 

  Developed by Sega, and released in arcades in 1997, The Lost World: Jurassic Park is one of the reasons I learned the technique of rolling quarters. This games holds some of my fondest memories from the arcade.  

  There was some sort of story behind it all, but I never payed a lot of attention to it. For the most part, I just wanted to murder already extinct animals. 

9) Peter Jackson's King Kong (Playstation 2, Xbox, Gamecube) 

  For the record, I absolutely hate this movie. Peter Jackson's King Kong has to be the single most disappointing experience since my first sexual encounter (all 2 minutes and 30 seconds of it). I remember wanting to find Peter Jackson, and beat him in the dick with a piece of rebar for even thinking this was a good idea. The game, however, was pretty damn great.

  Developed by Ubisoft, and released on multiple platforms in 2005, Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie (and that's the last time I type all of that out) interchanges roles between New York script writer Jack Driscoll, and the mighty gorilla Kong during their stay on the dangerous Skull Island. Playing as Driscoll put survival above all. Playing in a first person perspactive setting fires, and using insects impaled on sticks, were just a couple of the various ways to lure looming threats away from you. 

  In the role of Kong strength rules above all. In third person view you had to battle your way through dense jungles, countless creatures, and occassional bosses to get Kong's prize, Ann Darrow, to safety. There was a bit after that where you played as Kong in New York City, but compared to the rest of the game it felt a bit watered down. 

8) T2: The Arcade Game (Arcade)

   Developed by Midway, and released in arcades in 1991, T2: The Arcade Game took the coolest part of Terminator (the scene that took place in the year 2029), and made an entire game about it! The player takes control of a T-800 model Terminator that has been reprogrammed by the Human Resistance. The whole game consists of mowing down T-800, and T-1000 model Terminators in the year 2029. That's really all I can say about it. But honestly, do I need to say more? 


7) Spiderman 2 (Playstation 2, Xbox, Gamecube, PC) 

  I know, I know. Spiderman games that aren't based on the movies get a bad rap as is. The games based on the Sam Raimi pictures must suck even more, right? Well, not necessarily. 

  Developed by Treyarch, and released on multiple platforms in 2004, Spiderman 2 was an amazing underdog title. Featuring the vast, open world enviroment of New York City at your disposal, a fluid battle mechanic, and a myriad of villains from the Spiderman universe gave this game hours of fun to be had. Hell, I hold Spiderman 2: The Game in way higher regards than the actual movie it was based on. 

6) X-Men Origins: Wolverine (Playstation 2/3, Wii, Xbox 360, PC) 

  X-Men Origins: Wolverine is another example of a game that outshines the movie it was based on by leaps and bounds. I could dedicate an entire blog to the reasons I hate that damn movie. I could fill a series of blogs on the ways they completely hate fucked the character of Deadpool. But enough of my hatred of Marvel Entertainment for now. Back to the game. 

  Developed by Raven Software, and released on multiple platforms in 2009, X-Men Origins: Wolverine had everything the movie should have had. Namely, Wolverine slashing baddies to ribbons with his adamantium claws, and using environmental weapons in some of the most graphic ways I could ever imagine. 

Tell me you didn't get even the slightest bit aroused after that. 

 

  I know I may be viewed as a simple minded, knuckle dragging neanderthal for loving this game, and I don't care. X-Men Origins: Wolverine grabs you by the balls (even if you don't have balls), and slams you against the wall until you scream uncle. In a good way, though. 

 

 

5) The Matrix: Path of Neo (Playstation 2, Xbox, PC) 

 

  Ok, so here's a little confession. I absolutely love The Matrix. Like all the movies. Even The Animatrix. I even played that MMO they tried to make. So, when I heard they were making a game where you got to play as Neo throughout the three films I nearly shit my pants with nerdy excitement. 

  Developed by Shiny Entertainment, and released on multiple platforms in 2005, The Matrix: Path of Neo placed the player in the role of series protagonist Thomas Anderson, aka Neo, as he battled through key plot points of The Matrix series. The scenes featured in the game were hand picked by the Wachowski brothers themselves, and some were altered for the sake of the video game. Playing this game gives you the feel that it was made solely with the fans of the series in mind. 

4) Aladdin (Sega Megadrive/Genesis, SNES) 

 

 

  Honestly, I've never watched Disney's Aladdin. So, I can't really critique the movie. The game, however, was amazing. Back in the day Disney was known for releasing great games based on their movies, and television series. This was mostly due to their their power duo with Capcom, and the fact that their games weren't being rushed to be released with the movie. There are tons of great Disney games developed by Capcom. Any avid retro gamer that hasn't checked them out should do so. But after reading this article, of course. 

 

  Now, Virgin released the copy for Sega Genesis/Megadrive. I never played that one so I won't talk about it. Instead I will be covering the SNES port. 

  Released in 1993, Disney's Aladdin had you playing the central character of the film, Aladdin, as he journeys to confront the evil magician Jafar. Fun as hell gameplay, crisp, fluid graphics, and plenty of bonus stages, and collectibles had me investing hours into this game when I was a kid. 

3) Super Star Wars series (SNES) 

 

  Remember a time when your could-never-do-wrong love of Star Wars was justified? A time before George Lucas would pretty much sneeze into a napkin, give it a Star Wars title, and throw it out there for cash? There is no better tribute to that golden age of nerdom than the Super Star Wars games. 

  Developed by Lucas Arts, and released on the SNES in 1992, Super Star Wars was a game that wasn't only fun because it featured out favorite characters from the films, but was just flat out fun. Allowing players to have an interactive experience in the films was something that typically wasn't an enjoyable one (looking at you Jaws), but Super Star Wars pulled it off seamlessly. I can't fully explain everything that was great about this game. You'll just have to check it out yourself. 

2) GoldenEye: 007 (N64) 

 

  I know you all probably saw this one coming, but whatever. This game holds a special place in my heart that no woman has ever come close to touching. I still count GoldenEye: 007 as one of my all time favorite FPSes. 

  Developed by Rare, and released on the Nintendo 64 in 1997, GoldenEye: 007 is arguably one of the best titles Rare ever developed. Don't get me wrong, the single player campaign was plenty of fun, but the whole reason this game made #2 on my list is because of the multiplayer. All you kids today who never knew competitive multiplayer before online gaming take a seat, and let Uncle Kenny tell you a story about a little novelty we used to call split screen. 

  See, we may not have had your fancy party chats, and gamertags. But what we did have was one TV, four controllers, and a string of insults that would be hurled from dusk til dawn. God help you if you picked Oddjob. You instantly became the most hated person in the room. GoldenEye: 007 holds some of my fondest memories from my youth with my friends, and for that alone puts it at #2. 

1) Chronicles of Riddick series (Xbox, Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC) 

 

 

  This section is going to be separated into two sections. I loved these games so much that both deserve to be placed at #1, and both deserve the same amount of attention. 

  The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher's Bay was developed by Starbreeze Studios, and debuted on the Xbox, and PC in 2004. The game places the player in the role of the series anti-hero Richard B. Riddick; a bad ass criminal with superhuman night vision, and the supreme power of badassery. Not to mention his awesome as fuck signature weapons, the Ulak blades. 

  Mixing stealth, action/adventure, and first person elements Escape from Butcher's Bay is easily one of the best games that came out for the Xbox. The overall plot was pretty much a prison escape story, mixed with bad ass Vin Diesel lines, and maiming and destroying anyone dumb enough to get between you, and escape. 

   Back in 2009 Starbreeze Studios released a sequel to Butcher's Bay titled The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena. Maintaining the same mechanics of the original title, Assault on Dark Athena was instantly praised by critics. Taking off where Butcher's Bay left off, part of the game takes place with Riddick escaping a mercenary vessel known as Dark Athena, and the other part on the planet Aguerra Prime with Riddick escaping back to Dark Athena to escape an impending invasion. 

   As far as sequels go this game doesn't get nearly the attention it deserves, and that is why it shares the #1 spot with it's predecessor.