The Morning Hangover: Making a Good Comic/Movie-Based Video Game

Jun. 13 2:14 PM by KenTheGreat1

Video games are more valuable to the comic book industry than quarters are to an arcade junkie. In a way, the popularity of certain comic superheroes partially depends on the success of their respective games. After all, having a kickass movie doesn't mean that the tie-in video game is going to deliver.

But even though Marvel's literally shitting money thanks to Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the new Hulk movie, the games spawned from all these franchises are largely hit-and-miss. Thankfully, the Slobs are here to help. Straight from people who can recite the entire DC and Marvel sagas in a nutshell, here's a quick list of VERY IMPORTANT rules for making future superhero-comic-video games, taken from screw-ups going as far back as the 80s:

  • Make the superhero super-powerful. Street thugs and minions shouldn't be harder to kill the main villains and bosses.

    In any superhero movie, thugs and gang members are beaten easily, soundly, and with dramatic flair. In video games, getting surrounded by dangerous titans like "Lizzie," "David," and the dreaded "Foot Soldier" can mean a quick death. What's wrong with that picture?

    • Sadly, Spider-Man was no match for the terrifying Lizzie and her hair-whip of Inescapable Death.

  • Use footage from the movie. Don't try telling the story with half-assed cutscenes.

    If a video game is going so far as to use the likeness of the characters from the movie, there shouldn't be too much trouble in just using some scenes from the actual film reel. If a movie is 2 hours long, why not use 30 minutes of its footage in the game? Buying a movie ticket is $10 pretty much anywhere, so someone paying $60 for something that got crapped out to match the film's release date shouldn't get gimped on the story. Geez.

  • If it ain't broke, then don't break it.

    Adding superfluous elements to your game like stealth, power-up scavenger hunts, and timed races won't make the game better. PLEASE: Spend more time on great levels, not fetch quests. Superheroes aren't supernannies.

  • Don't cripple the superhero with a Deus Ex Machina.

    Three words. Kryptonite gas clouds. Yeah.

  • Pony up the cash for better voice acting.

    I don't care if Tobey Maguire gave a great performance in the movie -- if he can't reproduce great dialogue for the game, then just replace his ass. Remember Neil Patrick Harris? He does a great Peter Parker.

Skip to 0:44 to hear a lame voiceover from Tobey Maguire. He doesn't even sound like he's trying. Where's the acting, man?!

Neil Patrick Harris? Muuuuuch better suited to voice Peter Parker. In fact, he probably should have played Parker in the Spider-Man movies.

Comments

Good points KenTheGreat1. I especially agree with your thoughts on actual movie footage being the way to go with movie-based game cutscenes. It only makes sense.

Another ingredient I'd add for making a good game based on a film is taking the material and adding a spin on it like Scarface the game did with providing an alternate ending and going from there. There's really no reason to limit the game to what's shown in the movie.

 

I still say Tobey Maguire was an asstastical Spiderman. I know Peter Parker is a geek, but at least make it a geek with a post pubescent voice.

His high pitched 12 year old boy going through puberty voice was enough to kill most of the appeal that the movies had for me. They totally got the wrong guy. Even the guy who played Harry Osborn would have been a better choice for the role. An a lot better choice.

 

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