The Silicon Valley 2.10.10: Top 10 Marvel Comic Characters That Should Be Video Games!
Posted by Steve Gustafson on 02.10.2010
From Thor and Silver Surfer to Deadpool and even Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., 411’s Steve Gustafson breaks down the top 10 Marvel characters that should be video games! Check out the latest edition of The Silicon Valley to see which Marvel characters need to be video games and to check out a few hot pics of Holly Valance!
Hello and welcome back to The Silicon Valley 10 & 1!. My name is Steve Gustafson and you just clicked on the one list that has no right or wrong to it. This is the spot for a mix of all things game and pop culture. A place to complain, debate, and throw in your suggestions. Whatever you want, I don't judge.
But before we do, make sure you're not missing any Steve at 411mania! Check me out: Monday:Big Screen Bulletin. Captain America movie in trouble? I cast the Daredevil reboot! Did I really pick The Big Show as The Kingpin? Find out! Wednesday:The Silicon Valley 10 & 1. Great column last week. Everyone from Games Trailer to crew involved with the show Supernatural gave me love. Don't miss the boat! Friday:The TV/Movies Top 5. The past one was about the BEST in science fiction TV series. Check out who made my list! Saturday & Sunday:The Hollywood 5 & 1. Celebrity gossip and hot women. It might be the most pure fun and manly here at 411mania.
Last week was another awesome comment week. I wanted to list them all but time and space became a factor. I'm thinking of starting a Top 10 Comments section before the main list. I'm giving it some thought. Keep them coming and keep the emails coming as well (stevethegoose@gmail.com). Great feedback and great suggestions last week. Seriously.
Let's get to it!
Do you like comic books? Do you stop by the shop every Wednesday? Do you tie a towel around your neck and pretend to fly around the room? Well, 2 out of 3 isn't bad. It's enough for you to be familiar with the stars of this weeks list...
Top 10 Marvel Comic Characters That Should Be Video Games!
It seems like gaming and comic book reading goes hand-in-hand. And why not? Both are great ways to pass the time, involve art/graphics that are just cool to look at, and gives us something to talk about at the urinal. My original list was Top 10 Comic Book Characters but my list hit 50 and I had just been listing Image characters. So, I broke it down by company. First up...Marvel!
With Marvel Ultimate Alliance we've had a good fill of comic book action. So why not branch off and start a few franchises and get the money train moving? I could have...I want to...really go nuts and list a rack of obscure characters but I pulled back and tried to keep it to ones that have a decent chance of being made and selling. Even with that as a guide, I wasn't able to list my guilty pleasure, the original New Warriors! And I would love to get Rob Liefeld's X-Force on my screen. As long as they have gigantic guns and humongous shoulder pads!
And now...The LIST!
10. Namor: The Submariner Think:Ecco the Dophin mixed with Endless Ocean
Just a Aquaman ripoff? I think not! Give this guy a fully explorable water world and let the good times roll! I wouldn't even waste time having any of the action take place on land. The sea has more than enough to keep Namor busy. Ever want to punch a whale in the face? Now's your chance! Need to can some tuna...
OK, I'M KIDDING, I'M KIDDING!.
And now, the REAL Top 10...
10. Blade Think: Let's go for mood. Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver and Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption. Without all the bugs and flaws that hampered it.
This is an easy one. Blade. Vampires. What else do you need to know? I know he had a game before on the Playstation, but to be honest, it was...underwhelming. Things that go bump in the night are cool again and adding Blade into the mix can only be cooler!
For game details...how about Blade has to travel around the world, investigating reports of vampire uprisings. You piece together the information and find out the truth behind a new vampire legend. HYDRA has unearthed a megs-ultra-big-to-do baddie who makes Dracula look like Count Chocula. Add in The Nightstalkers, Ghost Rider, Blaze, and Morbius to give you a little assistance as you slay vampires left and right and the occasion zombie to keeps things interesting.
For fun, you can unlock a bonus level. Blade VS. Marvel Monsters, starring FIN FANG FOOM! NOW we're talking!
9. The Defenders Think:Front Mission and Dynasty Warriors. With a Halo action injection! But not really.
My favorite "non-team" team! I'm sure that you're going to see a pattern in my list, but as far as the Defenders go; The classic team consists of Doctor Strange, The Silver Surfer, Namor, and the Hulk. But I was a fan of the B-List. And this game would be a great excuse to dump a lot of "buried gems" into a game. I'm talking Nighthawk, Valkyrie, Helllcat. Hawkeye, Son of Satan, Luke Cage in his Power Man garb, Clea, Moondragon, the Gargoyle, Devil-Slayer, the Beast, Iceman, and The Angel. But why stop there? Throw in Falcon, Quasar/Marvel Man, Captain Mar-Vell, Ms. Marvel, Nova/Richard Rider, Torpedo, Stingray, Havok, Polaris, Black Goliath, White Tiger, Captain Ultra and Tagak the Leopard Lord! Man, give me some of these guys and I could write you a story that would put hair on your chest!
But what to do with all these great creations? You have a number of missions that you need to accomplish and you have to put together the right team for the job. Sounds basic? It is. The NEW Assembly of Evil is looking to take over the world and it's up to our heroes to stop them. Yeah, it comes off as the kind of game you play for fun and not have to get hardcore with it. Heck, give it a Halo vibe and have an option to play "capture the flag" with your friends. You play as one of the heroes, and pick your team, and go at it in a variety of Marvel environments that you'd recognize from the books.
8. Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Think: SOCOM: US Navy Seals, Syphon Filter, and Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell. Times, you guessed it...10,000!.
Nick Fury is in my top 3 favorite comic book characters. You can do ANY type of story with him. Space, military, western, romance, horror...anything. In this game you ARE Nick Fury. Fury is chasing a super villain (Take your pick...Nebulon or Swarm) who have stolen the Cosmic Cube...wait, let's create something new...the Cosmic Time Gauntlet...who hops into a ship and Fury jumps on for the ride. There he has to sneak around, spy, disable, dismember, and get to the top of who is behind the theft! Give it a healthy mix of military action with a dose of Marvel type spying. Fury can have a cool array of weapons and a tele-link with his team back at the base. Just because I can, I'd have the trail lead to a HUGE secret underground base in the Savage Land. The main villain for this game? Dum Dum Dugan. Jealous of all those years playing second fiddle to Fury! Just kidding. Why not steal someone from the X-Men and mix things up a bit. How about Apocalypse?
7. Dr. Strange Think:Elder Scrolls swirled with Final Fantasy.
Dr. Strange is an interesting one. It seems every writer and artist wants a shot at him but sales have always been...less than solid. It might be the fact that magic is too broad. It needs rules and restrictions. Magic characters are too powerful but always written as being bound by a code so they don't abuse that power. But then, at times, they can do anything. Too inconsistent. But let's focus on the game. YOU are Dr. Strange. The first part focuses on the tournament to crown the new Sorcerer Supreme. Using energy projection, teleportation, and astral projection you battle other participants to be worthy of the honor. As soon as you win the tournament you are pulled into the Negative Zone. Where magic works different. Your help is needed rescuing Brother Voodoo! By the way, I'm up on current continuity so I know Voodoo is the Sorcerer Supreme, but this is my game. There you fight Blastaar, Annihilus, Stygorr, Noktiis, and their version of the Sorcerer Supreme...Paradox! Thought to be destroyed, he made his way to the Negative Zone and became all powerful. Yes, I know we'll have to do a little retconning to tie in with the comic but YOU try to make a Top 10 list and have 10 different storylines!
6. Inhumans Think:Myst, BioShock, and Dead Space but have the horror element toned way down. And based on the moon.
Try to keep up with me on this one. You are an Inhuman living on the moon. You're time has come to step into the Terrigen Mist where you will be given wonderful new powers. What these powers are, you don't know. And in the game, each time you play and step into the mist, you'll be assigned a totally random power to use in the game. Once you have your power you hear explosions and realize that the Blue Area of the Moon is under attack! Vulcan and the Shi'ar are coming for Black Bolt and the royal family and it's up to you to delay the attack while the forces are readied. By the way, if you haven't read any of the cosmic storylines like War of the Kings, then you are really missing out.
5. Silver Surfer Think:Outcast and Fallout. Man, I'm really stretching on this one.
How awesome would it be to control the Silver Surfer as he glides through space? For this one I say we go FULL COSMIC FORCE! While my Inhumans game is centered on the moon, this game gives you run of outer space. Explore new worlds, race comets, and catch some rays on your board. But is that it? Where's the action? The drama? You get a urgent signal that Galactus needs his help. Seems his former heralds are teaming up and attacked the big guy at his weakest point of hunger. Summoning the Surfer he tells him that if he aids his former master then Galactus will tell him the true fate of his homeworld, Zenn-La! At this point, I'm confused where or what happened to this place in current continuity. Throw in a bunch of space faring Marvel characters and this one could be a beautifully designed game that has lots of potential to be a franchise.
4. Squadron Supreme Think:Justice League Task Force, Justice League Heroes...really, anything Justice League.
I want the classic team please! Let's just have straight up action! You can choose to play as either a member of the Squadron Supreme or Squadron Sinister! When an alien crash lands on Earth 712 it creates quite a crisis. OK, I'll tell you right now, the game would be a rip off of a DC comics storyline since the Squadron is a...homage...to the Justice League! But I will throw in the Serpent Crown as a nod to their continuity. For fun I would have the Exiles make an appearance in the game.
3. Thor Think: Are you serious? Do you not know where I'm going with this? God of War stirred in with Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem. But not quite.
This game would have to be...EPIC! I want to see Thor fighting the fire demon Surtur, Skagg the Storm Giant, and the main baddies of this game...The Celestials! Asgard is under attack and Thor has to fight his way through some heavy hitting foes to take on a group of rogue Celestial hosts. Slip in a couple of appearances by the Warriors Three, Hercules, and our old friend Beta Ray Bill and we are in business!
2. Dr. Doom Think: I hate using the word ripoff...how about that homage word again? An homage to Star Wars: The Forces Unleashed!
What? Dr. Doom? How in the world could you base a game on the ruler of Latveria? Easy. You play as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Your mission is to infiltrate Doom's inner circle, making life altering decision as you do so. If you choose to stay on the side of angels then you live in constant fear of being discovered and turned into Doombot firing practice. But if you are swayed by the power of Doom then you can become his apprentice, gaining powers beyond your wildest dreams! But don't become too greedy too quick. Doom will not be challenged! Either way, this game ends with you taking him down. Either for the good of the world or for you to rule it with an iron fist. Just be sure you don't speak highly of Reed Richards. That subject is a real mood killer around the castle!
1. Deadpool Think:Metal Gear Solid, Duke Nukem, and Spy VS. Spy
The Merc with a mouth. If you played Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 then you know that during the credits, Deadpool confronts one of the writers with a complaint about the game not starring him. I would pick up from that and keep him fully aware of his presence in a video game, and have his dialogue reflect that.
Deadpool's mission in this game? He's hired by the newly reformed and refocused Project Pegasus to locate certain information. After a number of mini-missions he grabs the information, looks at you, and gives you a wink. All is good in the world, right? Wrong! That's only half of the story. Now, in order to get paid he has to use that information and assassinate someone of great importance before that person can alter reality to its core. Someone who's very being is tied to Deadpool's. Racing against the clock, our mercenary fights goons and crumb bums. Finally he reaches the boss of all bosses. None other than superstar actor Ryan Reynolds. What comes next...well, I'm sure you can figure that out on your own.
What about you? What Marvel hero or villain do you want to see made into a video game?
Gaming has come a long way. From the dark basements it has come up and been embraced by young and old. Man and woman. And super hot chicks! Let's take a look at Holly Valance!
She looks familiar, right? The lovely Holly Valance played the assassin Christie Allen in the film adaptation of DOA: Dead or Alive. Sexy. You will also remember her as Brenda Snow, a news reporter, in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 "Uprising". Not only did she do some damage playing DOA in her hotel room during shooting of the film, she has let it slip that she owns and plays games on the Wii, Xbox 360, and PSP. So if you ever find yourself trapped in a hotel room with her, you have something to play!
She told EuroGamer: "I'm learning to get better at the Wii, and I've got a 360 and a PSP. I do try, because I see boys get so much satisfaction out of playing it. I think if I understand and get better at it, I'll enjoy it more. The Wii's good because it's exercising at the same time."
Posted By: Sage Freehaven (Guest) on February 09, 2010 at 11:12 PM
What about Daredevil? I'm thinking that it would look similar to what they did with Batman in Arkham with his alternate vision. It could be very cool.
Posted By: Jeremy (Guest) on February 09, 2010 at 11:18 PM
Daredevil???
Posted By: Guest#9850 (Guest) on February 09, 2010 at 11:21 PM
Do you know how close I was to putting the Great Lakes Avengers on here? And Squirrel Girl would have been front and center! haha
Posted By: stevethegoose (Registered) on February 09, 2010 at 11:25 PM
OH! Thanks for bringing up Daredevil! I thought about him and wondered what the gameplay would be like. Do you play as if you had the "radar sense"? That could be weird. If not, what's the point. Thoughts?
Posted By: stevethegoose (Registered) on February 09, 2010 at 11:35 PM
I want another Howard the Duck game!
Posted By: Guest#6041 (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 12:01 AM
Daredevil? I'm thinking Mirror's Edge seen through an altered Eagle Vision from AC2.
Also, Thor would be epic, and I'm glad he's on there. The Doom one is stretching a bit. I LOVE the Inhumans idea though. Genius. Have to disagree about the Squadron Surpeme idea though...I think the MAX imprint version is FAR superior.
But here's my problem with the list. A lack of a Nova game. This book has been on FIRE for the past five years or so, and he's pretty much ascended to one of my favorite characters. Obviously, start off during the Anhillation Wave, and move on from there. I really don't know what to compare the gameplay to outside of Iron Man, and we all know how THAT one turned out.
Posted By: S. Masters (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 12:06 AM
Thor is coming, Sega is making it to tie in with the film.
Posted By: CyclopsScott (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 12:12 AM
S. Masters, Nova game? I agree 100%. I wish I could put my note online. I had to toss it up between him and Silver Surfer and my love for the shiny guy won out by an inch.
If you're not reading Nova, BUY IT ASAP!
Posted By: stevethegoose (Registered) on February 10, 2010 at 12:17 AM
Silver Surfer already had a game, it was called "Silver Surfer".
Posted By: dogpound7382 (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 01:15 AM
How about a Secret Wars game? Pick a character and battle in online battles.
Posted By: King Boo (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 02:38 AM
1) How can Namor be an Aquaman rip-off when Namor came first?
2) Were you up against a deadline, and just threw out the first oddball comic character names you could think of to come up with an article; or was this an actual attempt at a well thought out column?
Posted By: Coyotespaw (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 02:58 AM
Shang Chi Master Of Kung Fu
Posted By: jrpaper (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 03:13 AM
Daredevil: part Phoenix Wright/part Arkham 1.
Posted By: jay (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 06:26 AM
I always thought Deadpool would be cool if done in the style of the Simpson's game: sick of the minigames and escort missions, he decides to break out of the fourth wall and go to town. Have him leap about the inside of the console fighting bugs and glitches. Have him comment on other games via reading save files a la Metal Gear Solid. Have him mess with the player a la Eternal Darkness. Then finally he goes berserk in the game developer studio.
As for boss battles, why not Rob Leifeld? Ryan Reynolds would be fun too, though.
Posted By: The Tortoise King (Registered) on February 10, 2010 at 07:37 AM
I was going to bring up Daredevil as well. Apparently there are others besides me that would eat this up. There was a GBA game, but it was awful so we'll ignore it. I think they could make a Daredevil game with the radar sense...but introduce it slowly.
By slowly, I mean a team up...I know, I know hear me out! Daredevil vs Punisher. Okay just maybe I have your attention back. Have half the game be about Punisher and do the whole guns a blazing thing...then half the game is in Daredevil, radar sense mode. They would have to be careful about it, but it could be pulled off with today's technology. That way, it isn't all boom radar sense, it's some of both. There is a great graphic novel they could to base the story off of as well.
BTW, another character that needs his own game: Gambit. Class, style, charisma, it would be a natural.
Posted By: Kedrix (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 08:16 AM
Deadpool and DareDevil are the only guys I used in Ultimate Alliance 2. Though my Daughter always played with Wolverine and Iron Man.
Posted By: Guest#1119 (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 08:37 AM
I could have sworn Daredevil already had a game, but I was only half right - he had a PS2 title that got canceled during development. It was suppose to be released around the same time as the movie, though it seemed it wasn't a tie-in to it, following more of the comic books storyline. Here's the article I found: http://ps2.ign.com/articles/360/360672p1.html
Sounds like it was an action title much like the Spider-Man games were. Using his powers slowed the game down like bullet-time, allowing Daredevil to move faster than enemies to take them out (called 'shadow-vision' for whatever reason).
Really liked the article, though there are lots of others I'd love to see. Inhumans I think would work great as a Dragon Age-style RPG, allowing you to build your own Inhuman and customize them somewhat.
Posted By: Deathpool (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 09:00 AM
The Punisher. While i'm sure there is a movie based game for him out there, in the words of confuscious; fuck that shit homey!
Think marvel comics meets doom or possibly fallout 3, depending on how much customization you want. pull in fallout 3's weapon customization and building and you have yourself a badass shooter/rpg.
Posted By: stronelis (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 10:32 AM
Namor at 10 is a farce! You lost me after that. I can't stand all of these Deadpool fanboys!!!! Deadpool=Trendy the cool guys comic book character... NOT! Deadpool is lame! Get a grip. Stay original, where's Captain America,Human Torch,Angel,and Sub-Mariner?
Posted By: ROBOHO2010 (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 11:10 AM
I want a kick ass deadpool game with swords grenades and hot quips.
Posted By: 16s (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 11:41 AM
How about. . .
The Watcher (Uatu) video game. (plays like Pokemon Safari)
Posted By: Marvel Zombie (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 11:54 AM
A game as a villian trying to take over the world or kill a hero would be a good time. Should play like grand theft auto. In the end you have to fight off the one of the avenger groups.
Dr. Doom, Norman Osborn, Loki, Baron Zemo, Apocalypse, Magneto?
Posted By: Marvel Zombie 2 (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 12:03 PM
NATE GREY!
Posted By: Guest#8610 (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 01:07 PM
Blade also had a video game released already, it was released on the Xbox I know for sure, and possibly the PS2 as well.
Posted By: Todd Vote (Registered) on February 10, 2010 at 01:22 PM
Coyotespaw, haha, I don't know if your mom didn't show you enough love or your uncle showed you too much love but lighten up brother. It's OK to have fun.
Posted By: stevethegoose (Registered) on February 10, 2010 at 01:34 PM
Thor and Deadpool games would be pretty sweet. Silver Surfer already has a game. Its a pretty infamous NES game known for its difficulty and its awesome soundtrack.
Posted By: Yup. (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 01:50 PM
a metal gear solid game with deadpool would be full of win.but honestly id love a game based on venom or the human torch
Posted By: Guest#1786 (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 02:07 PM
Galactus: the video game. It would consist entirely of Galactus ruining peoples shit. Who wouldn't want to buy it?
Posted By: Guest#7606 (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 02:37 PM
Hawkeye
Avengers
Black Knight
"Old" New Mutants
A nice Secrete Wars videogame with lots of good heroes facing a lot of rogues in puzzles, battles and more cool stuff would be nice, especially with the chance to play the villains for a change.
But the best would be a really really deep and well done rpg meets action meets adventure game when you can really grow up with your character and interact with a lot of big marvel characters in several huge storylines with the chance to really change things and without a too lame and obvious storyboard, something that really gives you the freedom to breathe "marvel universe". Hopefully with the Avengers movie coming in a couple of years they will come up with at least a couple of titles, with one certainly being an all action game (and I'll buy it).
Posted By: Max (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 03:42 PM
Venom, spiderman and his amazing friends, x-factor, WWII captain america, magneto.
Posted By: rey (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 04:06 PM
I own the silver sufer game it was for the old NES system and it was better then the FF2 movie
Posted By: Doni (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 04:11 PM
Wasn't this column written a couple of weeks ago by j richey???
Posted By: Guest#8620 (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 05:04 PM
I would love to see an origins game featuring a young Magneto and Charles Xavier
Posted By: Cory (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 05:09 PM
I guess I'ma lone on this one but Gambit need shis onw game. Maybe Arkham Asylum type setup where he's going through sewers and city blocks and such, and give it a Bard's Tale feel. Cracking jokes, etc etc.
Posted By: AdamS (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 05:24 PM
There was a game for Blade back on the Xbox. I believe it was a tie in with Blade II.
Deadpool!!!!
Posted By: Todd Vote (Registered) on February 10, 2010 at 05:25 PM
Bad list what you missed
Daredevil - make it a traditional game, Daredevil has enough of a rouge's gallery that you could have dozens of levels. Heck do it Marvel Alliance/X-men style and have the four player rotation group with Elektra/Luke Cage/Moon Knight/Punisher/Wolverine/Iron Fist
Marvel Zombies - bring back your favorite Marvel characters in Zombie form!
Next Wave - let the world of Warren Ellis 'slode
Exiles - different worlds, create your own alternate hero have a rumble style one-one battles as well as missions.
Posted By: Marvel Zombie (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 05:28 PM
I mentioned the Blade video game and I should have mentioned the Silver Surfer game. I own it. It is hard and not enjoyable. The potential is there, just needs a reboot.
The Watcher video game...interesting!
Posted By: stevethegoose (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 05:38 PM
How about Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew? Have the Just'a Lotta Animals guest in it.
Posted By: paco smith (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 05:41 PM
Guest 7606: Galactus video game? I'm thinking "Rampage" in space!
Posted By: stevethegoose (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 05:50 PM
I'd take a Daredevil and Captain America game over fucking Dr. Doom and Nick Fury. Daredevil would be cool if they tied in "Born Again" as part of the storyline, where Murdock's life gets ruined and he fights his way back. Cap would be cool because you could kick Nazi ass, get frozen, then wake up to a world where you get to fight alongside Thor, Iron Man, Hulk, etc.
Posted By: Zingy (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 05:57 PM
How about instead of a Dr. Doom game, do one based on the current Norman Osborn/Green Goblin. That way you could do a combo Thunderbolts/Dark Avengers game. You're a villain deciding whether you want to reform, or go along with Norman and conquer America.
Posted By: JLAJRC (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 07:19 PM
@ marvel zombie
amazing!
Posted By: Guest#7404 (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 07:35 PM
Can't wait for the next edition, which at this point I can only assume will be "Top 10 Top 10's That Should be Video Games", since there isn't much else left.
Posted By: Cactus (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 09:21 PM
Cloak and Dagger
Posted By: Joe (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 11:04 PM
Dr. Doom was in Marvel vs Capcom 2. Though an RPG twist that you suggested sounds interesting.
Posted By: Guest#1164 (Guest) on February 11, 2010 at 02:45 AM
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