411 Top 5 Games Edition 10.27.06: Week 13

Posted by Steve McHugh on 10.27.2006

Top 5 best Games based on Movies or TV

Hello and welcome to week 14 of Top 5. This week will be the last look of when movies and games combine as we end on a high note with the Top 5 best Games based on Movies or TV.

To begin with we've got some feedback from Lynx Raven Raide who doesn't agree with all of our picks from last week.


I have to agree with most of the titles on those lists: Street Fighter and MK: Annihilation were pitiful, Super Mario Bros. only vaguely, and I mean very vaguely, stuck to some of the points of the game, while RE: Apocalypse would have disappointed fans (I had mixed feelings, but more on the like side). I do have two gripes though, and both to do with a popular series... Final Fantasy.

First one is with Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. The most common comment I saw from those who put it on their list is that it was fan service. My question: did you expect anything else? FF VII is arguably the most popular of the franchise, and after getting fan backlash after FF: The Spirits Within (I will get to that one in a moment), and the lack of Sakaguchi guidance, Square-Enix were always going to play this one straight to the fans. Why else would this be a straight to DVD release? I admit I was disappointed in some things (other AVALANCHE members not being in too much) but overall S-E handled it fairly well and there are way worse films based on games out there. Being that this is a 'sequel', not a 'based on', the movie is quite good. Maybe if they didn't have only 1 1/2 hours, but then again, it was originally going to be 20 minutes. Enough on that, on to...

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. First thing, a quote from Jordan Williams:

"I only say this because if this movie DIDN'T have Final Fantasy tacked onto it, it would've been a BRILLIANT movie. Throwing the license of FF on to attract more viewers really hurt the movie itself, it took what could've been a good Sci-Fi movie and turned into a bad video game movie."

First thing, Final Fantasy wasn't 'tacked' on, because it was designed to be a Final Fantasy film from the beginning. I don't know if this can actually be objectively assessed as being a 'film based on a game' since it isn't based on any of the Final Fantasy games. There are a lot of final fantasy elements within the film, however. Whilst I admit that like most people I was expecting more and was disappointed with the end result, I do accept it as a part of the Final Fantasy whole, and not some random piece that Square whacked the FF brand on. Hell, this is the thing that cost Sakaguchi his job, and he was the guy that created Final Fantasy.

Sorry for kinda rambling, but I felt that these two needed some kinda defense


Did I expect more from FF7Advent Children? Well yes, I expected a good plot and some characterization. I'll admit it looked nice and some of the fight scenes were very impressive but it was a vapid film. Square could have done a truly excellent job showing what happened to characters people loved and instead they game us a 20 minutes film stretched to 90 minutes. I would have been happier if they had placed a plot in with the nice looks. It's certainly a film that you either love or hate though.

As for your comment about FF: Spirits within I went to Jordan for his own reply.

Jordan's Reply:

And this doesn't change that it was a bad movie, or that in the end it just felt like "Final Fantasy" was just tacked on. We aren't discussing the project surround it or who made it. But the movie. It was a movie based off of ideas and aspirations of the video game(s) and it wasn't good. Thus, it was a bad video game movie.


And so the Top 5 best Games based on Movies or TV.

From now on all Top 5 topics will also be given to our forum users so they can have their say.



Jason_Reso

5. The Transformers (PS2)
Amazing game. I never followed the generation of Transformers that this game is based on, but being a Gen-one fan I couldn't resist picking up any game that was based off my beloved robots. This game would be number 1 for me had it been based on the first generation of Transformers with original voice cast. The graphics are outstanding for a PS2 game and the controls are excellent. The sounds are good, but the voice work isn't the best. I don't know how the voice work compares to the characters in the cartoon of the generation this game is based on, but when Starscream started speaking in the game and he didn't have his trademark raspy voice, I was saddened. There were some incredible boss battles in this game also.

4. LEGO Star Wars/LEGO Star Wars II (Multi-platform)
These are the best Star Wars games that have ever been made which follow the story lines of the movies. There have been other successful Star Wars games (KOTOR/KOTOR 2, X-Wing vs. Tie Fighter, "Super" original trilogy on SNES), but none that let you "live the trilogies" like the LEGO ones. The graphics are cute, the cutscenes are hilarious, the sound is genuine Star Wars and the controls are simple. This is a game that anyone can pick up and play. It is also one of the most fun games made out of a movie license bar none.

3. Chronicles of Riddick Escape From Butchers Bay (Xbox)
Let's get this outta the way, I hate the Chronicles of Riddick movie and I thought Pitch Black was decent at best. Saying all that, I have to admit that Vin Diesel shins as a video game character. Nobody expects better acting then what Diesel is able to produce for a video game, where as in the movie you have to sit through non-stop Vin Diesel and you have no say over what he does or doesn't do. That is the definition of torture. Back to the game, outstanding graphics, excellent story that tied into the movies, great sound and control along with fresh innovative design made this the best first person "shooter" to come out on the Xbox.

2. The Warriors (Xbox/PS2)
I actually played the game before I ever saw the movie. When I got about half way through the game I decided to rent the movie to see how it stacks up. I was blown away by the intro to the game and movie being the exact same thing but they were not using FMV. I realize the game takes place before the movie, but they completely nailed the characters and the feel of the movie which makes this one of the better movie games.

1.Buffy The Vampire Slayer (Xbox)
This game was excellent. Aside from not being able to cast Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy, the rest of the cast was onboard and did a great job. The game captured the feel of the show, while also being accessible to people who were not fans. I fall into the "not a fan" category, but my wife was so I gave the game a shot and loved it. The controls were good and the amount of attack options were well thought out. The graphics and sound were also both top notch for the time.



Metal_Jesus

5.Goldeneye (N64)
It set the standard for console FPS, no James Bond title has ever lived up to it. The ultimate party game of its generation. I didn't live Goldeneye like some of the kids in my class and I regret that now.

4. The Goonies II (NES)
People may complain this had almost nothing to do with the film and only one playable character (Mikey) when the film was all about the wacky cast of kids but fuck it. Here was a platformer that had multiple weapons, shifts from 3rd to 1st person views and that great staple item collection. It's hard as a NES platformer should be and still fucking fun to this day.

3.Addams Family (SNES)
The only decent Addams family game and a fucking awesome platformer that kept me going for hours as Gomez jumped, jumped some more and did some more jumping and shit. The game felt massive and the secret places were nicely strewn around and beautiful looking Addams mansion.

2. Die Hard Trilogy (PS1)
You like time challenge 3rd person shooters? We have something for you. You like railed first person shooters? We have something for you. You like driving around and fucking shit up? Yep have that too. Yipee Kay Ay motherfucker an awesome package.

1. The G.I.Joe (Konami Arcade)
Where you ran at the enemies and fired and you could choose who you wanted to be from 3 nobodies and course the grand mother-fucking master SNAKE-EYES! That's worth it alone but the sheer amount of cobra troops to fuck up made this feel you really were a lone badass Joe in enemy territory.




And now the 411 Staff:



Steve McHugh

5. Spider-man 2 (Xbox)
I love the film and this is an excellent representation. Yes the fighting is repetitive but swinging through New York NEVER gets old. It's awesome the first time you do it and it's still awesome when you finish the game.

4. TMNT Arcade
I would really love it if Komani put this on Xbox Arcade as I miss playing this game. It's fantastically fun and still stands up as one of the best side-scrolling fighters ever made.

3. The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay (Xbox)
I am not a huge Vin Diesel fan, in fact I think he's mildly watchable at best and I figured that putting him in a video game was a bad idea. Then I heard it was based on the Pitch Black universe and I had hope. Then I played it and was amazed at how incredible this game is. The story is fantastic the controls sharp and responsive and when you hit someone in a fist fight you will find yourself wince. A great game.

2. Alien 3 (MD)
Alien 3 the game has nothing to do with the film. It's still Ripley but it's her against hundreds of aliens and she has a very big gun. And this is awesome. The parts where you see a blip on your radar and can't see the alien is a palm sweating time. This is also one of the hardest games you'll ever play. It makes you earn that victory a dozen times over. A fantastic example of taking a license and making it your own.

1. Goldeneye 007 (N64)
What else could it be? The game that make console FPS games take off and made multiplayer not just a tack on like it had been in the past. This is a revolutionary game and what's even better is that I played it not too long ago and it's still fantastic. Note to EA… this is how to do a Bond game.

Honorable mention:

Quackshot – Donald Duck (MD)
I have no idea if anyone else remembers this but it had Donald Duck in an Indiana Jones type role traveling the world. It's a great, if slightly easy, platformer that was addictive as hell.

Star Wars X-wing Alliance (PC)
Star wars games are either great or crap and this one is one of the best. It may be really hard but it's worth sticking with just to fly the millennium Falcon.



Vincent Chiucchi

5. Kingdom Hearts
Disney combined with Final Fantasy. Disney combined with anything would usually mean it's going to end up as crap, but this turned out to be one of the most addictive RPG's to play.

4. Simpsons Arcade
Up until Simpsons Hit 'n Run, this was the only known Simpsons that got it right. It was a 2D beat-em-up back in the days when they were in the norm, and to this day still remains a great 2D game.

2. TIE: TMNT 4 and TMNT Tournament Fighters
Back in the early 90's Konami made great games based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. Two games that really point out how good a franchise could be if you put effort into it where these two.

TMNT 4 is one of the best 2D beat-em-ups I've played and would still enjoy today. Tournament Fighters was simplified yet still plenty of fun to play, as the style of the cartoon and comics fit this genre perfectly. I just can't decide which game between these two I'd pick over the other, so I'm giving them both the 2nd place nod.

1. 007: Goldeneye
It wasn't just a good game, it was a great game. It was one of the best games of the year. It was one of the best games in the genre and paved the way for Halo and Riddick. There are some who still would rather play this then Halo. With all this praise you'd almost forget the fact it was based on a movie, a bad one at that.


Tommy Coloma

5. Super Star Wars Trilogy (SNES)
The three games that made up this series showcased what could be done on the SNES if developers actually put in the effort. Great graphics, great sound, and controller-throwing levels of difficulty. A platformer fan's dream come true! Out of the three, The Empire Strikes Back is my favorite.

4. Kingdom Hearts / Kingdom Hearts 2 (PS2)
You can say whatever you want about what Disney and Square have turned into over the past few years, but that does not change the fact that a lot of time and effort went into these games. If one is a fan of either of these companies, he or she will not be disappointed.

3. The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay (Xbox)
I am big fan of Pitch Black. I almost never buy DVDs but I liked the movie so much that I actually bought it. That being said, when I heard about this game the first thing that came into my head was that it was going to suck, hard - there was no way that a game based on Pitch Black would be anything but complete crap. Thankfully, that was not the case and what Xbox and PC gamers were treated to was one of the best licensed games to come out over the past few years.

2. The Simpsons (arcade game) / Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (arcade game)
Find me a fan of either of these shows that didn't like these games. Go ahead. I'm waiting! These games represent what licensed games should be – fun, engaging, and true to the source material. Too bad there has never been an arcade-perfect version of either of them. No, a game is not arcade-perfect if the music and sound is not the same as how we remembered it.

1. Most of Capcom's NES-era Disney games
Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers, Darkwing Duck, DuckTales, The Little Mermaid, and Mickey Mousecapade. How the hell did this happen? I can see one good licensed game coming out of a single company every so often. But five that play differently while remaining fun? Awesome!


There you go some are obvious choices but all are worth tracking down to play if you can. Also Vincent Chiucchi is wrong, Goldeneye the film is fantastic… just to set that straight!

As per usual if you have a top 5 of your own send it to me the same if you have any comments about our picks.

Join us next week to see the Top 5 Best Plots in a Game.