by Sonny Alamgir
The growing success of video games cannot be understated. The industry has grown to such a degree, that many believe it will become the top entertainment market in the near future. The most interesting part is that; it isn’t just mainstream games that are a huge success.
We can give online casinos as an example of a thriving new market. Casino game developers have found that adding video game-style elements to their gambling website makes it more likely for new fans to join. Modern day online casinos also include AU payment guide pages and new tech options that boost player engagement as well. Which is part of the reason that they are so popular.
But there is no doubt that video games have entered the mainstream. We can see that in all the films inspired by gaming that have been released recently. Some believe that films based on games never work. But how true is that statement? That is what we are here to find out.
Sonic the Hedgehog
There is no denying that the Sonic the Hedgehog film series got off to a rocky start. The initial Sonic visuals, released before the film, looked atrocious, and fans of the franchise worldwide were up in arms. But then, the studio did something unprecedented. They actually listened to fans’ concerns, and with barely any time left before release, re-worked the iconic hedgehog’s design, making him look much better for the actual movie. Needless to say, they won the good will of their fans quickly.
Already off to a good start, the film’s release was a huge success, both critically and financially. A fun, comedy-filled romp, with a ton of action, some funny jokes, and spectacular performances from everyone involved. Jim Carrey particularly stands out as the hilariously villainous Doctor Eggman, who continuously menaces the series’ protagonist. Of course, with Sonic the Hedgehog being such a hit, we had to get a sequel.
Sonic now has three installments and all of them have been a major hit. The latest in the series also showed that the franchise is not afraid to tackle darker subject matter, while still retaining a child-friendly tone. All of those reasons lead us to believe that the Sonic the Hedgehog films have succeeded in the mainstream.
Detective Pikachu
As iconic as the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise may be, it is nowhere near on the level of popularity that Pokemon enjoys. The video game franchise began in the 1990s, and has endured for decades, releasing new and exciting games in the main series, side projects, two animated series, and several animated films. But, when a live-action, Hollywood movie was announced for 2019, fans were not too thrilled. The trailers didn’t win over any fans either, when they showed a talking Pikachu. Many thought of the movie as an empty cash grab.
Well, even the staunchest opponents of the film were proven otherwise on release date. The critics thought Detective Pikachu was a charming, family friendly romp, that does a great job of adapting the Pokemon world, without disrespecting the original. As the name of the film suggests, it is a mystery drama set in the world of Pokemon, where a detective’s son must team up with a talking Pikachu, in order to discover what happened to his missing father. However, as the film goes on, Tim discovers that he is the only person who can actually talk to the Pikachu, leading to an even deeper mystery.
Detective Pikachu was a critical and box office success, despite competing with some pretty big-name films, including Avengers: Endgame. Pokemon fans enjoyed it, despite the talking Pikachu, and non-Pokemon fans could follow the story along, as it did not heavily rely on any pre-established lore. For those interested in Pokemon, perhaps Detective Pikachu is a great starting point.
Mortal Kombat
Fighting game fans are well aware of the friendly rivalry between Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. Both series have a similar premise; an evil organization has created an international martial arts tournament, where all are welcome. Both series also have film adaptations, both new and old. The original Street Fighter movie is delightfully cheesy, but could not be considered good. For one, it doesn’t even follow the game franchise’s main character, Ryu, choosing instead to focus on Guile.
However, the 1990s Mortal Kombat film actually did a pretty good job of capturing the attention of fans and audiences. The Mortal Kombat series got its theatrical release starring Robin Shou, Bridgette Wilson and Linden Ashby. The film managed to capture the thrill and fun of the Mortal Kombat franchise despite its PG-13 rating.
The first film’s successes spawned a long-awaited sequel. The film was terrible, but it does enjoy a cult following these days as a “so bad it’s good” classic. The Mortal Kombat film franchise got a reboot a few years back. Fans finally got the “R” rating that they had been clamouring for.
So, is the new film better than the original? Both are quite entertaining in their own way. The new film is a bloody and gory affair with well-choreographed action scenes and MMA fights. The older installment has a certain charm to it as well. Can they compare to the big blockbusters of the modern era in terms of quality though? The answer is probably not. But if you just want to have some fun, these movies will do the job.
Honourable Mentions
Though we believe that the films discussed in this article show that video games can have great film adaptations, the fact of the matter is that, for the most part, there haven’t been many good ones. Fans are split on the quality of the Resident Evil film franchise.
Horror is a really big genre right now. It has come to a point that even big-name stars want a piece of the pie. Even a huge name like Michael Douglas has expressed a desire to play in a horror movie. It is no wonder that Silent Hill is a fairly beloved film adapted from an equally beloved game franchise.
