by Ernest Spain
For a long time, the phrase “video game movie” was a sort of red flag. Most people understood that video games don’t transition well into film, and that it is better to keep the two separate. However, recently, there has been a growing trend in adapting video games for the big (or silver) screen.
Good Video Game – Film Adaptations
The new Super Mario Bros., animated movie was a huge success; The Last of Us, television series garnered a huge audience, and the Sonic the Hedgehog films are universally beloved. The success of these movies has led to some people wondering if, maybe, video games can get a decent film adaptation.
The answer is, of course, yes. All you need is a decent budget, a passion for both the game, and its film adaptation, and a competent crew to tie it all together. Of course, some games are harder to film than others. That is why, in this article, we would like to talk about some video games that would be perfect for adapting to the big (or TV) screen.
Grand Theft Auto Franchise
The Grand Theft Auto franchise is one of the most beloved video game properties in the world. Created by Rockstar Studios, the series features different protagonists, with different unique stories, all tied by one common thread; crime. All of the protagonists of the GTA franchise are involved in the criminal underground of whatever city they happen to be involved with.
The popularity of crime thrillers like The Batman (2023), The Wire television show, and the John Wick franchise makes us think that the GTA series would be perfect. However, the large cast of characters and complex stories may make it difficult to adapt into a film, which is why a television show might just be the better option for this one.
The GTA franchise also tends to cover themes of gambling, which might interest the growing number of online casino fans. If websites like casinos.com have shown us anything, is that the trend of online gambling is growing. Not only that, but research shows gamers are much more likely to gamble online, than in land-based casinos. It really does seem like 2024 is the perfect time to start on a GTA TV show.
Metal Gear Franchise
Hideo Kojima is one of the most prolific game developers in the world. He has created games like Snatcher, Zone of the Enders, Policenauts, and Death Stranding. However, by far, his biggest success was the Metal Gear franchise, a series of stealth games which have attained critical acclaim from gaming awards all over the world.
The game follows a special forces operative (usually a man named Solid Snake, however, the protagonist changes from game to game), and must navigate a complex puzzle, all while remaining undetected. Kojima has been credited with revolutionizing the stealth, action, and third-person shooter genres with the Metal Gear series.
But, why would the franchise make for incredible films? Well, it is simple. The Metal Gear games are so dense with narrative, and famous for their cut scenes, that they are basically films already. All the film crew would have to do is find an excellent writer to spruce up the dialogue for a film audience, and a director who can capture the video game frames into a movie format, and that would be that.
Though a television show based on the franchise would be a fun time, a big budget adaptation on the big screen would definitely be preferable. The incredible visuals that some of the games are known for deserve nothing less than to be seen in the cinema, adapted by a crew that knows how to handle the subject with the care it has earned.
The God of War Franchise
The success of Netflix’s Castlevania animated show (as well as the existence of anime in general) has proven that adult-oriented, action-based animation can have huge success among a western audience. The story of Trevor Belmont’s epic battle against Dracula, the King of Vampires, truly resonated with an audience, who enjoyed both the drama and action in the series.
The logical next step, one would think, is to adapt similar games to animation, and continue to blend drama with hardcore action. And what could be more dramatic, as well as hardcore, than the God of War franchise? Kratos’s one-man crusade against the Gods of Olympus has left fans wanting some sort of adaptation for decades now, and we think it is finally time.
Anyone who has played the original God of War games knows that they are brutal, savage, and incredibly gory. However, under the thin veneer of violence lies a story about a man ridden with guilt, just seeking to redeem or punish himself – whichever comes first. Eventually, his guilt leads him to challenge the highest authority, the gods themselves. The rest is history.
What is great about the God of War series, is that the sequel duology continues Kratos’s story, and would make for an excellent sequel (or even spin-off) once the original show ends. In other words, whoever chooses to adapt the franchise into animation, will have an in-built excuse to continue the series even after it is over. From both an artistic and financial standpoint, passing up the opportunity for a GoW adaptation makes no sense.
Closing Thoughts
It is true that, historically, film adaptations of video games have not performed the best. Some would say the same for the opposite direction, but it is also worth noting that there are some excellent film-based video games out there. However, as the technology behind film-making improves, and as video games are now more popular than ever, we shouldn’t be so quick to discount game-based media anymore.
There are already examples that show a good filmmaker can produce some excellent content based on a video game. In fact, many believe that the next big trend in Hollywood will be video game adaptations. We are already seeing hints of that with The Last of Us and the Fallout television shows. That is why, we would recommend maintaining a hopeful attitude regarding the future of video game adaptations.
