Video game adaptations in TV and film haven’t always been successful, but these massive titles definitely deserve a chance on screen.
With Uncharted heading to cinemas and a wave of other video game adaptations in the pipeline, things are looking up for console fans. Video games have traditionally not had the best reception when making their way from their usual format to the big or small screen. But in recent years that has started to evolve with the likes of Sonic and The Witcher.
Whether there has been a previous attempt at an adaptation, or the title has never even had the chance to make it to cinemas, these video games are certainly worthy of an opportunity to make it big on the screen. They hold a lot of narrative potential and are definitely popular enough to draw in an audience.
Is there a bigger video game franchise right now than God Of War? Perhaps, but there’s no denying the popularity of its lead and the Greek-inspired mythology that has now transitioned into a Norse crossover. The concept alone is genius and its execution is nothing short of stellar thanks to its smooth gameplay and dynamic cinematic sequences.
A cinematic adaptation is undeniable at this stage, but despite the longevity of the series thus far there have been no genuine attempts to bring this story to audiences in a new fashion. That’s a real shame considering the scope and scale such an adaptation could accomplish and the deeper lore its script could tap into.
Fans are fully aware that there has been a previous attempt to bring Assassin’s Creed to the big screen and it, unfortunately, did not live up to expectations. Lacking the focus on its ancestral roots which has boosted the games to their current reputation, ultimately the adaptation couldn’t find the right formula for this to work.
Regardless, the latest titles from Ubisoft demonstrate that there is so much more to explore thanks to this complex premise. Whether a new adaptation ever comes to light remains to be seen, but it would perhaps be appropriate to take the general concept in an original direction with a new cast of characters, to avoid comparisons.
A live-action Mario movie was always going to fail. It feels like an impossible franchise to bring to audiences in any format other than animation. The original film wasn’t lacking in its whimsicality, although the parallels to the video games themselves were thin on the ground.
An animated iteration is now in the works and that could be exactly what fans have been hoping for. The roster of characters is absolutely massive and from a visual perspective, there are a lot of fun action sequences that could be packed in here, inspired by the huge range of titles in the series.
Every time a new franchise enters the market and takes players by surprise there are rumors of a big-screen adaptation. There are currently no announcements on such a project for the Horizon series, but the gorgeous depth of its worldbuilding definitely deserves a cinematic portrayal.
From the intriguing character arc of Aloy to the immersive nature of the natural flora and mechanical fauna, a live-action rendering of this iconic imagery and larger story would be breathtaking. There are very few action-adventure movies currently out there that would hit the same beats as this rip-roaring saga.
The iconic Halo is one of those storied projects that never seemed able to get off the ground. Sure there have been short films and attempts to really adapt this gigantic sci-fi franchise, but until recently none of them have really managed to cement what the games are all about.
From the range of weapons to the grotesque aliens and stunning intergalactic vistas, any kind of live-action version would require a massive budget and a crew that understood the lore of the title. The Halo TV show should satisfyingly tick all the boxes fans are hoping for!
The fun Ratchet And Clank has always been a well-received video game series but its latest incarnation has shaken the landscape thanks to its intelligent storytelling, amazing gameplay features, and brilliant character designs. Rift Apart might be the definitive title for the series.
It was the right choice to try and bring the experience into animation, considering a live-action variation wouldn’t capture the same level of spectacle and fun. Compared to the high level of narrative design seen from the console version though, Ratchet And Clank the movie failed to deliver in the way it could have. There’s absolutely room for another shot, which plays on the best parts of both the games and the film, which wasn’t without its high points.
The latest version of Tomb Raider surpassed expectations and set up a promising series. It really captured the essence of the games and was far superior to the original installments. But, it didn’t quite display Lara Croft at her best, nor did it fully bring the adventurous nature of the latest games to the screen, with tombs worthy of the title.
That’s not a criticism as this was an origin story in a sense, but when comparing to the games it wasn’t fully satisfying to what they have achieved. A sequel would definitely build upon the fantastic structure in place and deliver some of those moments audiences are still hoping for.
To be honest, Detective Pikachu was a dream come true for Nintendo fans, who have been awaiting a live-action iteration of Pokémon for years. It delivered for the most part in genuinely bringing these creatures to life and produced a relatively satisfying story.
Yet, fans really want to see a Pokémon trainer go on their quest to battle against gym leaders and ultimately defeat an evil group like Team Rocket. Those narrative beats simply weren’t touched upon, but the future TV series may account for those gaps.
For the most part, Breath Of The Wild rejuvenated the Zelda series, although it certainly wasn’t in decline. Regardless, the full potential of Link’s adventures have been unleashed and Nintendo Switch fans are clearly very satisfied with what’s been developed.
It’s astonishing there isn’t any kind of adaptation out there. In comparison to other Nintendo titles, Zelda feels like it could belong in live-action with the right costume and set design. The brand is now a household name and cinema is always in desperate need of new high-flying fantasy projects to develop.
Respawn’s Titanfall series and subsequent spin-offs hit a level of popularity that was perhaps unexpected. The gameplay itself is thrilling though, with the combination of mech and character-based action allowing for a dynamic range of sequences on the battlefield.
Both the storytelling and multiplayer options are compelling, and there’s a lot of cinematic potential in those bold titan concepts. Ultimately, it may require a larger than usual budget and a strong eye for design, but any big-screen iteration of this series could link to the much larger universe being built on consoles with the likes of Apex Legends.
Politics graduate, freelance writer and all around film geek. If George isn’t lecturing someone on the history of the MCU, he’s probably ranting about the political consequences of Putin’s latest horse riding trip.
