There was a time when ideas for video games flowed fast and loose and didn’t really become bogged down with the minute details that are so present in today’s modern games. They were fun simply because they had the same name as famous film franchises, not because they were so keen on every single detail. That being said however video games were at one time very simple and very down to earth as compared to the games of today. And playing a game based on a movie was sometimes more of a thrill than watching the actual movie.
Here are our picks for the top five video games based on movies:
5. Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (2011)
The most recent on this list, it still comes in at number five for a couple of reasons. One is the Lego craze that’s been going on for the last decade. the other is the obvious fact that Harry Potter has been an absolute goldmine for so long. With the puzzles, hidden objects, and plenitude of movie representations this game is a must for many hardcore Potter fans.
4. Ghostbusters II (1990)
This game kind of faded into obscurity along with the sequel to the hit movie. It became increasingly difficult as the play went on, and had to be beaten several different times before the ending could possibly be gained. In short it was as frustrating as the film largely because the reputation of the original Ghostbusters was so great that its sequel just couldn’t live up to it.
3. Jaws (1987)
Hours upon hours were spent on the Nintendo trying to outfox the killer shark for which the game is named. The buildup to the final showdown was fun and engaging, as it was more of a cross between a fun and kid-friendly action game than it was a kill or be killed experience. Once the player got to the end however the game of cat and mouse with the titular shark was no joke, and its random movements as it sought to find the best way to chomp the boat into pieces was frustrating enough to keep most gamers on their toes.
2. Aliens (1986)
Graphics-wise this is probably second best on the list considering when it was made and how interactive it really was. Those who loved or still love the Aliens franchise no doubt have played this game once or twice. The fun of this game is that the stages do change. The player will either walk around in a left to right motion killing aliens, ride a tank and kill them as they pop up, and crawl through the ducts of the complex killing them that way. One sure thing to remember with this game however is that once you get to the queen, you’d best be on your toes or its game over.
1. Tron (1982)
Nothing beats the classic, at least not yet. The game came out around the same time as the movie, and featured 4 distinct stages with 12 levels each. While a person that had watched the move might say “I got this” they would eventually have to realize that they didn’t know what they had as the difficulty level increases with each victory. As classic games go this is undoubtedly one of the greatest and most engaging still.
Conclusion
Video games have advanced to the point that they come out months their corresponding film is released, but the premises are often so tightly wound together that there is little in the way of imagination to be had by the player. The older games might have been far less concerned with their correlation to the movie at times, but this was what made them a little more inventive.
