Movie games
Video game designers and studios are mining each other’s back catalogues for ideas. James Fryer suggests a few stocking fillers.
Peter Jackson’s King Kong
Nintendo DS | PC | PS2 | PSP | Xbox | Xbox 360
Monkey-mad game fanatics of the UAE received a double treat this month when the Peter Jackson inspired game was released at the same time as his new epic blockbuster. The award-winning filmmaker has added his magic to a release which comes close to capturing the tension of the silver screen adventure, and is a likely candidate for best game of 2005. One of the finest features is the alternating game-play option meaning players can battle for survival on Skull Island as Jack Driscoll, or take on control of the oversized Kong to fight an array of mammoth beasts including Jurassic Park-looking T-Rexes. The cinematic effects conjure a nail-biting atmosphere and with the sound turned up you’re in for some seriously scary sensations. That is unless you’re apeing about with Kong, his in-game presence will leave you feeling like the king of the jungle. At long last here’s the chance to learn first-hand what it means to be ‘the daddy’. As hoped, the game includes true-to-life representations of the film cast and voice-overs, as well as extras not seen in the film. If you haven’t treated yourself to this chart-topper just yet, beat your chest and grunt until someone agrees to buy it for you as a Christmas pressie.
Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire
GameCube | GBA | Nintendo DS | PC | PS2 | PSP | Xbox | Xbox 360
Sales of Harry Potter memorabilia have rocketed thanks to the release of each JK Rowling inspired blockbuster, and video games are no exception. The latest instalment in the franchise, released in November, sees aspiring magicians everywhere trying to cast a ‘get out your wallet’ spell on their parents. Harry, Ron and Hermione are all back as the film based on the fourth book hits the screens. If you thought The Krypton Factor, Survivor or even Big Brother was tough, how does confronting a fire-breathing dragon or rescuing friends from the icy depths of the Black Lake sound? Give me a plate of eye-balls or an assault course any day. Unlike some movie games, The Goblet Of Fire gives players a true taste of the movie, from the Quidditch World Cup to a duel with Lord Voldemort himself. You’ll be amazed at how lifelike the graphics are, and a new spell-casting system along with new co-operative playing features comes close to capturing all the magic of the movie.
James Bond From Russia With Love
GameCube | PS2 | Xbox
Ignoring the slightly awkward joy-pad control system, the 1997 James Bond game Goldeneye on the Nintendo 64 continues to be regarded as one of the best games of its kind, ever. But, realism has taken a massive leap as the latest game in the spy franchise hit the UAE’s shelves at the end of last month. James Bond From Russia With Love is the first secret agent shooter to send players back in time to the swinging 60s. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to slip inside the dangerous and debonair world of the original 007 sex-icon, none other than Sean Connery. The game features movie-based missions and original action scenes in exotic locations, and although a much younger Connery is adept at running about killing evil baddies, you’ll be glad to hear that missions also include a variety of vehicles, including vintage cars modelled on the Aston Martin of the day. Nothing less would be good enough for the MI6 agents’ stream of beautiful women, after all. Perhaps the best bit, you’ll also be able to take advantage of Q’s array of classic weapons and gadgetry, all given a modern day makeover, including a remote controlled Q-Copter, laser-beam watch and sonic cufflinks. From Russia With Love is good old button-bashing with a twist. Shaken, not stirred, of course.
Lego Star Wars
GameCube | GBA | PC | PS2 | Xbox
Everyone has a nostalgic memory of the Danish toy Lego. Combining this childhood classic with the Star Wars blockbusters may not have seemed like an ideal match, but Lego Star Wars has been a chart topper for over sixth month’s as budding Jedis take control of Obi-Wan, Darth Maul and a surprisingly nimble OAP Yoda, guiding them through the latest three Star Wars episodes. A ‘drop in’, ‘drop out’ co-operative mode is especially handy when your teammate infuriatingly slows you down. But, game creators Traveller’s Tales unfortunately haven’t mastered the problem of being able to ‘accidentally’ slash fellow Jedis with your light-sabre as you fight waves of Storm Troopers. Whether or not you’re a Star Wars fanatic, there’s no disputing the striking graphics, superb playability and galactic soundtrack this game offers. Fighting with Lego versions of Darth Vader (cue heavy breathing) and Yoda (cue bad grammar) is hilarious fun, and unlockable missions and vehicles extend the action further still. It’s a big, yellow thumbs up from What’s On. Now where’s that missing piece?
Doom 3
PC | Xbox
Hardcore PC gamers will be all too familiar with the Doom series that have been developing since its original release in 1993. It was only a matter of time before the year 2005 saw a movie adaptation released onto the big screen. Since the movie’s release in October of this year, gamers across the globe have taken to Internet message boards to express their unsurprising disappointment with the translation attempt. Whereas the original first-person-shooter exposed players to an extremely violent and gory world of demons, zombies and other hellish creatures, Hollywood watered down the true nature of the game and failed to capture its supernatural themes and specifics. But that hasn’t stopped the movie topping the US box office, raking in a respectable US$15.4 million with its debut. Maybe all those angry gamers had to go along just to set their curiosity at rest. Beat your way through aliens with chainsaw and shotgun action. Bring it on.
Godfather
PC | PS2 | PSP | Xbox | Xbox360
It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. We know a guy who knows a guy who let us grab a sneak preview of the upcoming Godfather game, due for release sometime soon in the new year – so don’t spend all your Christmas money straight away. After a life of small-time jobs and petty theft you’ve been accepted into America’s most famous criminal organisation – headed up by the Corleone family. If you’ve always fancied yourself as a bit of an aspiring Al Pacino-type character, now’s your chance to carry out orders, earn respect, rise through the ranks and make New York City your own. Play your cards right and you could find yourself running everything as you step into the shoes of the all-powerful Don Corleone. Inspired by Mario Puzo’s book and the original 1972 cinematic masterpiece, we were taken aback by the violent nature of the game which will include everything from mob hits and bank heists to drive-bys and extortion. The in-game characters’ likeness to the movie is breathtaking, including voices from the late Marlon Brando as the Don himself, James Caan as Sonny Corleone and Robert Duvall as consigliore Tom Hagen. But don’t go blabbing. We’re sworn to secrecy and you better keep quiet too unless you want to wake up next to a horse’s head. Capisce?
Lara Croft Tomb Raider Legend
PC | PS2 | PSP | Xbox | Xbox 360
We couldn’t very well take a look into the world of movie gaming without a mention of every teenage boy’s favourite virtual pin up. More than a dozen Tomb Raider games and add-on packages have been released since the original in 1996 – creating an icon in the gaming world. Two silver cinematic translations have been produced, both starring and helping to catapult the career of Angelina Jolie, the first being Lara Croft: Tomb Raider in 2001 and the sequel, Tomb Raider: The Cradle Of Life in 2003. The last girl-power installment came in the form of The Angel Of Darkness which saw Lara become a fugitive after being accused of murder. A strange journey through Paris eventually brings the heroine face-to-face with a dark alchemist named Eckhart. That was back in 2003. The year 2006 will see Lara return to the gaming world as the star of Tomb Raider: Legend. Expected to be released on most formats early in the new year, Lara will be globe-trotting once more as she sets out on a quest to discover a valuable English artefact. After The Angel Of Darkness was slated by the media, Legend has been handled by different developers who have hopefully achieved a game which will be excuse enough to bring Jolie back to our cinemas.
Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks
PS2 | Xbox
The original Mortal Kombat game was deemed so violent that following its release in 1996, the Entertainment Software Rating Board was set up to regulate the industry. Much of the controversy surrounding the game was centred around the fatality ‘finishing’ moves. Whereas young ladies attend finishing school to learn posture, how to arrange flower displays and how to speak properly, Mortal Kombat’s finishes involve tearing off your opponents head or eating them in one fell swoop. This didn’t stop Hollywood attempting to turn the stomach-churning gaming into big bucks. Mortal Kombat in 1995 starring Christopher Lambert and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation in 1997 both received a critical reception. The first movie did, however, go on to gross a whopping US$125 million. A third blockbuster is currently in production – Mortal Kombat: Devastation – and is expected to hit cinemas sometime early in 2006, where Mr Lambert will make his return. The ninth and current game in the bloody series is Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks. While increased manoeuvrability will allow players to explore their surroundings more than in the previous eight games, the basic premise of beating your opponents to a bloody pulp remains.
Resident Evil 4
GameCube | PS2
Known as Biohazard in Japan, the basic gist of the Resident Evil games is to avoid being killed by various monsters and the usual evil and undead. Inspiration for the zombie theme is thought to have come from George A Romero’s horror films including the cult classic Night Of The Living Dead in 1968. And Resident Evil’s movie connections don’t stop there; constant references to the game can be found throughout the 2004 hit zom-com movie Shaun Of The Dead. Two direct translation-to-movie formats occurred in 2002 with Resident Evil, and in 2004 with Resident Evil: Apocalypse. Romero was originally hired to direct the first film but was replaced by Paul Anderson – the man behind the Mortal Kombat film – in an attempt to produce a more audience-friendly picture. Aside from the usual differences from the video game, both films were relatively well received by critics of the movie game genre. The games industry has widely praised the latest Resident Evil 4 game – boasting impressive graphics and a gripping plot. X-Box 360 and PS3 gamers can look forward to a fifth instalment due to be released next year, as well as two more movies in the pipeline. Hurrah!
Final Fantasy XI
PC | PS2
The world of Final Fantasy is quite simply immense. It involves massively distributed role playing board games, a series of console and PC video games, mobile phone games, three anime series and two full-length CGI films – Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within in 2001 and then in 2004, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. Its video game life began in 1987 in the form of a very visually-basic role-playing game for the NES, developing over the years to become the benchmark of the genre. The latest instalment is Final Fantasy XI and is what is known as a massively multiplayer online role-playing game or MMORPG – involving thousands of players connecting to an ever-changing virtual world at the same time over the Internet. A quick word of warning for anyone with an addictive nature: the world of Final Fantasy may well suck you into its grasp and you’re probably best to steer clear. The virtual Vana’diel world has already claimed every last second of spare time from tens of thousands of gamers who log-on to guide their mythical character through the game.