It is fair to say movie based video games can sometimes be a mixed bag. However, I do have fond memories of playing movie tie in games. I have loved movies for as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest memories are watching VHS copies of Superman the movie & Star Wars that my Dad had rented from the local video shop in the early 1980’s. These memories even predate my love of video games but when the two come together effectively it can result in a lot of video game fueled fun. In this post I share my best Best Video Games Based on Movies.
My Best 7 Video Games Based on Movies
Once the British computer game industry caught on to licencing the rights to produce movie based video game tie ins this produced a perfect combination to pull me in & take my pocket money when visiting the likes of WH Smith’s, Woolworths or even Boots (those were the days). In my time I have brought some fantastic movie-based video games & some real duds too. I won’t dwell on the duds too much (Big Trouble in Little China on the C64) but share My Best Video Games Based on Movies I still own and play today.
More Movie Game Action:
1. Star Wars – Arcade, Acorn Electron & Commodore 64
I have mentioned this many times before but there are two games that pulled me into gaming as a young kid. One was the absolute classic Atari arcade game that was Star Wars. The sit-down cab was an experience I’ll never forget & a great game too. Back in the 80’s I had the home conversion of the game for my Acorn Electron & I still have a Hit Squad copy for my Commodore 64. The arcade version is of course the best & it is always great to spend some time playing my Arcade1Up cab in my Home Arcade.
You can read more about Star Wars the Arcade game Here.
2. Ghostbusters – Commodore 64
Ghostbusters which was a movie that I would get my parents to rent weekend after weekend from the local video rental shop. It would probably have been cheaper for my Dad to have just brought a rental copy the amount he must have spent overall. Ghostbusters the game is very special too as it was the first video game that made me go wow! The speech & music on the title screen grabbed my attention straight away let alone the vehicle set up section & then the actual game play that really made up the game. This game also made me fall in love with the Commodore 64 as it was a friend who was lucky enough to have both the system & the game.
From this point on I wanted a Commodore 64. This would have been around 1984 & I wouldn’t get my C64C until 1989 as I got the Electron first (in 1986) but one of the first games I purchased for my Commodore 64 was Ghostbusters. The copy I brought was a budget label release of the game which was on Mastertronic’s Ricochet range & I still have that copy today along with the original Black Clam shell release.
You can read more about Ghostbusters by Activision here.
3. Batman – Commodore 64
Ocean Software are famous for their use of licences especially movies; Platoon, The Untouchables & Rambo First Blood Part 2 spring to mind. Once I got my C64 though there were two titles I had to get based on my love of the films & the games being decent too. These two games were Robocop & Batman which were both successful titles for Ocean Software & very popular movies among my group of friends.
The Tim Burton Batman movie was massive in 1989 in a time when superhero movies didn’t come along very often (not like today) & I love the C64 version from Ocean. I can fire this game up just for the cool load screen on its own with the Ocean Loader blasting out of the TV speakers it’s an experience in its own right. The levels aren’t easy but follow the plot of the film nicely from working your way through the Axis Chemicals level to driving the Batmobile, to the puzzle level then flying the Batwing & onto the Cathedral level it is a very testing but fulfilling experience.
4. Robocop – Commodore 64
Robocop was a different movie experience to Batman in that it’s extremely violent & you had to get someone over 18 to rent it on VHS for you. There were a few copies floating around back then amongst my friends & I did eventually manage to get my Dad to buy me a copy from Woolworths when he wasn’t paying attention. I think my Mum was probably somewhere else in the shop with my younger brother (probably looking at Thunder Cats or Turtles toys).
The game is very similar to the fantastic arcade game but on the C64 it is rock hard but having played it at a friend’s house & what with all the fuss surrounding the movie I had to get it. I still enjoy playing it now but usually using a cheat mode & have a big box copy on display in my game’s rooms (poster included). The follow ups never matched the magic of the original release but when Robocop Vs Terminator (based on a comic) on the Mega Drive eventually came out Murphy was back on form & gunning for Arnie.
You can find My Top 10 Commodore 64 Games Here.
5. The Super Star Wars Games – Super Nintendo
The 16 Bit console era was memorable for me for movie tie ins mainly because as a teenager Star Wars was making a comeback in video game form. I’ve always been a big Star Wars fan & in the early 90’s it was great to have a bit of buzz around the classic trilogy again. I had borrowed a copy of the NES platformer version of Star Wars from someone & it was a very good game. It was large, tricky & pulled me in as a fan but it was also expensive, so I never got it originally (I own it now) but Super Star Wars was a completely different beast with fantastic looking graphics & with the other movies to follow it sold itself to me straight away.
I have all three of the SNES trilogy in my collection & although The Empire Strikes Back is my favourite Star Wars movie out of the SNES games I normally go for Super Star Wars or Super Return of the Jedi for my 16 Bit fix.
Yes, all three of the games are very challenging but a lot of 90s retro games are & time is needed to get somewhere with these titles. I love the whole experience of these games as a Star Wars fan.
You can find my Top 10 Star Wars Retro Games Here.
6. Goldeneye – Nintendo 64
It was my Brother that wisely got an N64 and with it came a packed in copy of Goldeneye & I would play it loads. Again, I loved the movie which was the big comeback for the Bond Franchise & the game as you all know is fantastic especially when played with others.
I had never really had any James Bond games before although there was a few for the Commodore 64. This was a great game & one I still play today. It takes you through the plot of the film in single player mode so well in fact if I haven’t played it for a while it makes me want to watch the movie too. It is usually set up for multi-player at my local retro gaming night in Cambridge & is always popular which says it all really.
7. Batman Returns – Super Nintendo
Finally, a game that captures the atmosphere of the film it is based on so well. Batman Returns by Konami for the Super Nintendo. A superb scrolling beat em up which I would have loved back in the day, but I honestly never played it.
If you haven’t played this game give it a go as the graphics are great with the various villains taken from the Tim Burton movie a particular highlight. I have struggled with the Mega Drive version of the licence & the SNES version is different & vastly superior.
It’s a great game which I enjoy playing when I get chance. So, there you have it some of my favourite video games based on movies. To be fair the older games here have the most magical memories for me as everything was newer & more exciting then or perhaps it’s because I was younger & more excitable?
Disappointing Video Games Based on Movies
As well as the movie based video games above that I really enjoyed there were also some disappointing games too. Here a are a few that I regretted getting my hands on back in the day.
Big Trouble In Little China – Commodore 64
Fortunately this was a budget release game so it didn’t cost a lot. However, I love the movie to this day and this was one big disappointment. An awfully slow Kung-Fu Master style game with sluggish game play and awful graphics. It honestly seemed pretty unplayable back in the day.
Ghostbusters 2 – Commodore 64
As much as I was hyped for the movie, I was also very excited for the game. In all honesty this was never going to match up to the original Commodore 64 game but with only 3 levels to play and really not being that exciting this was a disappointing Christmas present back in 1989.
My Best Video Games Based on Movies
Give a me a go on a Star Wars arcade machine or load up Ghostbusters on a Commodore 64 & I’m a child again. Load up Batman or Robocop & I’m nearly a teenager again trying to get hold of 18 certificated action films on video to watch with my friends. Super Star Wars games were exciting as the franchise had disappeared a bit a lot like James Bond in Goldeneye although when I was playing that I was probably had a big night out planned that same evening. Movie based video games bring back some great nostalgia filled memories. None more so than those in this article.
Keep It retro.
Daz
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