What are your thoughts on video games that are based on other forms of media, such as books, movies, or anime? Have you ever been motivated to buy a video game based on media you already enjoy, or has buying one of these games perhaps inspired you to try the source material?
cough cough cough Legend of the Guardians cough cough NOTE: Completely different than Rise of the Guardians
I haven't really bought that many, but I have bought Naruto games before, some were great while others were not so great but buying games based on shows I watch/ have watched and stuff like that is not really something I buy much.
In truth, not really. While some games stay true to the characters and are actually good, I'm not like people who go and get them. Some are good, but not all of them. So, approach me with a good story and a game that stays true to a story, and we're good!
It’s a shame most video games based on an existing property are usually shoved out without any real effort put into them. The Wii, PS2, DS, and Switch are filled with shovelware titles like these. I remember buying an atrocious Zach and Cody game as a kid and feeling ripped off. To this day, it’s my least favorite game. Everything was so half-baked. There are some diamonds in the rough, however. Steven Universe: Attack the Light was on sale a few years ago, and I loved it enough to give the TV show a shot. Not only did I find a really polished turn based RPG, but I also found one of my all time favorite cartoons. The sequel, Save the Light, is even better. More characters, more places to explore, and a fantastic soundtrack. Just like it’s predecessor, it stays true to the source material while being a great game on it’s own right.
Adaptations tend to be a mixed bag. Most of them tend to be low end cash grabs that aren't really worth playing. There are really good game adaptations out there, though. I think it really depends on the mentality that goes into making the game. Most are just made to cash in on the success of an established property, usually a movie that just came out or a series that's still on the air. Some, however, are made to be good games that play off of an established property, like with the Batman Arkham series, or some of the Spider-Man games that have been released over the years.
