As many gamers won’t hesitate to tell you, most video games involve a deep storyline that gives the player a hands-on experience in how it plays out. With the increased popularity of many games, movie producers have jumped on board to bring them to life on the big screen (or small screen). As someone who’s not really a gamer (but lives with one, as many of us do) but loves a great story, here’s some of games-gone-film that have almost convinced me to pick up a controller.
‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’
I had to start off strong. As one of the most iconic and well-known horror games, ‘FNAF’ also contains a plot line that will send your head spinning. Having familiarised myself with the underlining story prior to the release of the film, I was curious how they would create the same level of depth in an almost-two-hour movie. And the film definitely gained the traction of gamers and non-gamers alike as it projected many of our childhood nightmares onto the big screen. While I do think it would have achieved more as an animated film, I’m curious as to where the film franchise will take us in the world of Freddy Fazbear.
‘The Last of Us’
‘The Last of Us’, based off the post-apocalyptic horror game with the same name, had a lot of anticipation coming up to its release. Many loved playing the story-based game but were cautious as to what parts of the story the film producers may leave out. Coming into this series blind, with no experience with the game, I found watching this series highly enjoyable. With a lead actor like Pedro Pascal and a thrilling story full of questions and suspense, you can’t help but be stuck on the edge of your seat and holding your breath. And we have more to expect from this series with a season two set to release next year.
‘Twisted Metal’
While it felt like a similar style to ‘The Last of Us’, ‘Twisted Metal’ didn’t receive the same traction coming into its release. And to be honest, while I’d seen the trailer, I had no idea that it was based on a video game. This series was an enjoyable watch, with the world-building simple enough that you caught on easily, but not too simple that it becomes boring. Full of hard action, comedy, a creepy clown mask, and some ‘Mad-Max’ style post-apocalyptic vehicles, this series hardly lets you catch a breath, and you start to feel sorry for the complete mess that the main character managed to get himself into.
‘Arcane’
As a lover of dystopian-style stories, I have little not to praise this show on. Based on the game ‘League of Legends’, I had some prior bias coming into the series and was honestly a little reluctant to start watching. I was quickly humbled, however, and instead found it difficult to stop watching, feeling the heartbreak of finishing the season with more questions than answers and no confirmation for another season. The animation style paired seamlessly with the story, and is I style I’ve never seen replicated in another series or film. This Netflix Original Series brought in fans from the gaming world and outside, and though I can’t say I’m any more inclined to try the game, I cannot wait to watch the next season.
‘Mortal Kombat’
‘Mortal Kombat’ is a game that, while you might have never played it, you can often associate some image to mind when thinking about it. While I have seen both the 1995 and 2021 films, I don’t think I could rate one above the other. Both of the films have excellent storylines that differ slightly, but what the 1995 film has in game-like nostalgia, the 2021 film makes up for in effects. With the characters each having unique characteristics and abilities, the 2021 film was able to present these attributes more seamlessly through more advanced CGI. However, I still believe both of these films do justice to the game and can be enjoyed by everyone.
‘Tomb Raider’
When talking about the ‘Tomb Raider’ films, I will be referring to the 2001 Angelina Jolie ‘Tomb Raider’. Not to say I didn’t enjoy the 2018 reboot, but I feel like too much was taken away from the Lara Croft character in the newer adaptation. The 2001 film, however, I feel did more justice to the game. With a powerful main female character, Angelina Jolie embodied the athletic, intelligent, and elegant persona of Lara Croft. As someone with an appreciation for good action films, Tomb Raider definitely hit the spot.
‘Resident Evil’
The ‘Resident Evil’ film franchise has kept appeal with gamers and movie-lovers alike. Most people, if asked, have experienced the story either through the game-play or on the big screen. The series surrounds a post-apocalyptic world filled with zombies and mutated creatures. With a high inclusion of gore, violence, and horror themes, this is definitely not the film series for someone with a weak stomach, but if you’re someone in the mood for an intense and action-packed ride, this series does not disappoint.
‘Rampage’
‘Rampage’ was another film that I didn’t know was based on a video game, but after watching it, I could see the player appeal. I think having Dwayne Johnson play the main character took a lot of the attention away from the fact that it was a game re-make and made it more of a Hollywood production. Despite this, I’ve always enjoyed watching and re-watching this film. With a sarcastic gorilla, well-made mutated animals, hard action, and a good dose of comedy that doesn’t take away from the action, there’s a lot to love about this movie.
‘Uncharted’
To start, starring two top actors like Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg as the leading characters leaves a lot of high expectations. It was a duo I had never thought of yet worked incredibly well. I don’t believe this film gained a lot of traction both from the game-players or movie lovers as the story was not highly unique. Adventure tales where the main protagonists try to find an artifact or follow a trail of clues has been overdone in the market, which may have led to the film not having high attractiveness.
‘Super Mario Bros.’
It had to be mentioned, and while it has received mixed reviews, I thoroughly enjoyed the film. I also believe that Illumination being the animation company had a large play in its success. The style of ‘Super Mario Bros’ falls seamlessly into the vibrant and colourful nature of Illumination’s animation style. And yes, I do agree that a more traditional voice for Mario may have made it a bit more authentic, but I also think it would get old very quickly. I grew up playing ‘Super Mario Bros’ and ‘Mario Kart’ and have a soft spot for Illumination films, so this movie quickly became a comfort film.
Hayley Rochester
Hayley is an intern with The Western Weekender, currently studying at Macquarie University.