Are Good TV Show Video Games Possible?
Let’s face it, if a license does well in one medium the corporations first thought is to spread their crap throughout the world in any way they can. The video game industry is a proverbial garbage dump for licensed franchises: with movies, comics, novels and T.V. shows all being turned into videogames, it’s hard to get anything with half-decent quality. The question still remains, can T.V shows translate to a fun and satisfying gaming experience? Let’s take a look at what the past tells us…
The Simpsons Game (PS3, Wii, Xbox 360, PS2, PSP)
Using common sense and a small amount of vision, The Simpsons would seem to be a natural choice to translate into a video game. However, defying all reason, the series has suffered a curse of terrible games up unto the last several years. This curse seems to have ended with the release of The Simpsons Game in 2007. Although far from being a fantastic, genre defining game, it was still good. It did what it was expected to do. It achieved at being a light hearted platformer, poking fun at the competition in a stylish and clever way. Even though the gameplay fell short at times, it was forgivable and over-all was a good addition to the long-running franchise. Still though, I do agree with Bart, “Who would ever want to play as Lisa?”
Verdict: A formulaic platformer that might even make the most jagged gamer crack a smile. Good.
24: The Game (PS2)
Let me be clear, I am a huge fan of 24, it is my favourite show of all-time. Therefore, needless to say, I have high standards for a 24 game. My hopes were pretty much pummeled by this release. Repetitive combat, poor camera management, aimlessly un-important objectives make this game a disappointment. However, one redeeming feature is the surprisingly solid story and great cut-scenes (which even manages to bring many of the real actors from the show into the game) which are on par with the quality of the show. Whether it suffered from a rushed development time or just uninspired design choices, this game is not a shining example of a T.V. show video game done right.
Verdict: Pays homage to the show and may please fans, but will indefinitely fail to grow the brand. Mediocre.
Home Improvement: Power Tool Pursuit! (SNES)
Any licensed video game, above all else needs to be respectful to the brand... that’s a pretty basic principal, right? Well, no one told the developers of the Home Improvement tie-in game that. Home Improvement is a beloved 90’s sitcom starring Tim Allen and his day-time “how-to” show about everything manly. This game is not funny. At all. No seriously, it doesn’t even try. Maybe the developers knew that their game failed on EVERY level… and maybe they tried to make up for it by throwing in energy blast firing chainsaws, and a level where Tim has to battle a T-Rex. Even that epic combination couldn’t save this game from its ultimate demise- forever being a laughable attempt at an action platformer. It is a game that fans truly love to hate.
Verdict: Have the developers even seen an episode of the damn show? I didn’t think so. Brutal.
Even though we have seen the good, the mediocre and the abysmal, lest we forget the horrible blemishes on the video game industry of games like: The Simpsons Wrestling, CSI, That’s So Raven or Desperate Housewives … *Shudder.
