Being a gamer is no longer just limited to video games. Something I've been thinking about for quite some time is a subject that many gamers avoid: video game adaptations. Live-action video game adaptations are slowly becoming the norm, with trailers for the Borderlands movie and even the Fallout series being released. This is happening because most studios want a bigger piece of the pie. I believe that some adaptation measures are gradually becoming widespread, but there is still much work to be done. Don't understand what I'm saying? Let me explain.
Not-so-great video game adaptation track record
Let's be honest, most video game adaptations have one problem in common. derivative adaptation of source material. That's not inherently bad. I believe that if a writer wants to improve something, they should be able to do it.
However, the intentions behind improvements are most often misplaced.Most video game adaptations simply hope that's the case aaa hollywood products. This naturally means losing some of the actual source material and the identity of what makes it authentic. Again, this is not a bad thing if you maintain a balance between creativity and making money.
Unfortunately, we don't have a stellar track record when it comes to video game adaptations.Some classics tread the line of “So bad it's good” category and left a memorable footprint.iconic movies like 1995 Mortal Kombat Expanded the theme of the series. Or the nightmare-inducing live-action Super Mario Bros. movie. There are multiple examples.
However, these are just a few examples of movies I like. Sooner or later, I encountered empty, shallow adaptations that had no thought or love put into them. A great example of this is Mr. Uwe Boll Filmography. How he was able to obtain the license for the adaptation remains a mystery. I have never been a fan of these series and never will be.
So why are we fumbling?
After all, video game adaptations fail due to the same problem.Although the problem still remains, most of these translations Differentiate yourself from the source material. If you look at the history of many video game adaptations, you'll see that they've always had this problem.
It also doesn't help that the real beauty of video games lies in things like: player agency. This works because you, the player, can perform your actions without judgment. As expected, translating this to film can and will be difficult as it precludes a bespoke approach. This isn't a problem in regular movies, but it definitely is in film adaptations.
Need examples? Here are some.Please take assassin's creed and paramount halo series. The Assassin's Creed movie was an entirely new story set in the gaming world. However, the creators extracted so much from the plot that it lost its identity. In the end, not only was the movie's plot story difficult to understand, but it also failed to integrate into the worldview.
In the case of Halo, it's picking up the settings and characters that fans have grown up with and throwing them into another version of the source material. worst possible way. Paramount wanted Master Chief to show his face, include a Covenant agent, and a whole lovey-dovey scene. My list of complaints only grew, and the second season of the series didn't solve any of them.
There's still hope
Not everything is perfect, however, and things are changing when it comes to video game adaptations. Years ago, when a new adaptation was announced, everyone's immediate reaction was a sigh of frustration. Now, that sigh is slowly turning into a sense of relief with hope that things might get better.
Many recent adaptations have left a positive mark. Sonic movies are full of soulful experiences. Although each film is not a perfect representation of the original work, A solid job that respects the video game series.
Similarly, the Castlevania anime took the liberties the series needed, resulting in perhaps the greatest four-season adaptation of all time.
A perfect example here is: the last of us series On HBO. A 1:1 recreation of the first game. However, the involvement of the series' creators alongside the producers helps in the production of that show. The series continues to follow the actual story of the PlayStation exclusive, except the team expanded on the existing story. flesh out the character. And it did wonders for them.
The Borderlands movie will be released this year, and the Fallout series will be released next month, so I'm looking forward to it. At the same time, we hope these upcoming shows and movies continue the precedent of great video game adaptations.
However, for this effort to be successful, strong communication between writers, developers, and studios is required. The journey of turning a video game into a movie is like those on a ship. Therefore, everyone needs to work together so that everyone does not drown.
So what is your favorite video game adaptation? Let us know in the comments section below.
