of fall out It's been less than a week since the TV series premiered on Amazon Prime Video, and it seems like it's the only series everyone is talking about right now. There's a good reason for that. The film adaptation of this popular video game series has managed to hit the ground running in a way that many gaming fans didn't expect. These days, more and more great video game adaptations are appearing on both the small and big screens. But after decades of some pretty gruesome re-imaginings of iconic games, it's no wonder fans are a little gun-shy. Yes, I am considering an example like this: assassin's creed movies and monster hunter That being said. But what exactly makes a video game adaptation good or bad?
There are many things Hollywood does right (and wrong) when it comes to film adaptations. Games that are ported into series or movies are often sacred to die-hard fans. There's so much that feels true to the original, and so many ways to stumble at this first hurdle.
Let's see fall out As a recent example. The series has decades of tradition, easily recognizable iconography, and a fairly consistent tone that frequently slaps you in the face.of fall out The TV series stays true to this tone and core idea in a way that is true to the game, while at the same time not skimping on the overall elements. look The world in which it takes place. There's plenty of Vault-Boys, a touch of '50s Americana, and of course a banging soundtrack that sounds like it came out of the game's jukebox. There's also plenty of violence, gallows humor, and references to gaming lore (such as NCR's Shady Sons) to maintain the overall atmosphere. fall out feel.
where fall out What sets it apart from other well-received video game adaptations is the way it approaches the actual story at hand. Sure, the bombshell is that he's still being dropped in 2077, the major game factions still exist, and Vault-Tec's intervention is no surprise, but the story of the TV show simply follows one of his games. This is not a reproduction. Instead, we are taken to a completely different Vault, with a completely different story, but one that stays true to itself. fall out What fans love. Deviating from the storyline in a film adaptation is a risky move, but it pays off.
This is the opposite of other adaptations like HBO. the last of usanother huge success in bringing video games to life. Trau It follows the main story beats of the first game, but instead of feeling like a flat 1:1 copy (which can get boring), it explores the metaphorical dark corners that the game didn't get to explore. It's shining a light. Frank's love story was one of the highlights of season 1.
While both shows approach the source material very differently, they succeed in bringing the video game world to life in a way that fans will recognize, without alienating viewers who may have never picked up the game in the first place. It is to infuse. They bring something new to the story, but they do it in a way that is true to the game. I'd even suggest that these new additions blend together so seamlessly that it feels like you were in the game from the beginning. These key factors appear to be part of the reason for both. fall out and the last of us It serves as the modern-day “gold standard” in video game adaptations.
Conversely, what makes adaptation worse? These days, it seems that streaming giants like Netflix, HBO, and Amazon are getting a grip on what their audiences want and expect, and it's becoming less and less common for gaming reappraisals to be unpopular. Masu. But equally modern, yet divisive and unsatisfactory examples still exist. Hello series. Some people love it, some people hate it, but it all comes down to how the story and tone are handled. It makes sense to make Master Chief more human and present a compelling story for television, but fans have derided it as not entirely authentic. Hello Story. Characters and concepts from the game are used, but recontextualized in ways that don't quite match up with what fans know in a way that's jarring. There are plenty of other things wrong with this adaptation, but let's leave them there.
There are a lot of old “bad” adaptations out there, many of which have come back in recent years and become cult classics. 1994 Street Fighter It comes to mind right away, but it has a similar meaning. Super mario bros. The previous year's production had a creepy, over-the-top quality that somehow turned what could be considered questionable storytelling into a fun watch (with all the unintentional comedy and Jean-Claude Van Damme) performance).
Some more recent adaptations include: assassin's creed and monster hunter Unfortunately, they don't get the same leeway due to their relentless persistence in taking themselves too seriously and moving away from what made the game interesting enough to adapt in the first place. Alternating current It spends way too much time on a short, dry sci-fi story, as opposed to the hour-long adventures that make the game so much fun. monster hunter It gets bogged down in bland storytelling and over-the-top combat.
There are many other video game adaptations that do justice to the source material (difficult to understand, Castlevania, Sonic the Hedgehog) Or will it get dirty (Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, doom) But when I try to figure out exactly what each is good at and what they're bad at, I keep coming back to my previous point. A good adaptation feels like it's part of the game world, even if it strays from the canon story. They stay true to the overall theme and tone and, in some particularly good examples, look the part as well.
fall out Season 1 captivated fans around the world, but with season 2 reportedly in the works, we'll have to wait and see if Prime Video can sustain the landing once again. the last of us set to explore Part II It decreased in the second season, difficult to understand' Season 2 is also scheduled for later this year. Animation of video games is booming. dredging, 2 requiredand Mine Craft All will be getting the Hollywood treatment over the next few years. Hollywood seems to be starting to understand the formula that fans and newcomers will flock to film adaptations in droves, and we hope this trend continues and we won't have to put up with any more groan-worthy interpretations of our favorite games. I just pray.
If you'd like to check out more movies and shows based on video games and decide for yourself what's a good or bad adaptation, Street Fighter is broadcast on PEDESTRIAN TELEVISION and streamed on 9Now, a channel owned by our parent company and our parent company's parent company.
What do you think makes the adaptation a success? Let us know in the comments.
Image: Prime Video / Kotaku Australia
