Felix’s Favourites: Game-to-Film Adaptation Ideas

This is a little tangential to what I normally discuss, but here are three classic video-games that may be deemed appropriate for a big screen, animated (or at least part-animated) adaptation. See what you think:

Nightmare Creatures (1997 – PS1, PC)

This would make a great part-animated horror flick, not only for the designs of its monsters, but also for its story, which sadly remains subsumed under some horribly addictive slasher gameplay. Nightmare Creatures follows the story of the evil Adam Crowley, who resides somewhere in London, creating a horde of terrifying monsters constructed from the remains of pre-existing bodies. It’s up to priest Ignatius and Lara Croft carbon copy Nadia to slay them all and bring Crowley to his knees. Despite the gameplay becoming fairly repetitive, its settings are rather varied, and consistently haunting in tone, both visually and (in particular) sonically. It’s hardly frightening. For one thing, the monsters are altogether too pixelated by today’s standards to maintain any real impact. But the concept is an interesting one, and one that would probably suit the big screen, despite its somewhat derivative plot.

 

 

Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee (1997 – PS1, PC)

A very cleverly written and intricate puzzle game, Abe’s Oddysee sees alien Abe escape meat processing plant Rupture Farms after having discovered he and his Mudokon pals are next on the menu. After he traverses Scrabania and Paramonia in order to earn the power of the Shrykull, he returns to the plant to rescue his co-workers from the oppressive tyranny of the glukkons, in particular the boss, Molluck. While the game’s main appeal is its perplexing puzzles and challenging tight spots – not to mention Abe’s ability to talk using ‘Gamespeak’ – the game also maintains a compelling and interesting plot. The game was such a major success that it spawned a sequel, Abe’s Exoddus, the following year. While this was an extremely satisfactory follow-up, it ultimately proved too frustrating, too long, and lost the charm of the original, partly due to a noticeable change in Abe’s voice, and also because its creepy vibe and setting was sacrificed in favour of comedy – both changes that were kept for subsequent releases including Munch’s Oddysee and the New ‘N Tasty re-release. Due to such alterations, a film adaptation might not impress everybody. Regardless, a film set in the Oddworld universe is a highly desirable prospect.

 

Okami (2006 – PS2, Wii)

 

For me, this game serves as proof that videogames can be perceived as a form of modern art. Visually and in terms of the gameplay, it’s sublime. The game follows Amaterasu, a white wolf god, and her guide, pea-sized Issun the Poncle, in their journey to earn all the Celestial Brush techniques in order to vanquish foes such as Orochi, Ninetails and finally Yami, the source of all evil. The Celestial brush can draw just about any element imaginable: the sun, the moon, wind, rain, fire, lightning… And simply by drawing them, they appear! It truly is fascinating and never gets dull. Although there is technically no talking throughout despite an endearing gibberish accompanied by subtitles, the game’s story is deeply engrossing. Before long, what initially appears to be surreal and somewhat rather alien territory becomes profoundly familiar as the characters begin to develop and evolve alongside you. The environments are huge, and the story is epic – so much so that it would aptly suit a lengthy anime or perhaps more appropriately a series. Of course, as with the others, there are significant drawbacks. Firstly, the game’s predominant appeal is its brush, utilised to summon elemental forces and bloom trees and grow flowerbeds, and ultimately vanquish evil. Naturally, in adapting it for the screen, it would (obviously) lose its interactivity. Regardless, the story remains a completely legitimate reason for an adaptation. Amaterasu, Issun and the cast around them are all incredibly well-developed and its setting is colourful and exceedingly artistic. Based on Japanese Ukiyo-e woodblock art and watercolour paintings, the visuals cannot be praised enough. Despite its relatively quiet reception upon release, its general response invited a HD adaptation for the PS3 in 2012. An animated adaptation is therefore not entirely unrealistic.

 

Image Sources:

Nightmare Creatures (1997) [PSOne] Kalisto.

Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee (1997) [PSOne] Oddworld Inhabitants, GT Interactive.

Okami (2006) [PS2] Clover Studio. Capcom.