Summary
Movie tie-in games are nothing new. The first ones date back as far asSuperman(1979) andE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial(1982) on Atari 2600, with the latter infamous for being one of theworst games of all time. There are countless licensed games inspired by movie franchises, but it’s those based on specific films that many players consider to be less than stellar, plagued with mixed to poor reviews. Nevertheless, a few movie tie-in games linger in the hearts of PS2 gamers decades later and deserve a loving remaster.
Not all fondly remembered movie tie-in games deserve remasters though, since many franchises have had similar titles released in recent years. A remasteredSpider-Man 2wouldn’t be so different from Insomniac’sSpider-Mangames, just like a remasteredBatman Begins would only remind gamershow excellent the Arkham games are. However, some PS2 movie tie-in games will soon become lost in the past without a remaster.
Spider-Man 2was one of the most popular Marvel PS2 games of this era. However, there are nowhere near as many games featuring the Punisher, especially with the gameplay elements that would make this title an excellent game to remaster. Fresh off the 2004 film, Thomas Jane reprises his role as Frank Castle, a.k.a. The Punisher. As expected,The Punisheris a fairly standard third-person shooter for the most part, but some moments make it stand out from the crowd.
Like theBatman Beginsgame from the same year, players can choose to interrogate enemies instead of simply killing them. This results in elaborate and creative torture scenes that sparked huge controversy at the time and made the game much more violent than its corresponding film. Now that the average gamer is an adult anyway, agame with creative, over-the-top violenceand a unique interrogation mechanic might be due a comeback.
9The Incredibles (2004)
Super-Powered Fun For The Whole Family
While Pixar churned out continuous masterpieces in their early days,The Incrediblesgame is far from a masterpiece. Nevertheless, it’s a game that oozes fun from the start, whether it’s Samuel L. Jackson shouting over the menu screen or players sending enemies flying with a single punch. Over the course of eighteen levels, players don the masks of each of the main four characters: smash and throw objects as Mr. Incredible; stretch, roll, and swing about as Elastigirl; sneak past enemies as Violet; and speed away from enemies as Dash. In fact, the Dash levels really stand out, requiring fast reflexes that make gamers feel super-powered.
A remaster would be a great way to iron out the kinks, revisit these iconic characters, and perhaps add some sequel content. Even better, developing the island to become a more open world would give gamers the chance to flex their super-powered muscles and explore levels using various powers.
Considering there are twenty-five films to choose from, it’s surprising there aren’t more game adaptations of the James Bond films. 007 fans may love Bond games with original stories, but most have a special spot in their heart forFrom Russia With Loveand the return to the 1960s with Sean Connery in the lead. There’s a lot to love in this game, with opportunities to drive the iconic Aston Martin DB5, experiment with Bond’s gadgets, and various Easter eggs.
The combat stands out the most though, as it’s more than just a regular third-person shooter. Whenever the aim locks on, players pinpoint precisely where the bullet shoots, aiming for weak spots or even loose-hanging grenades to make them really feel like they have a license to kill. There hasn’t been a 007 game since 2012, and this unique Bond game would be a welcome remaster to see fans through untilIO Interactive’sProject 007.
Shrek has been absent from the silver screen since 2010. However, thanks to the power of internet memes,Shrek and his gamesare as popular as ever, and aShrek 2remaster might just be an unexpected hit, even if just for the memes.
The game allows players to explore the swamp and other iconic locations like Far Far Away, but the best aspect is the characters. Gamers can play solo or co-op with friends, playing as Shrek, Donkey, Puss in Boots, and a whole range of secondary characters all with their own unique special abilities. Not only would a remaster be a thrilling nostalgia trip, but it would be a great chance to take advantage of the game’s slate of characters, giving players the chance to choose which characters to play as and level up their abilities.
Although Rockstar received a lukewarm reception toGrand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - Definitive Edition, they might have more luck remastering a more forgotten classic from their back catalog.The Warriorsis a Rockstar Games beat ‘em up that largely serves as a prequel to the 1979 movie of the same name. In fact, this game deserves a remaster just to preserve the excellent writing and extra backstory of the film.
Few games are set in the 1970s, and this one encapsulates the atmosphere perfectly. However, the combat system is what sets it apart. Although the gameplay is predominately large groups of characters brawling, each level is unique and pitches the player in various New York neighborhoods with different enemies and interactive environments. A remaster wouldn’t just bring a much-needed update to the graphics, but could give players a chance to master combos all over again and fight others online.
5Disney’s Stitch: Experiment 626 (2002)
Merging Destructive Mayhem With Thrilling Traversal
Disney’s Stitch: Experiment 626came out in the same year as theLilo & Stitchfilm but instead acted as a prequel. It sees Disney icon Stitch visiting various worlds to destroy everything in sight, from objects to alien life. Although the combat is simple, the violent carnage is freeing and a real blast - literally. Each planet’s environment is unique and gives players a chance to control Stitch as he jumps, climbs, and uses a jetpack to traverse the worlds with style.
Although rewarding players with a film reel for successfully chasing down squid bots won’t be so enticing nowadays, it would be perfect for trophy hunters. However, the main benefit of remastering this forgotten gem would be to make the planets open world and to give Stitch new, destructive abilities for even more mayhem.
Harry Potter fans finally got the game they had hoped for withHogwarts Legacy, but many would still adore a remaster ofHarry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, widely considered the best tie-in game of the series. LikeHogwarts Legacy, this game also opens up Hogwarts for players to explore, boasting a range of spells and a soundtrack many still remember fondly.
Although the combat isn’t quite as refined asHogwarts Legacy, a remasteredHarry Potter And The Chamber Of Secretswould bring elements missing fromHogwarts Legacy. For example, lesson trials would make new spells feel more earned, and gamers could actually play Quidditch. But even better, whileHogwarts Legacyplayerscast Unforgivable Curses freely,Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secretshas consequences. Even years later, players still remember getting caught by prefects and losing house points. It may be rough around the edges compared to more modern wizarding adventures, but Potterheads would relish this nostalgic trip to revisit beloved stories and characters.
There’s no lack ofStar Warsgames, butStar Wars: Episode 3 - Revenge Of The Sithstands out more than others. It’s not just a goodStar Warsgame, but a good movie tie-in game. Gameplay is what one would expect from aStar Warsgame, hacking and slashing with a lightsaber while using the Force to push or pull enemies and leveling up abilities with experience points. But what makes this game worthy of a remaster is its dueling mechanics and bonus content.
When dueling opponents with lightsabers, players have to block at just the right time for a counter, making fights much more intense. Even better, fans could reenact classic scenes from the films and challenge friends to lightsaber duels too, choosing from a range of characters from Yoda to Darth Vader. For the realStar Warsaficionados, a remaster of this game is worth it just to watch Anakin battleClone Warscharacter Cin Drallig and glimpse an alternate ending to Anakin and Obi-Wan’s fateful fight on Mustafar.
2The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (2003)
A Beloved Middle-Earth Game With Heart-Stopping Action
Although there are already a few recent Middle-earth games,Tolkien fans have been asking for a remasterofThe Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The Kingfor years. However, an ideal remaster would go one step further and include the whole trilogy while retaining the mechanics of this game. This tie-in game allows players to take on the roles of favorite characters fromThe Lord Of The Rings, whether it’s Gandalf or Frodo, and reenact the most famous moments from the movie.
Although a fairly simplistic hack-and-slash game on the surface, this game immerses players in the events and world of Middle-earth, giving players the addictive goal of unlocking and leveling up characters to improve health and weapon combos. Fans of this game will usually agree that it’s even better to play co-op, teaming up with a friend to take on Sauron’s army of orcs. A remaster wouldn’t just bring the whole story together with a new lick of paint, but would give gamers a chance to play online with friends from around the world.
When players booted up the game adaptation ofKing Kong, most expected to play as either one of the film crew stranded on Kong Island or as King Kong himself. Luckily, this game allows gamers to play as both and have a blast the entire time.
Most levels place gamers in the first-person perspective of Jack Driscoll. With no HUD, life bar, or aiming reticle, players are tasked with surviving the horrors of Skull Island with stealth, wit, and conveniently placed spears. Occasional ammo can be found, but it’s scarce and players have to count how many bullets remain. In other levels, players control Kong himself in third-person, jumping and swinging through the island with ease. Kong’s combat is particularly brutal as he punches, grabs, and bites enemies before beating his chest to enter a god-like fury mode. A remaster would fit perfectly alongside more recent first-person horror games, using a modern controller’s haptic feedback or motion sensors to make the first-person levels much more intense and immersive.
