While we often consider Hollywood and the gaming community to represent two entirely different industries, there can be times when one effectively “bleeds over” into the other. This is often the case when referring to the influence that blockbuster films have have upon video game developers. Let’s take a look at four examples of how movies have served to create some of the most popular gaming franchises.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is one of the most popular games in the history of the industry, and the developers haven’t denied the influence taken from Scarface, one of the most famous organised crime themed films. GTA: San Andreas has gained it’s popularity thanks to the free roaming gameplay across the city it allows. You’ll see a lot of activities, even out of the game missions itself, that you can do both in singleplayer and multiplayer sessions. For example, you can play online blackjack at a casino in multiplayer, just like you would do at Jackpot City, but keep in mind you won’t be able to gain real money in this game. Even taking this into consideration, it’s impressive how deep they simulate casino gameplay and a lot of situations in a 20 years old video game.
L.A. Noire
There are many direct links between L.A. Noire and the 1997 film L.A. Confidential. Both centre around hard-hitting murder mysteries and both features protagonists who are far from angels. Los Angeles is also depicted in a way that emphasises its rough and seedy underbelly. Focusing around corruption and greed, L.A. Noire is a perfect choice if you happen be a fan of darker plots.
Metroid
Metroid was originally released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the 1980s and it quickly garnered a cult following. Metroid was also one of the first games to feature vertical scrolling possibilities as well as unique soundtracks for different levels. While notoriously difficult to beat, children and even adults kept coming back for more. This might be partially due to the fact that its creators stated that many of the graphics were directly inspired by the Alien film franchise. Let’s also not fail to mention that (spoiler alert), the main character is revealed as a female once the game has been completed. This seems to be a nod to Ripley (played by Sigourney Weaver in the film).
Dead Space
A host of space-related films emerged during the latter half of the 1990s. Two well-known examples include Deep Impact and Armageddon. However, Even Horizon presented the cosmos in a much darker and terrifying fashion. Why not use these very same qualities to create a truly frightening video game? Dead Space offers up plenty of surprises; perhaps the most intimidating being the simple fact that players are never aware of what might be lurking just beyond the next bulkhead. This game is certainly not for the faint of heart.
These four video games serve to pay homage to Hollywood directors and they are ideal choices if you have been looking for a way to remain on the edge of your seat for hours at a time. Who knows what other collaborative projects the future may have in store?
