Nobody could blame you if the term ‘licensed game’ has you running for the nearest edge of a tall building. It’s a well known fact that licensed games, especially those based on a movie or TV show suck. They are generally a quick cash in on the associated movie, with very little development time or even qualities that would constitute gameplay. The list of offenders is huge, but I think it’s safe to say that E.T. for the 2600 is the worst of the lot, after all it did cause the infamous videogame crash of 1983. But alas, there is hope! Out there in the wilderness there are a select few licensed games that you should, and more importantly actually want to play.
5. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Release: 2003
Platforms: PlayStation 2, PC,
Xbox, GameCube
The hack and slash genre has had a hard time since day one, simply the games generally suck. You run in button mashing and button mashing alone for the next few hours or until you give up on the extremely shallow gameplay. Return of the King managed to avoid all of the usual pitfalls associated with licensed and hack & slash games. You take on the role of Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Sam, Gandalf, and eventually Frodo. The quest added some depth to the movie to keep all loyal fanboys happy, a rare feat for most movie tie-ins.
The range of attacks is what really made Return of the King special. Rather than constantly button mashing X each character had a different set of combos to master. A mate could pick up a controller and fight along side you to the death, Legolas and Gimli style. The co-op mode added to the experience, although things became a little difficult if you ran off in different directions as it wasn't split screen. Return of the King was a great movie based game, especially if you were tragically obsessed with Lord of the Rings.
4. The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay
Release: 2004
Platforms: Xbox, PC
The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay was a must have title on the Xbox, in fact if you don't have a copy go pick your sell up an el'cheapo pre-owned one now. It was considered one of the best first person action games of it's time, which was only 4 years ago so it's still right up their today.
The gameplay mixes first person fighting and gun play with stealth elements. This is one of those rare times when the game is better than the movie it ties in with (not a big Vin Diesel fan). The good news if you missed out the first time is that Escape From Butcher Bay is being remade for 360 and PS3 as Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena to be published by Atari in 2009.
3. Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
Release: 2008
Platforms: Nintendo DS, PC
PS2, PS3, PSP
Wii, Xbox 360
Like Lego Star Wars before it Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures is great fun. Avoiding the traditional game based solely on a license the Lego series of games takes a humorous approach as Indie Lego suit-ups! Humour is the key feature as you re-live many of the moments from the first three films, did I mention everything was made from lego and breaks a lot? Hilarious!
The drop-in and out co-op mode allows a friend to pick up a controller, or conversely put it down, at any time. The story is relatively parallel to the films, but like Lego Star Wars some cut-scenes have been altered for comic value. The game doesn't take itself too seriously and has been made family friendly as references to Nazi's have been removed.
While the console versions are superior the handheld versions offer some decent gameplay and are by no means shovelware, as is often the case with licensed games when publishers give very little time to the handheld version.
2. Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
Release: 1998
Platforms: Nintendo 64, PC
Factor 5 took Star Wars to the sky and away from lightabers when it released Star Wars: Rogue Squadron for the Nintendo 64, with two equally impressive sequels on the GameCube. The arcade style shooter saw players complete a series of objectives in the craft of their choice to progress through the 16 missions.
The camera could be set to third person, in cockpit or first person, allowing a large degree of flexibility for the time. As your progressed different crafts including the X-Wing and A-Wing were unlocked, giving you a reason to replay the earlier levels with the firepower of your new vehicle. The game effectively revived the Star Wars videogame franchise with a great story and stunning graphics. With over 40 minutes of voice overs, and another 40 of music the sound went along way to producing a movie like atmosphere during cut-scenes. The Rouge Squadron series have been some of the best in the Star Wars franchise yet, here's hoping it makes it to the Wii sooner rather than later.
1. Goldeneye 007
Release: 1997
Platforms: Nintendo 64
The title alone says enough, if you owned a Nintendo 64 then you owned Goldeneye. Hell even if you didn't own a 64 you still had a copy in the hope that one day you'd get to fulfill your dream and step into the shoes of Bond, James Bond. Goldeneye 007 revolutionised the console FPS when it was released on the N64. To this day games attempt to live up to it's legacy, as it remains number 1 in the hearts of many gamers.
The single player campaign was an extremely successful adaptation of the motion picture. This alone would have been enough to make it one of the greatest games in existence. But it was the multiplayer split-screen deathmatch that left the lasting legacy and set the bar for future console FPS titles. Combined the two catapulted it straight to number one, the position it arguably holds to this day in 'greatest games of all time' lists. Goldeneye proved that FPS games could not only work, but kick arse on consoles as well as show off what the N64 was capable of in terms of multiplayer.
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Submitted by ICC_06
3 days ago
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