Skip to content
3 Underappreciated Games Based on Fantastic Films: Two of our favourite things in life are films and video games, so when the two collide, we’re always eager to sample the results. We’ve previously talked about which movies led to the most successful games here at DVDfever, instead of looking up at the most popular, we’re instead going to be trawling through the lesser known, and bringing you some of the most underappreciated games out there.
What makes it even more surprising that these games basically passed everyone by, is that they were all tie-ins for some of the most marvellous moments in cinematic history. So, here are our key choices for underappreciated games that are based on fantastic films.
Top Gun
Tom Cruise’s high-flying Top Gun was a monster hit in the 80’s, and made a whole new generation want to soar through the skies in high-tech fighter jets. You’d think that the high-octane energy of dogfighting in the heavens would be ripe inspiration for an outstanding video game, and developers Konami agreed, using the film for the basis of Top Gun, which was released onto the NES back in 1987.
The game quickly became infamous for its tricky controls, which somehow managed to make flying a virtual plane about as enjoyable as stubbing your toe. It could be rage-inducing trying to land the aircraft onto the carrier at the end of the first mission, resulting in many chucked controllers. However, those that persevered were rewarded with a competent version of speeding through the atmosphere, especially considering the limited tech that Konami had to work with back then, and it deserves more credit.
It’s not the only game based on the 80’s movie that merits more attention though, as so does the virtual online slot Top Gun. It’s a delight for gambling aficionados, and is available at many online casinos around the globe. It can likely be found at some of the best online casinos in New Zealand, which are hosted over at Casino Reviews. Each choice is selected due to its safety, its abundance of quality games on offer, and its ease of use. There are detailed reviews on each one, so you can swiftly find the casino that’s right for you. Plus, numerous generous offers are available, including free spins, and cash-back casino bonuses.
Fight Club
People always break the first rule of the movie Fight Club, as since its launch in 1999, it’s now built up a following as one of the biggest cult films ever made. Unlike the movie it’s based on though, this 2004 game was very much overlooked. Perhaps this was due to it coming out a whole half-a-decade after the film, or more likely, just because it got lost in a year that was stacked full of bigger budget games.
Released onto the PS2 and original Xbox, Fight Club is a pretty typical fighting game, and was rather harshly derided by critics for being unoriginal. However, the now defunct developers, Genuine Games, did make a valiant effort to try and recreate the gritty feeling of the source material, in a bid to mirror David Fincher’s intense directing style. Many reviewers though, decided that it just fell flat on its face, but we feel it gifts the game with a certain charm.
I mean, if there’s one thing that perfectly encapsulates exactly what kind of time you’re in for, the red-capped Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst, is for some crazy reason an unlockable character. If that sounds like your kind of game, you can head over to GamesRadar to find out how to play as the nu-metal figurehead.
PHOTO, CAPTION: Fight Club didn’t originally have people rushing to power up their PS2’s to play it
Rambo: The Video Game
Whilst the Rambo franchise might now be a bit of a bloated mess, with there having been several entries in the series that were straight up turkeys, especially the ultra-nationalistic fever-dream that is 1988’s Rambo III, the original film is still a definite classic. 1982’s First Blood is a hauntingly thoughtful look at how the trauma of war can affect a man, and how difficult it can be to try and navigate their way in society when they return home.
Rambo: The Video Game was released onto the Xbox 360 and the PS3 in 2014, and it takes inspiration from the first three titles in the franchise, allowing players to step into Sylvester Stallone’s shoes, and become John Rambo. Rather bizarrely, its developers, Teyon, decided to make it an on-the-rails shooter, evoking a genre that was already stale a full decade before the game’s release. Nevertheless, it was a frantic experience getting to blast down Rambo’s many enemies, and anyone who’s ever envisioned themselves being an unstoppable hero, will find it an enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours.