10 Massively Underrated Video Games Based On Movies
There's more to Batman than Rocksteady.
The whole 'games based on movies' gig isn't really up for debate; you can either recall some from your youth that were ruddy brilliant - Super Star Wars, Aladdin, Spider-Man 2 to name a few - or others that should have been ace, but ended up making you wish you hadn't bothered - Street Fighter 2: The Movie, Enter The Matrix and Jaws. In essence, these are all just adaptations and/or distilled versions of their silver screen counterparts, and should be celebrated on their individual merits, not necessarily if they evoked the same emotions as the movies they're based on.
It's easy to reminisce about the good'ns and it's oddly enjoyable to give the bad ones a shoeing, but what isn't mentioned enough is which games weren't appreciated when they came out. This could have been down to bigger titles ruling the roost at the time, or even that the movies they were based on weren't too great in the first place.
As such, let's celebrate those companion pieces that deserve another spin. By the time the credits roll on this one, you'll be kicking yourself for overlooking so many under-appreciated gems.
10. Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear To The Rescue
One of the reasons Toy Story 2 was such a superior sequel – along with Zurg, the plane chase and that cute donkey - was the role Buzz Lightyear played in the story; no longer was he a big dumb space toy, he was now a self-aware piece of plastic and very much the hero of the picture.
Buzz Lightyear To The Rescue offers a Space Ranger’s view of the film’s plot, where players have to guide Buzz through the aftermath of Woody being plucked from a garage sale and held captive at Al’s Toy Barn. Best played on either the N64 or Dreamcast, the game expands on areas seen briefly in the movie – Andy’s neighbourhood, the surrounding side streets and the barn itself are standouts – littering levels with various coins and Pizza Planet collectables to keep things interesting.
There are a variety of moves and gadgets at your disposal, from the familiar laser attack – which is an actual laser in this game, as opposed to a ‘little lightbulb that blinks’ – to a glide ability and an odd but effective butt stomp. It’s this mix of level design and gameplay that makes this a memorable movie to game port.