Godzilla is no stranger to the video game industry. Many games based on his legendary franchise have been released on a variety of different consoles, encompassing a surprisingly large mixture of genres ranging from 2D side-scrolling platformers, to 3D fighters. And, well, almost all of them have been pretty disappointing. Yes, the unfortunate reality is that the Godzilla brand hasnt ever been given a proper and fully fleshed out video game adaptation. While some (such as the PS2-era fighting games) do a decent job of adapting certain aspects of the franchise, most (like the recent PS4 release) end up being barebones, overly simplified cash-ins that dont do the character justice. This is a true shame, as the Godzilla universe is practically tailor made for video games. It contains a rich and over-the-top mythology full of larger than life characters complete with epic stakes and action. A truly great Godzilla game should capture all this in such a way that stays authentic to the character and the genre, whilst also being a genuinely good game in its own right. Simply put, Godzilla titles have sucked for far too long, and the following are just a few ideas that could go towards creating something starring the legendary lizard that could live up to his potential.
10. Intuitive Controls
By far one of the biggest problems with the recent Godzilla game for the Playstation was the cumbersome and clunky controls. Just moving the monsters around was a slow and tedious process that only the most dedicated of fans could put up with. Unfortunately, this issue has persisted through many Godzilla games of the past, and thus is often one of the biggest factors holding them back. Now obviously giant monsters like Godzilla are slow and lumbering creatures of immense size, so it makes sense that a Godzilla game would attempt to replicate the feeling of controlling such a creature. But this adherence to authenticity should be better balanced with the necessities of modern game design. A good Godzilla game has to strike the right balance between making Godzilla feel true to size, while giving the player tight, precise control over him. Movement should be steady and methodical, but also intuitive and smooth. You should always feel like you are in total control of his actions and able to respond to enemies quickly and precisely. Essentially, Godzilla should play less like a tank and more like a large and powerful animal. Just because the films were limited by technology doesnt mean a video game has to be. Godzilla could stand to be a bit quicker and more agile in video game form, and the player needs to feel like they can take on any foe that comes their way without fear of being unfairly beaten into submission because they cant turn around quick enough.
