GregHowley.com

Game crossovers

June 25, 2008 - -

There's been a trend in fighting games recently - involving characters from other non-game franchises. We learned that Yoda and Darth Vader would be making an appearance in the newest Soul Caliber game, and that DC Superheroes would be appearing in the next Mortal Kombat game. But I think this trend has too much going for it to be limited to just fighting games. Let's take a look at what other game titles could benefit from the introduction of outside characters.

Castlevania plus Hellboy - I've been a fan of Castlevania since its early titles on the NES. What could make it better? How about adding Hellboy? He fits perfectly with Castlevania's gothic motif, and he could add some much-needed muscle. I mean, honestly, what are the Belmonts thinking? Going up against a legion of undead and demons wielding only a whip? Come on!

Phoenix Wright plus Adrian Monk - Phoenix Wright has ever been as much a detective as he is a lawyer, and humor is a big part of the games. So why not add the brilliant detective with OCD to the game's cast? I'm surprised the game studios haven't already thought of this. You know what? I'll bet they have, and there are just licensing issues with the USA network. Come on USA! Let Capcom pay a reasonable amount for the license! Gees - first you cancel The 4400, then you stop Capcom from using Monk. What's wrong with you guys?

Katamari Damacy plus Heroes - Katamari has yet to make an appearance on the current generation of consoles. So when they do, how about a twist? A once-microscopic alien has grown to gargantuan size, and now threatens to destroy the world by collecting vast amounts of matter on his strange and terrible adhesive sphere and casting it all into space. The only ones capable of saving the world are a small group of seemingly ordinary people who are just now learning that they are in fact extraordinary.

Bioshock plus Benjamin Linus - We all know that Ben lived on The Island, but he seems to be on vacation now, and he lives in the city of Rapture. In Bioshock 2, after the deaths of Andrew Ryan and Frank Fontaine, you become hopelessly embroiled in his plots and machinations.

Kingdom Hearts plus a ton of random characters - Kingdom Hearts has always been a bizarre mashup of disney characters. How about adding others? I figure we can work in The Tick, Johnny Five, Lt. Worf, Jack Burton, Paula Abduul, Minsc, Wil Wheaton, Han Solo, and Chunk from the Goonies.

Come to think of it, why not add video game characters into other shows? I'd love to see Travis Touchdown show up as one of Dr. Gregory House's patients or see a spiky-haired guy with a twelve foot sword fighting Jack Bauer on 24.

Comments on Game crossovers
 
Comment Wed, June 25 - 10:21 AM by Matthew Gallant
'Katamari has yet to make an appearance on the current generation of consoles.'

Actually Beautiful Katamari came out on the 360. Easy to forget that one, it was probably the weakest in the series :P

I really dig the Phoenix Wright / Monk crossover idea, mostly because it would be hilarious to see Tony Shalhoub in cartoon form.
 
Comment Wed, June 25 - 10:58 AM by Frank
I'd love to see the king of crossovers resurrected: Marvel vs. Capcom. Damn that was a fun fighting game. This time around I'd love to see Doctor Strange, Multiple Man, Ms. Marvel, Nightcrawler, Dark Phoenix, Gladiator and Invisible Woman. So many cool moves could be created for these characters. Damn EA for stealing the Marvel license and making crappy games!

The Kingdom Hearts idea might actually happen someday. Square Enix has already released Ehrgeiz on PS1, which include characters from FFVII. They also have Dissidia: Final Fantasy coming out for PSP which contains a mashup of a bunch of their toons.
 
Comment Wed, June 25 - 11:06 AM by Greg
If Minsc ever shows up in a Kingdom Hearts game, I'm buying it.
 
Comment Thu, June 26 - 7:35 AM by The Dock
Buttkicking for Justice
Live by the sword, live a good long time
Run, Boo, run
 
Comment Thu, June 26 - 8:11 AM by pmd
I still have fond memories of The TARDIS showing up in Interplay's 'Fallout'

Perhaps there can be a Fallout III / BSG crossover.