Top Five Video Games Based on Comics

Why is the image I chose for the title logo quite possibly the worst video game featuring a super hero ever? SHUT UP, THAT'S WHY!

By Andy Bartsch

"Be the Batman."

     That's what Rocksteady Studios tried to get player to do when they started working on the latest installment of the Batman: Arkham series, Batman: Arkham Knight, which released earlier this week.  If it's anything like their previous games, Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City, I doubt gamers will be disappointed.  Now if only Rocksteady could do the same for Superman. 

     There are tons of great video games based on comic books.  And why wouldn't there be?  Comic books and video games go together like peanut butter and jelly. Let's take a look at my picks for the top five video games based on comic books!

    A fighting game based on the DC Universe with an extensive cast of characters, moves and alternate costumes developed by the creators of Mortal Kombat? The cast is primarily made up of actors who previously played their roles on the Justice League animated series, including George Newbern, Phil LaMarr and Kevin Conroy?  Yes, please!  
    Imagine a world where the Superman actually snaps and enslaves humanity.  Oh, they did that! Well, imagine Batman using dimension hopping tech to get Earth Prime's heroes to stop him. Oh ,they did that!  Well, imagine the Joker somehow manipulates Superman into killing Lois and their unborn child.  Ha, got ya!  
    

Joker: Man, that's messed up...even for me! I LIKE YOUR STYLE ANDY! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA

    But this game is great! The story is well written and the voice acting is top-notch.  There are several unlockable costumes and characters (unfortunately in order to access most of them, you have to pay for the DLC).  The only downside is of the several skins you can unlock, none of them include the classic iconic costumes.  I know the game is a few years old, but is it too late to make that available?

    What is the Hulk known best for?  HULK SMASH!  That's the entire basis for this game.  You have all of Hulk's incredible powers at your disposal.  You can smash, punch, pound and leap in a totally destructible open world game.  

"Hulk know PARKOUR!!!"

    The things that really makes this game shine (among the already established awesome gameplay) are the unlockables and replayability.  You can play as Grey Hulk, Joe Fixit, Abomination, and quite possibly the most humorous, the Incredible Banner, where you play as puny, human sized Bruce Banner with all of Hulk's destructible powers.

   Come on.  You guys know me.  You know I was going to put this on the list.  What can I say about The Walking Dead that I haven't already said in my debut GGR article (WHICH YOU CAN READ HERE !!!!) 
    The voice acting, the choice-based gameplay, the engaging emotion-driven story.  Have you not tried this game yet?  Why not?  Go get it!  You can download it on your smartphone!  Go ahead.  I'll wait... 

    I'm still waiting...

    If you haven't played any of Rocksteady Studios Batman: Arkham games, you are really missing out.  Everything that makes Batman awesome shines in this game.  From the simple but fun combat mechanics, the compelling stories and the detective skills this is the ultimate Batman experience.  Yes, Batman is a detective!  A lot of people seem to forget that sometimes, and it's a damn shame!  

"Hey, baby.  Wanna know my secret identity?"

"Is it Bruce Wayne?"

"N-no..."

The reason I mention Arkham City over Arkham Asylum is the improvements over the already impressive previous game.  Here, not only can you play as Batman, but you can also play as the stunning Catwoman, who has her own set of skills, weapons and moves.  The game takes place in a closed-off section of Gotham City, making the game a bit more open-world.  But what I really liked were the unlockable skins.  You can play as Batman from Batman Beyond, the Bruce Timm Animated Series, The Dark Knight Returns, Year One Batman and many more.  You can play as Robin and Nightwing in some incredible challenge maps.  The icing on the cake is a DLC where you play as Harley Quinn in the aftermath of what has to be the ballsiest ending to a video game based on a comic.  

    Any good Spider-Man game that was made in the past fifteen years has this game to thank.  Taking full advantage the 3D capabilities of the fifth generation consoles, this game made Spidey really do what a spider can.  You can crawl along the walls, web swing across the city, search for hidden items.  To this day, I still consider this game one of the funnest video games I've ever played (yeah, I said funnest. Deal with it).

"Best thing about this game?  You get to stare at my Spider-Butt through the entire thing!"

    Simple and easy controls, solid graphics, tons of superheroes make cameos and lots of villains to beat up; this game has it all. You can unlock several of Spider-Man's different costumes from throughout the years (including the Amazing Bagman)! Quite possibly the best unlockable in the game is "What The- Mode".  Pretty much the entire game is recoded to make it as weird as possible, resulting in you raising an eyebrow at the screen and saying, "What the-?"

Well, those are MY top five comic book games.  What are YOUR top five comic book games?  And Why?  Be sure to comment, share and like us on Facebook.  

Come back soon, when I talk about my top 5 WORST video games based on comics.

Andy Bartsch is a featured contributor on GGR: The Great Geek Refuge.