Many movie franchises work well when translated into video games. Sure, there are exceptions (Superman, Batman, Catwoman), but generally the transition from the silver screen to the HD monitor is an easier one than the reverse (name three good game-based movies – with a straight face). Perhaps one of the best examples of a Hollywood license making for a slick gaming franchise has been the Alien series, which has made appearances on the Sega Genesis, Atari Jaguar, PC, and more. Now, 20th Century Fox has announced that a few games from the Alien universe are in the works for next gen consoles, arriving somewhere around 2009.
Perhaps the best Alien-based title to hit a home console was the 1994 Atari Jaguar hit Alien vs. Predator. It took the best of two sci-fi worlds and crunched them together in one phenomenal game (perhaps the only for Atari’s doomed system). The popularity of this mash-up led to similar titles on the PC around the turn of the century. None were quite Halo-esque in quality, but each nicely instituted the look, feel and pure adrenaline-driven horror that the original movies pounded into viewers.
Perhaps the only major black mark on the movie franchise is the recent dumb-founded action misfit AVP: Aliens vs. Predator, from director Paul Anderson (Resident Evil, Resident Evil: Apocalypse). A sequel is planned for 2007 release, and there are rumors that a game could launch around the same time.
Let’s hope Mr. Anderson and the AVP movie team have nothing to do with it.