Summary
There are rumors abound thatMicrosoft is looking to bring backmany long-lost Activision-published Marvel games. As such, many fans have been reminiscing over a partnership that bestowed players with a vast library of often-stellar licensed superhero titles.
Before Marvel formed the dominating force of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Activision had contributed their fair share of Marvel video game titles. While some were a swing and a miss, many have stood out as worthy of a resurgence and could find a place in many modern gamers' hearts.
8Howard the Duck
A 2D Action Title Based On An Early Marvel Flop
Created for ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 and Apple II home computers, 1986’sHoward the Duckvideo game was not only a unique pseudo-3D action experience but a tie-in title for thelukewarm-received movieof the same name. With George Lucas at the movie’s Executive Producer’s helm,Howard the Duckwas Marvel’s first live-action cinematic release since the WWII serials of Captain America.
In the licensed game, players control Howard as he navigates his way around Volcano Island to rescue his friends and take down the evil Overlord. Despite the movie’s abysmal reception,the game is"beautifully presented, and well programmed, it […] deserves consideration outside its unfortunate tie-in".
7X-Men: Mutant Academy
A Pseudo-Tie-In Fighting Game Based On The X-Men
While not an official movie tie-in for the July 2000 release ofX-Men- the superhero flick that arguably kickstarted the still-ongoing superhero renaissance -X-Men: Mutant Academywas released day-and-date with the 20th Century Fox movie.
Developed by Paradox Development and brought to home consoles through its exclusive place in the PlayStation library,X-Men: Mutant Academyis a2D arcade fightersuch asStreet Fighter.Including both 3D environments and 3D character models, this fighting title was received incredibly positively by players and critics alike. Beyond this, the reception of the title even spawned two sequels inX-Men: Mutant Academy 2andX-Men: Next Generation.
While the movie it is intrinsically tied to may have beencommercially and critically panned,X-Men Origins: Wolverinemade a much more substantial splash when transitioning over the world of video games.
The title back some major voices from the cinematic release, such as Hugh Jackman and will.i.am, to reprise their roles in the tie-in game. Beyond this, the action-platformer title not only tells the story of the movie but expands upon it with events from Wolverine’s comic-book heritage. Taking direct gameplay inspiration from game series such asDevil May CryandGod of War,X-Men Origins: Wolverineis an"awesome guilty pleasure".
Developed by Canadian studio Beenox, and published by Activision on seventh-generation consoles and PC,Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensionsbrings forth the often-used multiversal narrative for the first time to many comic-book fans.
Neil Patrick Harris, Christopher Barnes, Daniel Gilvezan, and Josh Keaton - who play Spider-Man inThe New Animated Series,Spider-Man(1994),Spider-Man(1981), andThe Spectacular Spider-Manrespectively - return tovoice the characterin unique roles. While the cross-dimensional action title was positively received when it first released in 2010, it was not long before it was delisted in 2014, then re-listed and delisted again in 2015 and 2017.
Developed by Raven Software and released in 2006,X-Men: Legendsgave players access to 15 playable X-Men characters to fight within a unique video game narrative that does not incorporate the cinematic adaptations of the comic-book characters.
Players can switch between four X-Men characters while being backed up by CPU-controlled or local-coop party members. In its incorporation of action-RPG elements, by progressing through the title gamers earn experience points and earn upgradable skills. Beyond that, players can even explore a vast depiction of the Xavier Institute as a hub area before enacting to embark on various missions.
While titles within the genre of’licenced movie tie-in’often have a well-earned dislike from gamers and critics, Treyarch’sSpider-Man 2is often cited as a solid counterpoint to that stigma.
Coinciding with the 2004 release of the Sam Raimi cinematic sequel,Spider-Man 2opens up the Manhattan cityscape for players to explore with previously unprecedented freedom. While the previous tie-in title contained Peter Parker on the rooftops and swinging between skyscrapers,Spider-Man 2allows players to land and explore New York City from its sidewalks. As such - prior to Insomniac’s 2018 open-worldSpider-Mantitle - this video game instance of the web-swinger was many gamers and critics' most-revered.
After the success of their X-Men-themedLegendstitles, Raven Software strove to release a Marvel-wide action RPG in 2006.
Including many ofthe role-playing gameand beat ‘em up elements from their highly successfulX-Mentitles, the eclectic cast of Marvel’s comic-book history were available inMarvel: Ultimate Alliancefor gamers to team up. Releasing in the pre-MCU era, when many of Marvel’s characters were still stuck to the pages of their original comic books, gamers could play with multiple creative playstyles; from Deadpool and Daredevil to Iron Man and the Invisible Woman.
Before Ryan Reynolds lent his cinematic charm to the role in an individual film in 2016, Deadpool’s 2013 video game adaptation was the closest many Marvel fans had come to seeing the merc with a mouth properly depicted in popular media.
Developed by High Moon Studios, this comedic third-person action title wears the metanarrative themes of Deadpool’s comic-book source material close to its heart. Constantly firing offcooky one-linersand fourth-wall-breaking anecdotes,Deadpoolis not only humorous, but its third-person hack-and-slash and shooter gameplay is cohesive and extravagant yet polished. Unfortunately; the cult-classic Marvel title has had its fair share of licensing woes - releasing in 2013, then delisted only to be relisted in time for Reynold’s cinematic appearance, then delisted once again.
