The stigma of video game adaptations is slowly being broken down. With movies like Detective Pikachu and Sonic the Hedgehog finding success, and Netflix’s The Witcher adaptation being wildly popular, it looks like it is only a matter of time before a new Mortal Kombat movie arrives and performs put the nail on the coffin that video game movies and shows are bad.
A show that deserves recognition for helping to lead this charge is Netflix’s anime take on Castlevania. With two excellent seasons in the books and the third coming this month, its success has to be a beacon of light for the video game world. The show uses stylish animation, slow-building stories, and excessive violence to modernize the retro game, and the mixture is sheer perfection. Here are ten other games that could work if they followed Castlevania’s lead and turned into anime series.
Earthbound
The first entry on the list comes with the note that it would likely not be as violent or adult as Castlevania, but it would work as a vibrant anime all the same. This quirky tale follows a young boy as he investigates a nearby meteor crash site. His journey involves a series of increasingly eccentric characters, and he uses his psychic powers to save the world. Typical kid stuff.
The game would make a fantastic anime for kids and adults by bringing new life to the art of the classic game. Plus, what was originally experienced as turn-based battles could now be fully realized set pieces with psychic abilities running wild. Not to mention the whole show would be worth it when Ness hits someone with a baseball bat and we get that famous sound effect from Super Smash Bros.
Shadow Of The Colossus
The beautiful, violent classic PlayStation 2 game left such a mark on the gaming world that it is still being remastered and released for new consoles today. It follows a young man on his tragic journey to slay sixteen giant beasts in order to restore life to a young woman.
A sixteen-episode miniseries basically writes itself, with each episode tackling one of the giants, and the long-winded battle to bring it down. The moments between these hunts would be filled with somber reflection, dread, and a little bit of hope.
God Of War
Fans of the hack and slash series about Kratos the Spartan warrior have been clamoring for a film since the games first rose to popularity back on the PlayStation 2 — but the material is as close to unadaptable to live-action as a video game property can get.
An anime adaptation, however, could stay true to the game series and deliver on the grand violence that made the games famous. The art style of both Kratos and his monstrous enemies could stay intact, and his journey to slay the gods could be a slow and methodical one, filled with lust, violence, and regret — all of which would be difficult to capture in one film’s runtime.
Mutant League Football
This Sega Genesis game might not be the most popular game on the list, but it has become a cult classic in the years since its release, and it would make for a crazy anime series. Mutant League Football was a pretty straightforward football game, except the two teams were made up of mutants and monsters, the field was covered in buzzsaws and landmines, and killing another player simply counted as a sack.
This game would allow the showrunners to come up with their own unique story centered in the chaotic world that this sporting event is allowed to take place in. Whatever they came up with would be instant worthwhile viewing when a werewolf runs for a touchdown, killing every defender that tries to stop him.
Doom
The hyper-violent shooter franchise has had two feature films now, and neither has managed to satisfy fans’ bloodlust. Taking the property to anime is the perfect way to ensure that the style and energy of the games can make it to the adaptation.
The grand vision of Hell and the demons that reside in it could be fully realized in anime form. With the doom warrior’s penchant for dismemberment, just think of the visuals.
The Legend Of Zelda
The biggest problem when adapting the Zelda franchise would be where to even begin, which is arguably a pretty good problem to have. The franchise has had so many stories that would make for wonderful seasons that almost any game could be chosen and still work.
There are tons of wacky characters, lush landscapes, and wild monsters that there would never be a dull moment in an adaptation, plus animated is likely the only way to do a lot of those elements true justice.
Mortal Kombat
What better to adapt into an ultra-violent television show than an ultra-violent video game? The Mortal Kombat series is brutal, full of insane characters with superpowered abilities, and actually has a complex plot for a straight fighting game.
There is more than enough lore to create a show centered around any of the characters, or the tournament itself. The bone-crushing viciousness of Castlevania is exactly what fans would look for in a Mortal Kombat adaptation, so it is truly a match made in Otherworld.
Metroid
The other half of the famous game duo that led to current side-scrolling action games being called “Metroidvania” is a logical next choice for a similar adaptation. Following a space bounty hunter as she tracks down the vilest creatures the universe has to offer would allow for wild locations and even wilder locals.
Much like Castlevania, the show would build to epic battles featuring the super-suited Samus doing everything from her rocket arm to rolling into a ball to taking on grotesque alien monsters. Anime is truly the best medium for a translation of the insane source material.
Metal Gear Solid
One of the most story-heavy game series on the list already plays out a lot like a convoluted anime series. The narrative is epic in scope and would make for a fantastic multi-season series. It could go chronologically or it could follow the narrative order of the games.
The show wouldn’t just be a plot surrounding fathers and sons and clones of those fathers and sons. The gunplay, close-quarters combat, and creative problem-solving of the games are perfectly cut out for anime.
Dark Souls
The brutally difficult gothic RPG would make for a beautiful anime series if handled with care. The plot is vague and even abstract at times, but it is there and could be used to tell an immersive story. The side characters are mysterious, unique, and fascinating enough to fill out the world.
Just think of the intense, violent action scenes featuring behemoth monsters, sinister assassins, and tragic kings. Plus, the rules of Dark Souls would allow the protagonist to die a thousand deaths and keep on fighting.
