Gemu Starto: Anime Game Hoshi, Part 2
If you’re an anime fan who games, or a gamer who enjoys anime on the side, then you probably know the frustration of not having a good game based on one of your favorite series. While the gaming industry seems like it will continue to milk shows like Dragonball Z, Naruto, Gundam, and Bleach for games, if they took the time to watch something else, they might find their next hit game.
(Before you read part 2, you might want to check out part 1.)
Air Gear - What would happen if roller blades had tiny, but powerful motors in them? Add hot anime chicks and you’d have Oh! great’s Air Gear. There have been few inline skating games; roller derby is a sport that has yet to have a video game adaptation, and the characters in this series are just great. If it can be adapted into a musical, why not a video game? (I showed this series to my college anime club and they absolutely loved it.) Throw in some fighting and racing with freestyle skating and you’ve got a cool game. Maybe not better-than-Tony-Hawk good, but still good and, more importantly, different.
Ronin Warriors - Who doesn’t love heroes in different colored matching uniforms? Well, if you’re older than 7, maybe you’d prefer ones who wear super-samurai armor and fight an evil army from the netherworld. Make this into a side-scroller or even a Dynasty Warrior-style button masher and you’ve got a fun game, especially if you animate those cool attacks.
.hack - Honestly, I don’t like the manga or any of its animated incarnations, and I hate RPGs that come out in parts. Furthermore, how can you write a story set in an MMO nobody can play and have people understand what you’re talking about? But I’ll admit this: if they made the actual MMO, even I would play it. Frankly I’m surprised there haven’t been efforts to make the MMO (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) that the .hack series is about. Even the classes sound cool. You can even get wings! Who doesn’t want wings?
Armitage III (The Third) - Before Kiefer Sutherland was on 24, he lent his voice to a movie called Armitage III alongside Elizabeth Berkley, who voiced the title character. At a time when good dubs were rare (not that many exist even now), this is still one of the very best. The story is great and screams action game, possibly even sandbox game, or even first or third-person shooter—it’s that versatile and worthy of a playthrough.
Escaflowne - This series has everything needed to be an RPG, but more than anything, it has something for everyone: a Medieval fantasy setting, giant robots, dragons, giant robot dragons, romance, cat-girls, pretty boys, pretty girls, cross-dressers, sword fights (between humans and robots), magic, boys with wings, an evil empire, and so much more. The only thing the series lacks that a game could change is a satisfying ending. But then again, show me an anime that does.
Share your own suggestions in the comments and maybe they’ll make it into Part 3.
