Why Do So Many Super Hero Games Suck?

If Hollywood is to be believed, originality is overrated. And since most film studios have single project budgets that rival the value of many small countries, they must be experts on the subject. So it’s no surprise when the video game industry focuses their efforts on making titles around existing characters; but while Hollywood is making quality films based on beloved comic book super heroes, it seems that the game companies just haven’t figured out how to invert the secret of the film’s success.

On a fundamental level, people play video games for an escape, which is the same reason people read comic books. We’re already used to pretending we’re Superman souring above Metropolis with a book across our thighs, but for some reason, actually getting to control him in Superman Returns isn’t the manifestation of our dreams, but a perpetual reminder of our acclimation to a yellow sun. It’s not just limited to Superman games, (although he’s probably the worst offender), most superhero comic games have also succeeded in sucking. Batman had a few nasty titles back in the nineties. And Spiderman’s PS One days were plagued with unintuitive web-slinging controls and a camera that is about as helpful as a dull stick in the eye.

So if licensed superhero properties are beyond hope, and video games that are based on movies also bite the big one (with the possible exception of Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay); imagine the meta-suck that occurs when you make a video game based on a movie that was based on a comic. Sadly, this bogus formula completely holds true, with the most recent Iron Man and The Hulk games proving that even when the film is excellent the game is beyond hope.

What’s the deal, though? You would think game developers would love to create games based around a person with an unlimited arsenal who can fly, or a rampaging monster with near limitless strength.

(Fanboy side-thought: could you imagine a sequel to The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction that makes use of Red Faction: Guerilla’s physics engine? Sorry, had to write that one down where a wide-eyed developer might read it.)

I guess the point I’m trying to make is this: don’t super heroes have the best potential as video game protagonists? From a technical standpoint, I’m sure it’s difficult to create a world diverse enough to handle a character that can both explore or destroy all of it in the blink of an eye. Perhaps the problem is, in order to craft a game worthy of our most beloved superheroes, the developers have to spend more time in development than their publishers would like. I mean, that is why most movie-based games have so many rough edges, so it would make sense that superhero properties suffer the same fate. Which would also explain why unlicensed superhero movie properties (City of Heroes/Villians and Freedom Force) don’t always fall victim to poor quality.

I suppose the point of these ramblings, to all of you money-loving game publishers (I’m looking at you, EA), is to stop taking business advice from Lex Luthor, and give developers the resources and time they need to craft their work. These hasty productions are ruining one of our favorite pastime escapes; I want to be Superman, damnit!