Wii Warm Up: Licensed games

by Candace Savino { Jan 5th 2008 at 10:30AM }

We usually don't have high hopes when it comes to games that are based on movies, television shows, brands, or other licenses. With that said, though, we know that there are some good ones around. What is your favorite licensed game? And, if that license is not on the Wii yet, would you like it to be?

Also, are there any movie or other licenses that haven't been gobbled up yet that you'd like to see on the Wii? Or, would you rather that these types of games stop being made in the first place?

Tags: license, licensed-games

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

sepaar @ Jan 5th 2008 10:41AM

My favorite was Spiderman 2. The freedom in the air was just unmatched. Why they decided to go backwards with the other based off freeroaming boggles the mind.

If they can do them well, more power to them. If they're just going to make a crappy game simply because people will buy it, then I wish they wouldn't.

ahistorylefttorustintherain @ Jan 5th 2008 10:55AM

Chronicles of Riddick was pretty badass on the Xbox1, wouldn't mind a sequel to that on the Wii.

Anthology @ Jan 5th 2008 10:56AM

I want a Halloween game where you play as Michael Myers, or try to escape from him, either way.

murray b @ Jan 5th 2008 11:07AM

currently playing The Godfather and it's pretty badass. Scarface looks good, and I'm sorry but I kinda enjoyed Shrek 2.

Unbreakable_idea @ Jan 5th 2008 11:09AM

Also, I've been dying for a horror movie crossover fighting game for years. Freddy, Pinhead (and maybe a few other cenobites as characters), Jason, Michael Myers, Chucky, Ash from Evil Dead, Evil Ash from Army of Darkness, the Thing (as a Shang Sung style shapeshifter), Leatherface, a mummy, Dracula, Frankenstein, the creature from the Black Lagoon, a pair of zombie children from the original Dawn of the Dead (as one selectable character), the list can go on and on. The final boss could be the mother from Peter Jackson's Dead Alive. Hell, you could throw in some protaganists too (Lionel from dead alive w/his lawnmower, Laurie from Halloween w/her coat hanger, Kurt Russel's character from the Thing complete with flamethrower, etc.). Of course, the whole thing would be an absolute nightmare to get licensing for, and thus it will probably never be made. I can still dream, though.

vidGuy @ Jan 5th 2008 11:08AM

Off the top of my head, I can't think of a single licensed game that I would rate in my top 10 (or even top 50). I can only think of a handful that were worth playing: the above-mentioned Spiderman 2 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time especially.

I'm interested in playing the LOST videogame but I don't have high expectations.

Hame @ Jan 5th 2008 11:09AM

Baring the obvious (Goldeneye 007 on the N64), Konami's Tiny Toon Adventures on the SNES was a firm favourite when I was younger.

murray b @ Jan 5th 2008 1:34PM

yeah i forgot about goldeneye. that should be in pretty much everyones top 10. it brings me "comfart"

Candace Savino @ Jan 5th 2008 1:58PM

Me too, I loved that game so much when I was younger! And GoldenEye also, of course ;)

Unbreakable_idea @ Jan 5th 2008 11:14AM

The Hulk game was pretty good, too. I had alot of fun playing that one. I wouldn't mind being able to pick up a tank by it's barrel and using it via the Wiimote's waggle as a baseball bat to attack everyone. That'd be fun.

Darth Mario @ Jan 5th 2008 12:30PM

I've always want to see a princess Mononoki action/rpg or even a game version of Nausica.

Tom @ Jan 5th 2008 11:34AM

Generally, I've almost never bought a movie-based game. They're just a waste of money that could be used on high quality, thought out games, imo. The only 2 I've liked a lot are the Godfather: Blackhand Edition, and Scarface for the Wii. They're both just really fun, and I don't regret buying either of them. If developers are gonna try and make a good movie based game, then by all means go ahead. If they're just gonna spend no time on a game and rush it out to make a quick buck, then no.

IanC @ Jan 5th 2008 11:40AM

The Godfather, especially on the Wii is a pretty good game.

I was hoping The Simpsons Game would live up to that (what with both coming from EA) but sadly no...

One of my faves from the past is The Simpsons arcade game by Konami. Id love to see some kind of re-release of that (WiiWare, XBLA or PSN - any of them would do me!!)

Candace Savino @ Jan 5th 2008 2:00PM

Yes, the Simpons arcade game was so much fun. Certainly one of the best beat-em-up games ever.

Jeremy @ Jan 5th 2008 11:54AM

Honestly I would love to see a come back of the games based on comics. Even better base them off some great books with a rich story. But we all know that a high end movie seems to make a low end game and I will never understand why they do get made. IMO there is even some movie based games that hurt the glamor of some great movies. I know that many people enjoyed the Scarface game but I love that movie and I was happy with just the movie and didn't need more story line to it. I guess if I was to pick a favorite game based on a movie it would be Spider-Man 2 since it was more like the comic based games with the free roam. I also enjoyed Goldeneye 007 but for the most part I think that games based off of movies needs to end.

raindog @ Jan 5th 2008 11:56AM

I don't know if it counts as a movie license game, but Lego Star Wars isn't bad on the Wii.

That's about as much praise as I can give any game based on a movie.

Luke @ Jan 5th 2008 12:04PM

puzzle quest: so lame, so addictive, so many ogres

LilCo187 @ Jan 5th 2008 12:30PM

Ducktales for the N.E.S. 'Nuff said.

Candace Savino @ Jan 5th 2008 2:00PM

Agreed! Though that was a very long time ago ;)

LilCo187 @ Jan 5th 2008 3:19PM

This is true. Actually I think I was around the same age that I was in my avatar pic lol

Darth Mario @ Jan 5th 2008 12:32PM

er... *wanted*

nat @ Jan 5th 2008 12:49PM

wats so different in black hand edition from regular
and where does any store sell Guitar Hero 3 because I CAN'T FIND IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Abscissa @ Jan 5th 2008 1:04PM

The best licensed game would be a tie between:

- The original arcade TMNT
- NES's "Ducktales" (remember when Capcom did all the licensed stuff instead of THQ? Yea, that was nice.)

Other notable mentions would be:

- Wii's "The Godfather"
- Arcade's "The Simpsons" (Good, but not as good as TMNT)
- NES's "Bart vs. The Space Mutants" (Had it's faults, but also very original)
- SNES's "Krusty's Super Funhouse" (A good, but universally overlooked puzzle game.)
- NES's "Chip and Dale: Rescue Rangers" (Not as good as Ducktales, but still not bad)
- N64's "Goldeneye" (Obviously)
- "The Hulk" (Surprisingly fun to just go around smashing shit. Although I only ever played the demo.)
- "Chronicles of Riddick" (Not perfect, but surprisingly competent. And, though I've never seen the movies, I've heard that this was a rare case of the movie sucking and the game based off of it being good.)
- PC's "Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force" (Pretty darn good game, if you liked the series)

Ian Coleman @ Jan 5th 2008 1:13PM

Normally, I detest any liscened games, but since I'm a huge Godzilla nerd I picked up Unleashed, which is actually pretty fun once you're comfartable with the controls

Poops @ Jan 5th 2008 1:19PM

"Comfartable" is new favorite word ever, in the universe, until the end of time.

saylorsgang @ Jan 5th 2008 1:39PM

I'd like to see "Airwolf" done right. "The Untouchables" or "The Fugitive" would make some good games. Developers just need to take these licenses seriously with more time or money. EA's Simpsons had the right idea. I just had another thought- G.I. Joe or Transformers multiplayer!!!!

Alien-Pirate @ Jan 5th 2008 4:22PM

Golden Eye was superb, Astro Boy on the GBA was great and From Russia with Love was decent as well. Other than that though I'd have to agree that most licensed games are rushed and deserve to be sent to the surface of the Sun to be burnt.

Abscissa @ Jan 5th 2008 8:33PM

Oh, man, I forgot about Astro Boy! That's one of the best games ever (It's by Treasure. 'Nuff said.)

king_ghidora @ Jan 5th 2008 10:18PM

This is also going way back, but "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" the adventure game for the PC rocked.

thethirdmoose @ Jan 5th 2008 11:41PM

The Godfather: Blackhand edition
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
Most star wars games

SoshiKitai @ Jan 6th 2008 1:05AM

I just wish these people would wake up and realize how it should be done...

thethridmoose's examples are good examples of good games...

lobotomies4free @ Jan 7th 2008 1:23AM

Spiderman on the original playstation

Undead Priest @ Jan 6th 2008 4:53AM

I can't believe everyone forgot the Rogue Squadron series.

Nebinator @ Jan 11th 2008 10:51PM

ARE YOU KIDDING!? THAT GAME ROCKS, HOW COULD ANYONE FORGET IT?

Gonzo @ Jan 6th 2008 3:33PM

Why has there never been an AKIRA GAME?!

It doesn't even have to follow the movie, it could be a prequel about the bike gangs. They just need to keep the music and sense of speed.

The only licensed games I've ever enjoyed are the GTA (free-roam action treasure hunting) rip offs: Godfather, Harry Potter, and Hulk UD (on the ps2). And I only liked the Harry Potter game because we're total potterheads. It would have been a great game if it had the scope and collectibles/rewards the Godfather has. All you ever got for collecting stuff were trophies and film clips. No upgrades or anything. You don't even get a broom; except for one brief bossbattle type situation. In other words, I only recommend it if you really want to use your wiimote as a wand.