5 Sci-fi IP's as Games

 

I love science fiction and so should you. It's just that simple. Whether it's a dystopian future Earth or a whole new star system, the easiest way to get me interested is to say those two little words. The only thing that saddens me is that a lot of my favorite franchises haven't really broken into gaming, and that's the biggest shame. Especially with so many great stories and worlds out there, it's practically criminal that these five games haven't already been made.

 

Now keep in mind that I'm not saying developers should copy everything from the games I suggest. A Doctor Who game wouldn't really work exactly as I suggest it, nor would Blade Runner work if developed exactly like Arkham City. But should a developer take concepts from those games and build them around the property, a fitting game could come out of it. That's what I'm getting at and that's what I'd love to see.

 

 

#5. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
As Psychonauts
By Double Fine Productions

While there’s already been a PC adventure game, but there’s no reason not to retread old ground. Double Fine’s games have an outlandish sense of humor that’d be well-suited for a game adaptation of the inaccurately named Hitchhiker’s Trilogy. A game like Psychonauts, rife with outlandish characters and settings, is a perfect for the equally absurd sci-fi spoof. That goes double when you take into account Double Fine’s brilliant art department, which crafted some amazing levels in Psychonauts, and some of the strangest creatures in gaming.

 

Rather than the psychic Raz, you’d step into the slippers of everyman Arthur Dent, stumbling across the galaxy with his trusty towel. Arthur’s towel would be an all-purpose tool: It could function as a whip, a grappling hook, a defense against the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal… The possibilities, while limited, could make for a hilarious series of references to the original novels and radio plays.

 

 

#4. Blade Runner
As Arkham City
By Rocksteady

Technically, there have already been two Blade Runner games, but who cares about technicality? A lot of comparisons have been drawn between Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Blade Runner, but I don’t feel like linear missions would work. Something structured more like Arkham City would be a much better fit. And don’t take this as me saying Deckard should be gliding and grappling across Los Angeles. No, for the most part, he’d stay grounded while hunting and “retiring” replicants.

 

A Blade Runner video game could further explore the issues prevalent in the film—globalization, paranoia and powerful corporate interests are even more prevalent today than in 1982. The original story (Philip K. Dick’s “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” ) and film built a rich world full of social commentary, but there’s tons of unexplored territory. I’d love to see what Rocksteady could do.

 

 

#3. Battlestar Galactica
As Rogue Squadron
By Retro Studios

Humanity is on the brink of extinction after the mechanical Cylons attack and occupy the Twelve Colonies. The Colonial Fleet, protected by the tattered remnants of the military, sets out to find a new home called Earth. But the journey won’t be an easy one: The Cylons are always close behind.

 

Battlestar Galactica is practically begging for a video game adaptation, from its dark, desperate story of a people fighting for survival to the wealth of epic land and space battles. And come on: Is there a better space flight sim to base it on than Rogue Squadron? The series boasted loads of famous Star Wars ships and battles, and it used them brilliantly with tight controls and fantastic level design. The trouble here is that the original developer, Factor 5, has been gone for a while. Guess we’d better put Retro Studios on the job, huh? When was the last time Retro made something bad?

 

 

#2. Doctor Who
As L.A. Noire
By Obsidian Entertainment

This one’s tricky. I say “As L.A. Noire,” but it’d be kind of like that plus Kingdom Hearts plus, well, Doctor Who characters and lore.

 

I know what you’re thinking: “That sounds really stupid. What the hell is wrong with you?” But bear with me here: It’d combine the mystery and investigation elements of Rockstar’s crime drama and the world-hopping of Kingdom Hearts. Obviously, atop that would be a thick layer of Doctor Who goodness. ...On board yet? If executed properly, the game could almost function as an “interactive season” of the BBC hit series. Events from the TV programme would carry over into the game, and the game’s events would in turn affect the Doctor’s later television adventures.

 

Obsidian Entertainment would be great for the job. Fallout: New Vegas showed us the writers have a great sense of humor and flair for telling complex stories. Under the guidance of the British Broadcasting Corporation, they could tell a fantastic tale of the Doctor and his trusty companion.

 

 

#1. Firefly
As Red Dead Redemption
By Rockstar Games

Is it cheating, using the best Western game ever made as a template for the awesome sci-fi Western series? Maybe just a smidge. But you’ve gotta admit, the idea is intriguing. Rather than break up the world into provinces, Rockstar could build a smattering of distinct worlds with their own visual style, from the rugged deserts of Whitefall to the seedy, neon-lit streets of Beaumonde.

 

The different worlds could open up different gameplay styles. Open country on border planets would function more like the Red Dead gameplay were familiar with, while the urban areas of core planets would be closer to what we’ve seen in GTA. And, of course, Serenity could serve as a hub in which players can interact with the crew members and customize their equipment—sort of like Mass Effect’s Normandy. A ton of planets went unexplored during Firefly’s short run. If the creator, Joss Whedon, were to get together with Rockstar on such a project, there’d be no shortage of new and interesting locales to flesh out and establish.