To continue our series of trans-media hopes and wishes (which includes games to movies and then movies to games), we are looking at which TV shows we hope to see as adventure games. Over the last few years, we have seen successful TV show video game adaptations from TellTale Games, which include The Walking Dead, and Game of Thrones. With these games in mind, we hope these three TV shows can make for great adventure games.
Doctor Who
For years now, I have expressed my desire for TellTale Games to make an adaptation of Doctor Who. They would be a match made in heaven. The story of each episode fits the narrative structure of Doctor Who as the Doctor receives gadgets and items throughout his journey to defeat the enemy. Some examples would be the sonic screwdriver, 3D glasses, a cut off hand, the squareness gun, a water pistol, and a fez. Being able to explore the worlds of Doctor Who in an adventure format would be so fun too as you gain new details on specific items or locations of the series. Plus, the humor of Doctor Who lends itself well to the genre. There is an adventure game that was developed by the BBC, but it wasn’t that great due to lousy writing and low production values.
Once Upon A Time
Once Upon A Time gives a twist on the fantasy characters we grew up with as the characters live within the real world. The drama and the action of the series would make for a great adventure experience, and there can be many decisions the player can make along the way. Who do you save? What choice is the right one to make? These two questions are prevalent within the series, and was effective in TellTale’s The Walking Dead and The Wolf Among Us. The premise is very similar to The Wolf Among Us, but the dynamic between the Earth-bred Emma and the world around the fantasy characters around her is so fascinating. Plus, the villains make for great video game antagonists as each one have their own intentions.
Archer
Adventure games and comedy go hand-in-hand. There are breaks within the action of adventure games that desire comedy or some sort of insight into the world. Archer is one of the most bonkers animated shows to release on television due to the main character, Sterling Archer. He is an alcoholic and fails at almost every step, but somehow he succeeds as a spy of a failing agency. Sex is also a key joke in the series, and makes fun of the James Bond films of old. The rest of the cast are brimming with personality, and can create hilarious dialogue. Archer fits the adventure game formula as with Sterling’s antics, the characters usually find themselves in terrible situations. However, despite his stupidity that caused them to get into each mess, Sterling usually finds a way to get out of the situation. The art style also lends itself to an adventure game. It’s simple in design with its animations, but the characters are very expressive.