10 Animated Series That Need Games
Animated series and movie franchises are notorious for having mediocre games. Many of these franchises were series that we grew up on and were the definitive forms of entertainment that got us through our Saturday mornings. Now that Saturday morning cartoons are a thing of the past, only our memories of them remain. A few of these series may have been made into gaming titles back in their heyday, but we still yearn for a more accurate experience when it comes to playing as the protagonists of these toons. Let's get dangerous and pay tribute to 10 Animated Series That Need Games.
Batman Beyond - Warner Bros. Animation
The success of Rocksteady's Arkham titles (and that DLC costume), proves to us that we are ready to experience the Batman of the future. As long as Will Friedle voices Terry McGinnis, Kevin Conroy voices Old Man Bruce and Arkham's formula is followed, there is the potential for a next-gen classic in Batman Beyond.
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe - Mattel
By the power of Grayskull, why isn't there a He-Man game out there besides that short (but enjoyable), iOS title? A console title is needed, and somewhere out there, a developer has the power.
The Venture Bros. - Titmouse, Inc.
Brock Samson's popularity and badassness was one of the main reasons why he was brought into Telltale Games' Poker Night 2. Keep the sarcasm, nostalgia and ridiculous comedy cranked to the max and a game starring Dr. Thaddeus Venture could be amazing. Go Team Venture!
Cowboy Bebop - Bandai Entertainment
A futuristic bounty hunter game starring this unforgettable cast is a must. With the series' immense popularity, it's surprising to see that the only Bebop game ever made was a Japan-exclusive spaceship-shooter title. But we'd much rather play as Spike, Faye and the rest of the gang. See you, Space Cowboy!
Thundercats - Warner Bros. Television
The cartoon reboot may have gotten a Nintendo DS title, but we feel that a modern console title would be more appropriate for the 1985 classic. Thundercats, hooo!
G.I. Joe - Claster Television
The popularity of the two live-action G.I. Joe films proves that there is room for a modern video game based on the original series. Yo Joe!
Captain N: The Game Master - DIC Entertainment
Equipped with a laser-shooting Zapper and an NES controller-belt that could alter reality, a series that had an ongoing cast of Simon Belmont (tanned with blond hair?), Mega Man (green?), Kid Icarus, Eggplant Wizard, Dr. Wily, King Hippo and Mother Brain sounds like the perfect mix for a video game. Kevin Keene got sucked into the video game world, so it would make sense that his journey should be playable.
The Real Ghostbusters - Sony Pictures Television
Ghostbusters: The Video Game shows that an ectoplasmic adventure into the paranormal can not only be done right, but it can also capture the essence of the movie-based source material. This should hint that the popular '80s cartoon be given a similar treatment. Who ya gonna call?
Akira - Toho Entertainment
Not necessarily an animated series (the animated feature film was based off of the manga series), Akira's post-apocalyptic Neo-Tokyo and its oppressive government, futuristic motorcycles and weaponry would make an interesting play. The first five minutes of the film left many of us wondering about how a game like that would play.
Non-Fighting Game Anime Titles
Naruto, Bleach, One Piece and Dragon Ball Z are probably the four most popular anime series ever made, and each anime series is known for its own branch of mediocre fighting games. Most of these series have the ingredients for amazing games, but they don't all have to be fighting games! The Legacy of Goku series on the Game Boy Advance was a much more memorable and enjoyable experience than the past five DBZ fighting games combined. Anime-based fighting games have been tried-and-true, but we have been associating them with mediocrity for far too long. Here's to hoping for anime titles that break the mold!
Any animated series we missed? Tailspin? Freakazoid? The Tick? Voltron? Darkwing Duck? Let us know in the comments below!