Fantastic Four (1997)

Given the Fantastic Four is all about exploration and gaining knowledge, it makes sense that an alien species with wild powers like the Skrulls would frequently appear in media involving Marvel’s first family. This includes the 1997 PlayStation game.

The PS1 Fantastic Four game got pretty harsh reviews upon release, but it does feature the Skrull homeworld — one of the many times it would be threatened by Galactus across different mediums.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance (2006)

To this day, Marvel Ultimate Alliance is held in high esteem by Marvel fans and gamers alike. The game sees many of Marvel’s most iconic characters band together to take on a wide variety of massive threats, from the murderous Arcade to Doctor Doom. The game features a section on the Skrull Planet, as well as an appearance from Kl’rt the Super-Skrull as a boss. You can actually choose to save the Skrulls and their planet from Galactus, leading to a partnership between humans and Skrulls.

The game has been rereleased, though it was taken back down in some regions, assumedly due to licensing agreements. If it ever goes back up on sale on modern consoles to promote an Avengers movie, be sure to grab it while you can.

Lego Marvel Super Heroes (2013)

Lego games are always a straightforward delight to play through, especially when they feature characters from a franchise you enjoy. Lego Marvel Super Heroes brought together characters from every corner of the Marvel universe, from the X-Men to the Fantastic Four.

Amongst the 180 playable characters in the game is the previously mentioned Kl’rt the Super-Skrull, played by voice acting legend John DiMaggio. You have to melt a block of ice that has his character token in it to unlock him, but his Fantastic Four-based powers make him more than worth unlocking.

Marvel’s Avengers: Battle for Earth (2012)

Marvel’s Avengers: Battle for Earth certainly isn’t the one that people typically think of when they hear “Marvel fighting game,” but it’s an interesting little game despite being quickly forgotten after release. The title is largely based on the Skrull-focused Secret Invasion comic storyline, so it makes sense for Skrulls to feature heavily.

Super Skrull is one again playable, while the antagonists include Queen Veranke and a variety of Skrull imposters disguised as Earth’s mightiest heroes. If you’ve ever read the 2008 Marvel Comics storyline, you’ll find a lot of aspects of this game to be quite familiar.

Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 (2011)

We talked a bit about Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 earlier, but it’s worth mentioning again. It’s one of Capcom’s finest fighting games, which is saying a lot given the studio’s pedigree when it comes to that genre. The wide range of characters from both companies make for an incredibly diverse roster, which once again includes Super Skrull.

The character shines here more than in any other game adaptation, as he’s able to utilize all of the Fantastic Four members’ powers with his different specials and super attacks. Plus, the quotes he has between different characters pay homage to plenty of great comic moments. A lot of care went into portraying all these characters well, making this a blast of a game for comic fans in addition to fighting game fans.

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Set to release in 2024 on the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC through the Epic Games Store, John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando has players tag team with up to four players to battle “massive hordes of mutated monstrosities”

“It’s exciting to be collaborating on a new video game with Focus and Saber,” said John Carpenter in a statement. “Look, I really like shooting zombies. They keep telling me that they’re called ’the infected.’ Please. They’re ghouls, dude. They blow up real good and there are a ton of them. People are going to love this game.”

Everything Announced at Summer Game Fest 2023

Summer Game Fest had two hours of game reveals and trailers. It’s a lot to keep in mind, so here’s…

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What is John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando about?

“In the near future, an experimental attempt to harness the power of the Earth’s core ends in a terrifying disaster: the release of the Sludge God,” reads the game’s official synopsis. “This eldritch abomination begins terraforming the area, turning soil to scum and the living to undead monsters. Luckily, the genius behind the experiment has a plan to make things right. All he needs is a team of competent, highly trained mercenaries to get the job done. … Unfortunately, they were all too expensive. Which is why he’s hired … The Toxic Commandos.”

Check out the John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando trailer below:

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Everything Announced at Summer Game Fest 2023

Summer Game Fest had two hours of game reveals and trailers. It’s a lot to keep in mind, so here’s…

News Michael Leri 2 months ago

What is Sonic Superstars?

Set to release both physically and digitally on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC this fall, Sonic Superstars lets you play as Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy Rose. Eggman is accompanied by Fang the Sniper, who first appeared in Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble in 1994. The character has primarily appeared in cameo roles in games like Sonic Generations and Sonic Mania in the years since.

Though the Sega game is a 2D platformer, Sonic Superstars features 3D visuals, as well as up to four-player local co-op and a variety of Chaos Emerald power-ups for Sonic and his friends. Players can sign up on the game’s official website to receive an exclusive Amy Rose skin.

“Sonic and friends are back with an all-new look,” reads the trailer’s description. “Join Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy Rose on an adventure that takes ‘classic’ to another level. Team up with friends, master new powers from the Chaos Emeralds, and speed through all brand-new zones on your way to take down Dr. Eggman (and co.)!”

Check out the Sonic Superstars trailer below:

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Everything Announced at Summer Game Fest 2023

Summer Game Fest had two hours of game reveals and trailers. It’s a lot to keep in mind, so here’s…

News Michael Leri 2 months ago

What is Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown?

Set to release on all platforms on January 18, 2024, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is an action-adventure platformer that takes place “in a mythological Persian world.” The trailer shows off some of the game’s platforming sections and action combat. In the official tweet announcement, Ubisoft promises that more gameplay will be seen at UbiForward on June 12.

“Get a first glimpse of gameplay of the new Prince of Persia The Lost Crown,” reads the video’s description. “Immerse yourself in rich and vibrant environments as you accompany Sargon on his epic journey. Discover the perfect blend of parkour, combat and puzzle-solving that characterizes the Prince of Persia series.”

“Dash into a stylish and thrilling action-adventure platformer set in a mythological Persian world where the boundaries of time and space are yours to manipulate,” says the game’s synopsis. “Play as Sargon and evolve from sword-wielding prodigy to extraordinary legend as you master acrobatic combat and unlock new Time Powers and unique super abilities.”

Check out the Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown trailer below:

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Is Avatar 2 on Disney+?

James Cameron’s massive sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, will be available for streaming on Disney+ on Wednesday, June 7. Before exploring Pandora in Ubisoft’s upcoming game, fans of the franchise will be able to watch the Oscar nominated sequel through Disney’s streaming platform with the ability to pause whenever they wish.

“Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, Avatar: The Way of Water begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure,” says the official synopsis.

Meanwhile, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora will feature a new, standalone story where you play as a Na’vi and discover the world of Pandora as you fight against the RDA forces who wish to take over the Western Frontier.

Sony revealed in May 2022 that it has a marketing deal with Ubisoft for Avatar Frontiers of Pandora, hinting that there may be exclusive PS5 content for the game.

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Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3

As far as fighting games go, there’s nothing quite like Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Originally released in 2011, the game still has a passionate following over a decade later thanks to its tight combos, varied character roster, and seemingly endless amount of reverence for both Marvel and Capcom.

The roster serves as a bit of a time capsule for that era, mixing MCU heavyweights like Iron Man and Hulk with (then) lesser-known characters like Rocket Raccoon, Iron Fist, and Nova. The fighting is snappy, the arcade endings are full of fun fanservice, and even the music is top-notch. If you like fighting games and Marvel, this is absolutely one of best Marvel games to play if you’re looking forward to Secret Invasion — especially since Super Skrull is one of the most fun characters to play as.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2

This one’s more of a Diablo-esque title, giving you control of some of Marvel’s most iconic characters as you navigate through the Civil War storyline of the comics. The game features different paths depending on where you stand on the matter of superhero registration, allowing you to side with either Iron Man and Mister Fantastic or Captain America and Luke Cage.

The selection of playable heroes is impressive, with even more fan favorites serving as bosses and NPCs throughout the game. Though a third Marvel Ultimate Alliance eventually released for the Nintendo Switch, the first two games have a different and more comic book-y vibe to them, making Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 a great choice.

Lego Marvel’s Avengers

This one’s a great pick for if you’re specifically a big fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Though there are a few different Lego Marvel games, Lego Marvel’s Avengers is set in the MCU and follows the plots of some of the biggest movies from that universe.

Using a mix of new and archived audio from iconic Marvel stars, the game is filled with a variety of characters and bonuses to unlock and use. It has an open world hub that you can explore and do minigames in whenever you want, plus a decently easy Platinum trophy to boot. If you’re an MCU fan, Lego Marvel’s Avengers is one of best Marvel games to play if you’re looking forward to Secret Invasion.

Guardians of the Galaxy

The great thing about the criminally underlooked Guardians of the Galaxy game is how it meshes movie and comic book influences to create a new and exciting take on the space-faring Marvel team. Secret Invasion is all about Skrulls, so why not play on Marvel’s cosmic side?

This single-player action game takes you across the galaxy as Star-Lord. As you battle all sorts of extraterrestrial enemies and an intergalactic cult, the team grows closer and closer, cementing their status as one of Marvel’s most memorable teams. If you’re a fan of the Guardians of the Galaxy comics or movies, you can’t go wrong with this one.

Marvel’s Midnight Suns

Now that all of the game’s DLC has been released, there’s no better time to jump onto Marvel’s Midnight Suns. Though this is focused more on the supernatural side of Marvel’s roster, it’s worth checking out for its impressive mechanics and characterization.

From big names like Spider-Man and Captain Marvel to fan-favorites like Blade and Ghost Rider, you can control a number of heroes (in addition to your own avatar, the Hunter) as you fight off enemies with a unique card-based tactics system. Then you can chill with your favorites back at your base between missions as you build up a friendship with them. Though it didn’t receive as much attention as it may have deserved, Marvel’s Midnight Suns is one of best Marvel games to play if you’re looking forward to Secret Invasion.

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When I was thirteen, I wasn’t allowed to play Mature games. My parents followed the ESRB guidelines rather strictly, which meant it would be a few years before I could get my hands on Metal Gear Solid. Like a grounded kid stuck indoors on a beautiful day, I longingly stared out the proverbial window at the Metal Gear Solid series, yearning to understand the story of Solid Snake. I knew the series had cyborg ninjas and big robots, which was more than enough to intrigue me, but alas, my parents wouldn’t budge. In retrospect I have a great deal of respect for their decision, but at the time I was understandably frustrated.

So I did what any manipulative little trickster would do: I asked my parents if I could get a book. They happily obliged and didn’t recognize my chosen book as the novelization of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. If I couldn’t experience the story in its native form, I would experience it in any other way available. So with not a twinge of guilt, I started reading Metal Gear Solid 2. The story unfolds as it does in the game, but with more insight into Raiden’s thoughts throughout the Big Shell incident. This probably doesn’t sound like anything spectacular, but experiencing Sons of Liberty in novel form gave me a unique perspective on the game, one that elevated my opinion of the game itself.

There’s a painfully obvious twist in Sons of Liberty, one that anyone familiar with the game will immediately recognize, and one that is far more surprising in book form. Near the beginning of the game you meet Iroquois Pliskin, a marine operative who looks and sounds like Solid Snake, but definitely isn’t Solid Snake. When Pliskin yells out, “I’m Solid Snake,” partway through the game, it’s meant to be a huge twist. But it isn’t, because literally everybody could tell he was Solid Snake. Everybody, that is, except for me, because I read the book, where Pliskin is simply described as “a man in his late forties or early fifties. Dark hair. Stubble on his face.” Sure, that could apply to Snake, but it could also apply to half of the protagonists in fiction. The lack of visual reference made this a huge twist for me, and that wasn’t the only time where this occurred. The Fatman boss fight is even weirder when you have to fill in the blanks with your imagination, and the entire Arsenal Gear section with the A.I. Colonel? Nothing short of sheer insanity.

Experiencing these events in the game itself years later was like watching the film adaptation of a book, as I got to compare my perception of the game with how it actually looks. As I played through Sons of Liberty I experienced a more fleshed-out world as a result of having read the novel. Alongside the Pliskin twist, I had Raiden’s unsaid thoughts in the back of my mind, and Snake’s perspective as a sort of internal commentary. Reading the book gave me a different outlook on Sons of Liberty, one that made the experience both unique and unforgettable.

I think a lot of games would work well as novelizations, as the medium makes exposition dumps far less awkward and far easier to pull off. When you’re waiting for a cutscene to end, explanations about Nobodies, nanomachines, and politics all feel endless. You just want to play the game, no matter how enjoyable the story is. With a book, you’re already reading. You’re processing information as you read, and you’re not waiting to get to the gameplay. This makes these explanations far more palatable, and thus, far more accessible. While a certain amount of tact would still be required to make some of gaming’s more obscure concepts digestible, it would certainly be preferable to watching twenty minute cutscenes.

For example, imagine if Kingdom Hearts was properly novelized. I love the series, but having a decent explanation for that abstract mess of a story would no doubt make it easier for people to get into, especially since you wouldn’t need numerous consoles to experience it. The rest of the Metal Gear Solid series could benefit from the same treatment, as consistent book releases spanning the entire series could tie the somewhat disjointed storyline together. Hell, even Telltale games could work as “choose your own adventure” books that, given the extra pages, could flesh out each alternate path.

Books could also use their more flexible length to build upon the already established stories of their source material. For fans of Uncharted and Tomb Raider, novelizations could include background information and lore surrounding the treasures Nate and Laura plunder, while Final Fantasy books could provide readers with a deeper look at each game’s vastly different world and mythology. Novels can inherently provide narratives with much more breathing room than movies can, which would make these books worth checking out for both series fans and newbies alike. Fans get new story details, while non-gamers can still experience these classic stories. It’s a win-win scenario.

To be clear, I’m not claiming that this would work for all video games. Shadow of the Colossus, Journey, and other such games that take full advantage of the medium are best left as games. There’s no way any other form of media could do such unique experiences justice, and I think it’s important to acknowledge and respect that. I do, however, think that novels could build upon existing stories while making them more accessible to gamers and non-gamers alike. Novels could succeed where video game movies have so frequently failed, and I think it’s about time we gave them a shot.

Spencer Legacy is a freelance writer and Reviews Editor at MonsterVine. You can follow him on Twitter.

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