This past summer, Fant4stic Four bombed, critically and commercially. While the film can barely be considered a profit (Thanks China!), it still massively underperformed at the box office, barely making back its reported $120 million production budget, and virtually all aspects of the film have been critically panned, currently sitting at 10% on Rotten Tomatoes. Josh Trank’s adaptation is the third incarnation of Marvel’s First Family, and none of the films have resonated with casual audiences and critics alike. Since a television show is most likely out of the question, due to how fantastical the special effects will have to be, it may seem like any further take on the classic superhuman team is impossible, outside of comics of course.
I say, why not bring it to the interactive screen?
Video games are a great place to feature out-of-this world stories that simply cannot be replicated anywhere else, as the interactivity of the medium encourages such narratives and worlds. Games such as the Metal Gear Solid series, Demon Souls, and Mario would not be the same if they were 90-130 minute films, or traditional television shows. A world with adventures that are so fantastical, you can’t imagine the story any other way helps when depicting larger-than-life experiences as those of the Fantastic Four. Their stories benefit from exciting set pieces that take place both on Earth, in space, and in completely other dimensions. These worlds haven’t been adapted to film and television without harsh, but fair, criticism. I think it would be a lot easier to create an entire game set in the Negative Zone or The Savage Land, as opposed to a film with a similar premise.
There is also the chance to capture what is truly special about the Fantastic Four, and that’s the overall excitement and outlandish storylines that populate the famed, if not a bit obscure by now, comic history of Marvel’s First Family. In the original comics, a space mission goes awry and they’re struck with gamma rays that give them their unique abilities. In 2000 during Marvel Ultimate Comics relaunch, Doctor Reed Richards accidentally transports himself, Johnny Storm, Sue Storm, Ben Grimm, and Victor Van Damme to the Negative Zone, a parallel dimension.
But these reasons can be difficult to explain, so just take a look at how Namor, a character who has been associated with the Fantastic Four since the 1960s, is adapted for more modern sensibilities in the Ultimate Fantastic Four. Namor in the Ultimate relaunch is actually an Atlantean terrorist, who is near invincible.
Kinda nuts, right? Now look at how Namor is depicted in much earlier comics.
The later panels are much friendlier for a big screen adaptation, and it’s easy to see why Fox wants to launch another successful comic book franchise. The characters are absent of the rippling muscles and seemingly manufactured beauty from the newer, Ultimate comic book line.
There’s a classicism in relation to the comic book industry that is intrinsically tied to the history of the Fantastic Four, as well as the X-Men. These teams, when they first debuted in their respective comic book lines, were fun, but they also established a sense of family that had not been seen before. Their adventures were campy, but also new, as they were fighting for their brother or sister next to them, as much as they were fighting for their respective causes. The studio wants to capitalize on the iconic and classic look of the Fantastic Four, and it’s odd that they cannot do so because they’ve successfully created some of the best superhero films from the X-Men. The X-Men films are some of the best films based off comic book properties of all time, and the studio constantly attempts to capitalize on the possible investment until the rights revert back to Marvel in some way, shape, or form. They’ve doubled down on the interpersonal stories that can be provided through the discrimination of humans and mutants. However, it’s clear, especially by now, that Fox has no idea what to do with Doctor Reed and the gang. Their stories are so big and outlandish that it takes a lot longer than 2 ½ hours for you to really get a feel for the characters.
A Fantastic Four video game would feel truly special because it would give us the opportunity to control and command a diverse and powerful skillset brought upon by Doctor Richards and company. Imagine flying across New York City as the Human Torch, only to flame on and stop a crowd of Doombots. Then, switch control to Ol’ Blue Eyes, and clobber a creature from the Savage Land who has found his way to New York City. Sure, these powers may seem run-of-the-mill in today’s day and age, which is why they may still seem underwhelming in films, but they provide an opportunity for a rollicking fun time. If the potential developer nails the controls, what’s stopping it from being a really fun game?
And that’s what I think has been missing from games over the past few years: a true sense of bombastic fun. Sure, games such as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Fallout 4 provide huge worlds to explore as the player is imbued with a sense of wonder, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain provides players with near limitless gameplay options, but these games, among others, take themselves very seriously. That’s great when such a feeling can remain special across a few games released throughout the year, but what happens when that becomes the industry norm? What happens when all games are as straight faced and enormous as some of the games released this year? I would jump at the chance to explore a beautifully colorful world straight from Marvel Comics with vibrant and varied gameplay.
If I had to cherry-pick one developer to make a Fantastic Four video game, I would pick Arkane Studios. The developer behind Dishonored and Dishonored 2 showed they are capable of making a fun game with a diverse control palette. I think they would be able to make the Fantastic Four’s otherworldly powers in either a grounded fashion, or just easy to control. I also think levels similar to the make of Dunwall would better serve the world of the Fantastic Four. Instead of a gigantic New York City, which may seem lifeless at times, why not a dozen distinct levels that can be completed with any character any number of ways? It would place a crucial emphasis on gameplay, which is what I think needs to be done well in order to provide the seminal Fantastic Four game the world needs.
In terms of story, all things run through Doom, and I think a Fantastic Four video game would serve for a truly great depiction of Doctor Doom. As the leader of Latveria, a scientist, sorcerer, and an overall genius, he would truly make for a great all-around villain. Imagine a story where the Fantastic Four have to stop Doctor Doom’s evil plans, maybe Doom wants to enslave a peaceful alien race, or establish a potentially deadly portal to a deadly dimension. However, the conflict can be boiled down to a simple, much more personal affair, as Doom battles against Richard’s intellect because he is simply jealous of him. A story that combines large scale conflicts with smaller, more intimate moments really can work to sell the cast of characters as a family.
Because that’s what they are, and what will ultimately make the Fantastic Four video game much different from other games. Sure, we have scores of games where military squads packed to the brim with bros team up to overcome a sinister evil. But when have they ever felt like a family? By providing us with more time with the characters, we can see them grow into a family before our eyes. Or instead, we can see what makes the Fantastic Four one of the most superheroic families of all time. Video games have always provided more opportunities for camaraderie among the characters, and, with the proper writing, I think we could have one of our first truly memorable video game families of the HD generation.
Liam Crossey is the Executive Editor of Features for The Game Bolt. Follow him on Twitter for too many retweets.