The 90s were an interesting time for the film industry, as the introduction of more sophisticated CGI added a new element to the cinematic experience. There are great examples of CGI when done right, for example, Terminator 2 and Jurassic Park. However, there are many examples where CGI looks terriblelike 1997’s Spawn. Or it makes the movie look dated and frankly, a pointless exercise like some of the CGI scenes that were added to the special editions of Star Wars.
Video games were also in a phase of transition, as consoles moved from 16-bit machines to more advanced 32-bit machines. As always, there were plenty of video games based on 90s movies, the vast majority of them being cheap cashes. There are exceptions, however, and this list will explore some of the best examples of video games based on 90s movies.
10/10 Return of Batman
Konami has released some great games for home consoles, especially the SNES. The zombies ate my neighbors, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Timeand Contra 3: The Alien Warsare just a few examples of fantastic games adored by fans. Return of Batman released in 1993, was another stellar entry in their line-up.
Return of Batman is a side-scrolling beat ’em-up which closely follows the story of the film. The graphics and combat are excellent, but the music takes center stage and is some of the best heard on the SNES. The developers did their homework to ensure the game was as authentic as possible, and the recreation of Danny Elfman’s score is second to none.
9/10 Alien 3
Although Alien 3 the movie may have been a disappointment for fans when it was initially released, the weather has been good for David Fincher’s directorial debut. Although the film once again sees Ripley battle the infamous Xenomorph, the film’s lack of guns helped to heighten the overall tension. It’s obviously in stark contrast to Aliens, which is why moviegoers may have been disappointed.
There’s a lot to admire Alien 3 the video game, as it follows the film in looks and tone, down to a digitized skin-headed version of Ripley. However, the developers must have thought that the film’s lack of weapons would have turned players off, so Ripley is armed to the teeth with a pulse rifle, flamethrower, and grenades. Although Alien 3 was released on several systems, the SNES version was particularly well received thanks to its graphics and music.
8/10 Dick Tracy
When it comes to star-studded castings, it doesn’t get much better than Dick Tracy from 1990. Warren Beatty, Al Pacino, Madonna, Dick Van Dyke, Kathy Bates and Dustin Hoffman are just a few of the names in the big-screen adaptation that became a huge blockbuster. Various video game adaptations have been released, but the Sega Genesis was arguably the best version. Sega had perfected the formula for side-scrolling games with titles such as shinobi, Altered Beastand E SWATand Dick Tracy follows this similar production line.
Although the game did not do well in terms of sales, it captured the film’s cartoon style with its graphics. The gameplay also mixes things up from the standard side-scrolling action, with sections where Tracy has to shoot enemies that appear in the background, as well as a section where he rolls over the side of a speed car. police. There was also a bonus level where Tracy had to shoot targets while avoiding civilians. Again, the inclusion of a bonus level was typical in many Sega games released in the 80s and 90s.
7/10 Disney’s Aladdin
Aladdin the Movie is best known for one thing and that’s Robin Williams’ amazing vocal performance. Her role as Genie transformed the film into something truly special and a reminder of Williams’ immense talent which is sadly no longer with us. The video game adaptation of Disney’s Aladdin could have been a cheap cash-in, but became one of the biggest video game hits of 1993.
The developers worked closely with Disney to bring the graphics to life, and they still look fantastic today. The hard work has paid off and the animation is one of the best views on consoles. The characters felt like an extension of the film, right down to their mannerisms and the way they move. The music is also superb with renditions of A Whole New World and Friend Like Me.
6/10 GoldenEye 007
What is there to say about GoldenEye 007 hasn’t that already been said? This truly iconic N64 game helped redefine the FPS genre and cement Rare’s status as one of the top video game developers in the gaming industry. GoldenEye 007 sold millions of copies and was adored by fans around the world.
The multiplayer mode in particular gave players the opportunity to compete against each other using their favorite characters from the James Bond movies. Recently, fans of the game were shocked and excited by the announcement of a 4K version of GoldenEye 007 coming to Xbox Game Pass. The original version is also released on Nintendo Switch with an online multiplayer mode included.
5/10 RoboCop 3
RoboCop 3 is often considered an extremely poor entry in the series with fans and critics delivering scathing reviews. A major criticism was leveled at the decision to remove the violence that became a major part of the first 2 films, in favor of a more child-friendly film. It was the final nail in the coffin, and although it was not a financial flop, RoboCop 3 struggled to find an audience.
There have been some video game adaptations of RoboCop 3 released on consoles, but the Commodore Amiga and Atari ST versions received the most praise. The game featured first person driving and shooting sections which were quite innovative for its time. Hacking was commonplace on personal computers, so in an attempt to combat this, Ocean Software released the game with a dongle that plugged into the 2nd joystick port. Unfortunately, that didn’t stop the game from being hacked and hackers cracked the game even before it was released.
4/10 Die Hard Trilogy
Variety and value for money are words players often associate with Die Hard Trilogy which was released in 1996. Not only did gamers get to act out their John McClane fantasies from the first 3 movies, but they also got a chance to experience completely different types of gameplay.
The original Die Hard was a 3rd person shooter, Die Hard 2: Die Harder was one on rails small arms shooterand Die hard with a vengeance was a driving game where McClane had to race against time to defuse bombs. Each game took elements from the movies that resonated with fans, and the game was a commercial success.
3/10 Impossible mission
It’s hard to believe that Tom Cruise has been making Mission: Impossible for 26 years, and it shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. If anything, the stunts became more outrageous, with Cruise often putting his own body on the line to entertain fans.
Although there was an N64 version of Impossible mission released in 1998, the Lego Dimensions The level pack is the best place for players to get their dose of fun and spy. The game follows the plot of the first film, with key scenes recreated in typical Lego style.
2/10 jurassic park
1993 would be a decisive moment for cinema! Audiences seeing realistically recreated dinosaurs shown on the big screen was a truly magical experience for moviegoers. Although the CGI is spectacular and revolutionary, the beauty of jurassic park isn’t too dependent on anything CGI. The practical effects are more than a match for the CGI and helped bring the dinosaurs to life, making them more believable to audiences.
There were some notable jurassic park games released in time for the movie, and the two have completely different styles. The Sega Genesis version was a side-scrolling platformer where the player has taken control of Dr. Alan Grant or a Velociraptor. The game had great animation and deservedly received critical acclaim. The SNES version, developed by Ocean Software, had run-and-gun gameplay that was similar to The zombies ate my neighbors. There were also first-person sections reminiscent of early Wolfenstein Games.
1/10 Terminator 2: Judgment Day
The video game adaptations of Terminator 2: Judgment Day was a huge disappointment for gamers! Even if it was not at the level of ET: The Extra-Terrestrial video game, there was a lot of hype around the Terminator 2 video game, as fans were thrilled to play out scenes from the hit movie. There were various versions released on personal computers and consoles and all were slammed by reviewers who said it was a cynical cash-in to exploit fans.
Arguably the best version of Terminator 2: Judgment Day stood in the arcade. This small arms shooter featured various scenes from the movie and had a great arcade cabinet. The arcade game was hugely successful and became financially hugely successful. The arcade game was converted for the SNES and Sega Genesis and was compatible with Super Scope and Menacer light gun peripherals.
