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Video games have been a medium to tell stories for well over 70 years now. These stories can range from a variety of topics, but the most interesting aspect about them is their interactivity. These stories get players involved more than they would be with any other medium because it allows them to feel as if they are actually participating in the narrative. A fair question to ask is what happens when that interactivity is replaced by another medium of entertainment like a film?
Video game adaptations are nothing new in terms of recency. The very first adaptation is considered to be the 1982 “Pac-Man” television series. This show was animated and produced by the Hanna-Barbera production company. It inspired other animations of classic video game characters like Donkey Kong in the early ’80s. Since then, a multitude of adaptations have been released to varying levels of praise.
For example, the recent adaptation of Naughty Dog’s 2013 masterpiece “The Last of Us” saw critical appraise across the board. The scenes were as impactful as they were the first time gamers experienced them. The series began on Jan. 15, 2023, and was released weekly on HBO Max. It not only adapted the iconic scenes from the games, but also tweaked a few of the more lacking story beats. An example of this is the story between Bill and Frank, two survivors that find love with each other during the apocalypse. The first season left newcomers and old fans alike wanting more out of the series. It is widely considered to be the best video game adaptation of all time.
Unfortunately, the second season did not deliver as much. While it was very faithful in some areas, the liberties that HBO took this time around actually detracted from the story instead of adding to it. Ratings declined by 50% by the time of the finale, showcasing declining interest when compared to the first season. The leftover stigma from the second game, “The Last of Us: Part II,” also played a role in fans disliking the second season, as the source material was already an issue for them. Despite this, the show was renewed for a third season that will be released in 2027.
When talking about adaptations, it’s not uncommon to see different versions of films and television shows based on these games. This is the case for what may very well be the most iconic gaming franchise of all time, “Super Mario Bros.” The 1993 “Super Mario Bros.” film was the first time that the most influential duo in gaming was seen on the big screen. It was made in the era of Hollywood where these big studios were trying to capitalize on the rising popularity of the gaming industry.
Regrettably, this led to these films being rushed and poorly created. Other films that followed this path were “Double Dragon (1994),” “Street Fighter (1994),” and “Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997).” “Super Mario Bros.” almost doesn’t even follow the story of any of the Mario Bros. games. The only story beats that it keeps is that Mario and Luigi have to save a princess that has been kidnapped by a reptilian villain. Other than that, it doesn’t include any mentions of the Mushroom Kingdom or anything of the sort. Some characters share the same name as others from the games, but they look nothing like their inspirations.
The only aspect of “Super Mario Bros.” that remains is the reveal of Mario and Luigi’s last name, which, coincidentally, is also Mario. While this was just a running joke and had no real meaning for a long time, it was confirmed to be their actual last name at the Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary festival in 2015. It was confirmed by none other than Shigeru Miyamoto himself, the creator of Mario Mario and Luigi Mario. Although this film is considered to be one of the worst movies of all time, it was still the first massive Hollywood movie to center on a video game.
Thankfully, Nintendo corrected their mistake with the recent release of “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” in 2023 and “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” in 2026. Both films saw commercial success across the board. While critics favored the previous 2023 film to the 2026 release, audiences appreciated both films just about the same. This is because these films are actually incredibly faithful to their source material. They also include other well known Nintendo characters such as Donkey Kong and Fox McCloud, giving them larger roles in the story instead of one-off cameos. Another reason for the success of these films is the very large names attached to them. Actors like Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Seth Rogen, Brie Larson, Anya Taylor-Joy and Keegan-Michael Key are just a few of the performers that bring their larger than life personalities to the voices in these films. Nintendo was able to pivot from their failure in 1993 to produce two of the most well-liked video game adaptations of all time, truly leaving fans “hooked on the brothers.”
The Mario brothers’ recent adaptations are not the only ones that audiences have enjoyed. Over the past few years, video game adaptations have seen a massive increase in quality story-wise and production wise. When conversations about this arise, one adaptation that you will likely always hear is about the “Fallout” series on Amazon Prime.
The “Fallout” game franchise always follows a different protagonist in each game, leading to a different story being told each time. Amazon actually adhered to this, creating an entirely new plot-line within the already established world of “Fallout.” Not only is it fun seeing all the different locations, enemies and items from the games, but it’s also just an enjoyable watch. The show has rarely received any harsh criticism from those who have experienced it. The series has also had some major plot reveals, answering questions that fans of “Fallout” have had for years. It has also raised more questions about the true nature of some entities within the dystopian, nuclear reality. The success of the first season garnered a second season, which garnered a third season to be released in late 2027. “Fallout” is considered to be one of the best adaptations ever, almost standing on the same ground as “The Last of Us.”
While there are some adaptations that were failures, there are also many of them that did their source material justice. Video game stories really have an impact on their fans because of how it gets them involved and truly immersed in the worlds that they create. If done correctly, that immersion can be translated into a different medium, entertaining longtime fans and reaching new audiences that aren’t familiar with these stories. This prosperous era of video games has really brought these long-appreciated narratives back into the mainstream and, hopefully, it won’t end anytime soon.
