Film tie-ins are all the rage when it comes to summer videogames, so turn down the lights, grab a controller and enjoy the interactive entertainment explosion. Popcorn? Pah. Pop these into your PlayStation instead...
They don't call it the blockbuster season for nothing. Summertime is not just associated with hot weather and flashy sports, but also massive movies that transport us to a realm of alternate universes, superheroics, good old fashioned adventure and more. Which means there's also the chance to go one better and actually be part of those same escapades in a number of film tie-ins based on their celluloid relations. Can you live up to these big screen heroes? There's only one way to find out...
"You won't like me when I'm hungry. Wait, that's not right..."
Marvel Comics' not-so-jolly green gamma giant, The Incredible Hulk, has seen a rebirth with the release of the successful movie which re-imagines the character with a liberal dose of references and elements from over 40 years of comic book history. The titular third person action game from Sega features key moments from the film as well as following its own storyline and characters from the comics, letting you bash and crash your way through New York City.
Fighting against foes such as Bi-Beast and the Abomination, developer Edge of Reality gives you the chance to use anything in your path as a weapon: cars, bits of building, street lights, manhole covers... the massive open world environment is your destructible oyster. And satisfyingly the damage you create is persistent, meaning not only can you fully appreciate your trail of devastation, it also allows you to gain access to previously unreachable areas. Super. Smashing, even.
"Tony Stark makes you feel, he's a cool exec, with a heart of steel..."
Before the Hulk age came the Iron age. The big green behemoth wasn't the only character to benefit from a hit film release, as Iron Man was unleashed from relative mainstream obscurity and rocketed skywards into both commercial and critical triumph.
Like its previously mentioned Marvel Studios and Sega stablemate, Iron Man lets you play parts of the movie as well as indulge in explosive action unique to the game, such as tackling crime syndicate The Maggia and confronting the fearsome Titanium Man near an under fire Russian nuclear facility. Do you have the Iron will to be a one man army?
"Snakes! I hate snakes!"
Not directly tied in with its contemporary counterpart in cinemas, LucasArts' LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures acts as a lovely precursor and primer to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Focusing on the first three films, this fun little action adventure boasts co-operative gameplay and the ability to interact with over 60 different characters from the franchise, including Short Round, Jones Senior and Mola Ram, as well as interchanging their separate body parts to create new forms.
Recreating legendary moments from the films (naturally given a unique, colourful and hilarious LEGO spin) has never been so much fun. Put on that fabled hat, grab the legendary whip and get cracking.
"You... you're just a big... fat... panda!"
Do you know kung fu? No? Don't worry, neither does the star of Activision's Kung Fu Panda: The Game. Accompanying and expanding the plot of the DreamWorks movie, the game takes kung fu fanatic Po (a panda, in case the title didn't give it away) on a 13-level journey to accomplish his dream of becoming a master of the martial art against the difficulties posed by his overbearing weight and clumsiness. It's these same difficulties that make our titular hero so much fun to control, with special moves such as the Panda Stumble and Belly Blast. No one ever said a kung fu panda had to be especially graceful, after all.
With platforming to compliment the fighting, boss battles, unlockable content, different playable characters (each with their own fighting style) and even a batch of multiplayer mini-games, Kung Fu Panda has enough punch to keep everybody happy, whether they're fans of the fantastic movie or admirers of some good old fashioned martial arts mayhem.
An adventure beyond the ordinar●E
Being the last robot on Earth isn't easy. Especially when you're a cleaning robot on an empty planet seemingly consumed by waste and wreckage. And while it's all very good to see what this like in the lovely looking Disney Pixar movie, WALL•E, it's all the better to be able to experience it in the THQ game of the same name.
Assuming the role of the poor little titular ‘bot, you fly, shoot and race around a futuristic landscape replicating the film's storyline and locations, interacting with characters, escaping dangerous perils... and discovering new meaning in the pursuit of his love interest, a search robot named EVE. Should you need a break from the main quest, there's also a batch of head-to-head multiplayer challenges where you can really clean up the competition.
"When Aslan bares his teeth, winter meets its end."
After the exploits involving a certain Lion, Witch and Wardrobe, a second opportunity to journey back to Narnia has arrived in the shape of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.Under the helm of Disney Interactive Studios and Traveller's Tales, you travel back to the magical realm only to discover 1,300 years has passed in Narnian time and the Golden Age has come to an end. As with the film, your quest is to battle against the tyranny of the evil King Miraz and restore the rightful heir Prince Caspian back to the throne.
The hack and slash action adventure not only lets you control the Pevensie children of Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy, but also a special group of Narnians - including Minatours and Dwarfs - who have unique skills and abilities for combat and exploration, as well as the ability to team up with other characters. Jump on the shoulders of a giant and crush foes, or take flight with a gryphon - just make sure you don't argue over who gets these privileges in the co-operative two player mode.
There are even two exclusive live action scenes filmed especially for the game that do not appear in the motion picture, making it more than a perfect experience for fans who truly want to get lost in the magical world of Narnia in both big and small screens.
‘Prince Caspian’ Rules The Box Office, Banishing ‘Iron Man’ To #2
Kung Fu Panda Available Now
See Marshall Lee from the upcoming Tekken movie
Here’s another two new characters for Street Fighter IV
