After the runaway success of Batman: Arkham City earlier this year, suggestions have started flying regarding who Rocksteady should tackle next. A rumour today tipped off the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise as a forefront runner, but whilst that would be awesome, I mean, their bloody turtles who are ninjas, Rocksteady could experiment with many other franchises. Here are a few that would benefit hugely from the 'Rocksteady' treatment:
Spider Man
Spider Man games have always been a bit 'meh'. Usually plagued by repetitive combat and dull flat settings, the worlds favourite web-slinger has never really been transformed from page to game very well. 2010 Spiderman: Shattered Dimensions seemed to steer the franchise back on track but ultimately, last years An Edge in Time completely destroyed all that was good about the former. A darker more moody Spider Man would look great and after seeing the ease of which Batman can fly about Arkham City, Spidey's iconic web slinging would fit right at home. Whack in the huge array of villains from the Batman series and you have a whole range of enemies to cause Spidey as much pain as possible.
Fantastic Four
Forget the crap films (except that wonderful Jessica Alba in a skin tight suit......), The Fantastic Four are one of Marvel's oldest creations and also one of their most awesome. Rocksteady could experiment with a four player co-op mode where each person takes control of a single player. Throw in the unique powers and skill sets for each character and you've got yourself a wholly new multiplayer experience. It would be interesting to see if Rocksteady could create a rich and immersive online experience after the absorbing single player Batman as it would act as a true test of the developers skills. A Fantastic Four game would have to have one of the many classic Fantastic Four story arcs, but after seeing Rocksteady's interpretation of Arkham Asylum, there is little doubt that they would slip up here.
X-Men
Much like The Fantastic Four, a new X-Men game could rock the online world. There have been previous X-Men games but, surprise surprise, they were rubbish. Rocksteady could take the franchise and make it into something completely new. Once again an online feature would be welcome as you could take on the world with your 'posse', perhaps being reminiscent of Red Dead Redemption's free roam mode. However, a single player experience would be just as involving with the narrative, carefully, changing characters. The pacing would be excellent with a manic Wolverine level seamlessly blending into a supernatural Storm mission. It would be a lot of work and could be risky with unbalanced characters and a confusing story, but if one studio could nail that, it would be Rocksteady.
Watchmen
Whereas Arkham City was an open world experience that, unlike Arkham Asylum, allowed player freedom, an adaptation of Watchmen would have to be a very focused, linear game. Whilst some people dislike the linear style of gaming, games like Portal and even the Call of Duty series show that developers can camouflage the sigh posting in such ways that it is almost unnoticeable. Watchmen is hailed as one of the greatest graphic novels of all time, and it is understandable at that. The story is detailed and twisting whilst it handles mature themes and, like the Dark Knight films, shows the real life troubles experienced by super heroes. Not only would a Watchmen game offer a new look at the famous novel, but it also could potentially handle very mature themes whilst being a superhero game. The actual gameplay may not be the most inventive ever with a stronger concentration of hand to hand combat (which Rocksteady have nailed in their Batman games), but the game could offer one of the greatest stories ever told with a focused design. And it would make nerds around the world squeal with joy!
Deadpool
Deadpool is quite an unknown character, which is surprising supposing he is one the most unique and hilarious superheroes out there. The beauty of Deadpool is that he breaks the fourth wall a lot. In his comics he constantly talks to the reader, sharing his views and even occasionally offering criticism to his own comics. Only has Psycho Mantis in MGS 2 broken down the infamous fourth wall, and when he did it the gaming world took a gasp in amazement at what was happening before their eyes. Deadpool features in Marvel vs Capcom 3 and he talks to the player then. It is funny and is something new that us gamers rarely ever see. I truly believe that not only would a Deadpool Rocksteady game be awesome as his combat is out of this world and his back story rich, but by breaking down the fourth wall Rocksteady could truly create something new and unique.
Hellboy
I have a soft spot for Hellboy. I loved his films and Ron Pearlman is simply out of this world with his bass-ey voice and terrifying stature. Rocksteady could create an awesome atmosphere and setting with a more supernatural vibe with demons and monsters etc. It would be a perfect mixture of realism and fantasy and although it would be a step away from the Batman universe, Rocksteady could create an amazing experience. Hellboy would heavily concentrate on hand to hand combat, but there is also the usage of modern day and experimental weaponry, and as a result, a more clunky version of Devil May Care would be the answer here. Add in the co-op partner of Abe Sapien and you can have a two player experience, perhaps even a completely different story to go with it.
What would you like to see Rocksteady attempt? Would you like another Batman who do you think another superhero deserves their time in the spotlight? Leave a comment of your thoughts! Thanks
James
This week there has been an explosive new array of rumours all 'confirming' that Sony and Microsoft will announce their next generation consoles, the PS4 and Xbox 720, at E3 this year. Coming from gaming site MVC, the rumours have gathered great controversy and have set the gaming world alight, sparking debates bout specs, launch games, and marketing strategies etc. However, whilst a new step in technology is always welcomed, the 8th generation is not needed now.
 |
| Im fine thanks! |
Just a quick peek back at 2011 will show you the huge range of incredible games released on modern day consoles. Games such as Crysis 2 and Battlefield 3 pushed the Xbox 360 and PS3 to their graphical limits, and as a result we were blessed with two stunning games that even five years ago, would have deemed impossible. Likewise, the releases of Portal 2, Skyrim and Batman Arkham City stand as testaments to how far developers have come with their utilisation of today's consoles. Look at Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion; released in 2006 is hailed as one of the greatest RPG's of all time, yet, skip ahead 5 years time to the release of Skyrim and you can see Bethesda's newly found skill at squeezing every last drop from today's machines. Textures are profoundly better, the atmosphere built is staggering and the shear size of it blows any other game out of the water.
 |
| Looks nice doesn't it? |
Developers are finally understanding how to get the best out of our consoles, and there is no need to rush this. By releasing the next generation of consoles, developers will be forced to suddenly abandon all hard work of Generation 7 and move straight into making below par games for a new, confusing and intimidating console. This is now more prevalent than with Sony's console, the Playstation 3. Originally slated to have a 'ten year life span', a mere 5 years on and we are being faced with the concept of a new console, hardly ten years! Also, PS3 gamers have had to put up with average and occasionaly crappy ports form Xbox games for the last 3 years, but, as 2011 has shown, developers are starting to become much more accustomed with the PS3 and are able to utilise it in every way possible. Just look at Gabe Newell and Valve. Newell claimed the PS3 'was closed like a GameCube' in 2006, only to swallow his pride in 2010 by appearing on stage at E3 to exclaim that Portal 2 'would be the best on PS3'. This sudden change in attitude towards the console is due to developers greeting used to how it works, and as a result, better games can be created.
Gaming is about evolution, and whilst a new generation is always going to offer a wide new choice of games and technology, it is not needed now as we have reached a point in time where developers have finally nailed this generation. Lets savour this moment for a while and cherish the incredibly roster of games that are out and are coming out.
