The Potential of The Licensed Game

[Depression Moon]

For many Millenia the licensed game has suffered from being terrible buggy and unplayable cheap cash ins from their properties. Few of those licensed entities have broke from that trend excluding those fathomable sport franchises.

The terrible:
http://www.irserious.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/superman64.jpg

http://media.strategywiki.org/images/f/f2/ET_Atari_2600_boxscan.jpg
http://www.mobilemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/image_35749_largeimagefile.jpg

The good:

http://www.xblarcade.com/files/images/goldeney.JPG

http://www.dabbledoo.com/ee/images/uploads/gamertell/ghostbusters_xbox360_box_art_300.jpg

a great number of Star Wars games

http://i.testfreaks.com/images/products/600x400/248/star-wars-knights-of-the-old-republic-ii.436728.jpg

http://games.everlanditalia.it/Lego%20Star%20Wars/lego%20star%20wars.jpg
http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/1/14030/628527-starwarscollectorboxart_large.jpg

and a few Marvel games
http://www.myps3.com.au/img/game/large/Marvel-Ultimate-Alliance-6.jpg

http://moderateinthemiddle.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/x-men-origins-wolverine.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_abEXLqyvGqQ/RbC8Lk2SD1I/AAAAAAAAABs/ga0j2y96m8U/s320/xmen%2Barcade%2B02.gif
My question here no doubt is that what do you see in the future for the next good licensed games, what licensed games should have been good and what are your opinions in general about this genre?

[Quindiana Jones]

You forgot to add "All Bond games except Goldeneye" to the Bad section. :(

I think that licensed games are slowly improving. They're, as a rule, still crap, but they're not as crap as they used to be. It's obvious that the creators of licensed games are starting to understand what it is that makes a good game, though they're still a long way off. It's 80%, as opposed to the 99% it once was.

Also, you forgot Star Wars: Republic Commando from the Good. :)

[Depression Moon]

I had always thought that the Harry Potter games could have been a lot better. The games could've been great if they played like an open world RPG, with some social elements similar to Persona 3. That would've kicked ass.

[Vermachtnis]

Licensed games are hit or miss. Like Quin said they have gotten a little better as a whole. But for every Aladdin game we get there's a dozen Aquamans. Aladdin and Lion King back on the Genesis and SNes still give me hope for movie games even today.

[Wolf Kanno]

The Disney games Capcom worked on in the NES days like Duck Tails and Rescue Rangers were pretty excellent. I 'd also add the recent Naruto and Bleach fighting games which are surprisingly good.

My favorite all time is still Robotech: Battlecry which was a fairly good game that could easily been built on and become something truly grand. Its god awful FPS sequel should count as one of the most awful...

[IronOcean]

i never played them but i heard the riddick games were pretty good, unlike the movie and i liked star wars force unleashed but i might be the only

[Rase]

Also, you forgot Star Wars: Republic Commando from the Good. :)
Ohh, great game I had forgotten about until right now. Wish I still had it...

Anyhoo, yeah, I'd say developers are getting better at realizing something will only sell so well based on it's license.

[Depression Moon]

I'm hoping that Batman Arkham Asylum is good when it comes out this September and I'm also looking forward to Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2: I won't have enough money for both games so I don't know what to get first.

[Markus. D]

I just want to see Harley in her purdy new attire.

[LunarWeaver]

I'm hoping that Batman Arkham Asylum is good when it comes out this September

Argh, me too. I'm keeping my expectations intentionally low, but I hope it surprises me.

[Depression Moon]

anybody played this?

http://screenmania.retrogames.com/snes/04/snes_0136_09.png

[Psychotic]

I'm waiting for a mind-blowingly good Lord of the Rings game, Oblivion/KOTOR style, with perhaps a hint of Kingdom Under Fire II for the big battles. It would be the best game ever. So far the LotR games have been decent but not in the top tier.

Also, mentioning good Star Wars games but not including the Battlefronts? Criminal. :colbert:

[Rantz]

I'm waiting for a mind-blowingly good Lord of the Rings game, Oblivion/KOTOR style, with perhaps a hint of Kingdom Under Fire II for the big battles. It would be the best game ever. So far the LotR games have been decent but not in the top tier.

Yes. Very yes.

[IronOcean]

agreed