Video games based on comic book properties have been around for years. Being one of the biggest publishers in comics, DC has released numerous games. Many of the early ones have faded into obscurity (who knew there was a Swamp Thing title?) and surprisingly it took a long time before one was critically acclaimed. That game was of course Batman: Arkham Asylum. This landmark game started the Arkham series with its sequel, Arkham City, being hailed as one of the greatest games of all time. Since then there has been a few other notable titles, such as Injustice: Gods Among Us and the free-to-play DC Universe Online.
There has been the occasional odd game out, such as Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis (though many want to forget that game exists) and the Constantine tie-in to the 2005 film. There was also the fun Teen Titans game based on the 2003 show. These detours, however, seem to be rare, as DC has generally played it safe. With the company's recent 'Rebirth' initiative and the staꦍrt of a film universe, now is a good time to branch out in the video game landscape. There are quite a few characters that𒁏 would be excellent candidates for their own games. Likewise, there are also characters who might be better suited to a secondary role. This list will take a look at 8 DC Characters Who Should Have Their Own Game And 7 That Shouldn't.
15 🐼 ꦜ Should: Green Arrow
Starting off this list is a character well known today thanks to an ongoing show on the CW. Green Arrow, aka Oliver Queen, has been around since the early 40s. Since his debut in More Fun Comics, Arrow has appeared in numerous stories. He was also the very first hero to appear in Justice League Unlimited and got his own short animated film in 2010.
Mr. Queen has appeared in quite a few video games, but never in a starring title. There are not many protagonists who use a bow and arrow, which is just one reason of many why the archer deserves his own title. Oliver is more often than not an engaging protagonist that uses intense long range combat and up close fighting styles. The grounded, street level aspect brings a sense of realism to the superhero story. There are obvious Batman influences when it comes to Green Arrow, but enough differences to make it a unique, compelling title. That's why Rocksteady, the studio behind the successful Batman: Arkham series, would make the most sense to develop a game centered on the archer. It would be thrilling to see what they could do with putting bow and arrow gameplay at the center (using the boxing glove arrow would be a great guilty pleasure) mixed in with their signature stealth-based gameplay seen in the Arkham installments.
14 𒅌 Shouldn't: Harley Quinn 💛
It's easy to pinpoint popularity surges for some characters. The rest, however, are nearly impossible. One such character is Harley Quinn. Introduced in the critically acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series, Harley would go on to become a mainstay in the comics and eventually a member of the Suicide Squad. She was always popular, but in recent years that popularity has sky-rocketed to the point where she's even more popular than The Joker himself. Of co🧜urse, having that kind of popularity doesn't mean a video game has to made about the character.
Harely Quinn works best when there's other characters around her. In the Suicide Squad film, she was special because she stood out in comparison with the rest of the cast. There's already a current Injustice comic se𓃲ries from her perspective, so we don't need a video game solely focusing on her as well. Plus, as iconic as her voice is, it 𝓀would probably get annoying after playing for a few hours.
13 💞 Should: Shazam ෴
Captain Marvel Shazam is one of the original superheroes, debuting all the way back in 1940. Like Wonder Woman, he has something of a Greek background (the courage of Achilles, the strength of Zeus). With his own film coming up, and the fact that he's appeared in a very low number of games, Shazam is an excellent candidate for getting his own starring ada𒅌ption.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect about Shazam is that he's actually a kid named Billy Batson. The gameplay could be divided between the grand Shazam gameplay and the more subdued perspective from Billy. There could be an emotional touch to the narrative because Biꦦlly has a history in the foster care system.
To mix things up, the game could feature other members of the Marve🌠l family such as Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr. for local multiplayer. Shazam has been portrayed more as a joke charac♊ter in recent media, so a game bringing him back to his former glory would be welcome.
12 Shouldn't: J🎶onah Hex 𝓀
The Western genre seems to be less popular these days not only in films, but in video games as well. Jonah Hex has enjoyed a pretty good amount of popularity as perhaps the most notable Western superhero. Unfortunately his film from 2010 is known as one of the worst comic book movies of all time. A video game would definitely be better, but with something called Red Dead Redemption (and its upcoming sequel), a Jonah Hex game doesn𓄧't need to happen at the mome♔nt.
It would be hard -almost impossible- for a Jonah Hex game not to be compared to Red Dead Redemption. There's only so much one can do in this genre without it looking identical to one another. Perhaps first DC can look into making Jonah Hex a playable character in something, because he has to this day not appeared in any video game. Once Red is over, then the time would be right to adapt Hex's engaging backstory🐽 for a game.
11 Should: The Flash (Barrᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚy Allen)
Back in the early 2000s, Wally West was the most well known version of the Scarlet Speedster, mainly thanks to the critically acclaimed Justice League cartoon. Nowadays, however, Barry Allen is back to being in the spotlight, which is thanks to the current CW show and the fact that he's been th🌠e main Flash in the comics for over six years. Zooming through Central City is too good of a concept not to use in a game.
The closest we've gotten to a Flash console game might be a 3D Sonic the Hedgehog title. That level of speed transferred to the more realistic look of The Flash's world would be a treat. We've seen some fast-paced Flash gameplay in the game Justice League Heroes, which serves as a prototype to what we could see today. A sandbox Central City with the title character running around could give us the most fun open world comic book game since The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction.
10 Shouldn't: Plastic Man 🍌
Plastic Man has been around since the Golden Age of comics and his stories are usually on the comedic side.(He even had his own show called The Plastic Man Adventure/Comedy Show. Typicallꦛy portrayed as a joke character, Plastic Man is fun to have around to lighten the mood. He hasn't had his own comic ꦦtitle though in a long time and for good reason: he just isn't interesting when he's solely the focus.
There just isn't enough in the Plastic Man world to justify a video game starring him. At best, Plastic Man could star in a low budget small console beat 'em up. But we don't need that. Instead, NeatherRealm Studios should look into including him in Injustice 2. 🃏His elastic powers would make make him a unique fighter.
9 🔯 ☂ Should: Rorschach
Watchmen is known as not only one of the greatest graphic novels, but also one of the greatest works of 20th-century fiction. One of its central characters is the vigilante, Rorschach. His ruthless justice and views on morality makes him a fascinating character to read. Out of all the characters in Watchmen, a game narrative focusing 🅰solely on him could be the most interesting.
There's a lot of unexplored backstory in Watchmen, so there's the opportunity for numerous stories taking place before the graphic novel. A game focusing on one or several of Rorschach's journal entries could make for a great way to expand on the character and the Watchmen universe as a whole. Telltale Games would be the perfect company to deliver an engaging narrative exploring the psyche of Rorschach and the grim world he fights. Also the aesthetic, episode nature, and decision-making system of Telltale are just a few more reasons why Rorschach would be the perfect ch🐬aracter to see adapted.
8 Shouldn't: Robin (Damian Wayne) 🍨 𒁃
It's interesting to think that Damian Wayne, Batman's son, has been around for over 10 years. Since his debut, he🧜 has appeared in numerous comics and a fe🦄w of the DC animated films. His backstory makes him an interesting character, but the last thing we need is a video game starring him.
Damian is often portrayed as extremely obnoxious and rebellious. Yes, it's part of his character arc having been under Talia al Ghul and The League of Assassins. But after all this time he's grown tiresome. He could work as a partner to Batman in an adaption of the Batman and Robin comic series from 2009 (Namely the disturbing first arc with Profes🦹sor Pyg). A Telltale Series adaption could be a great way to expl🌳ore the dynamic between Bruce/Damian and Dick Grayson/Damian.
7 ꩵ Should: Wonder Woman 😼
It wouldn't be a stretch to call Wonder Woman one of t🅺he most well known comic book heroes in the world. Debuting in 1941, she has gone on to appear in many storie🎐s, TV shows, and finally in her own overdue live action film this year portrayed by Gal Gadot. That's why it's shocking she has yet to star in her own video game title.
It might be even more shocking to learn that there have been very few female-led comic book based games. The most well known might be the Catwoman film tie-in from 2004, which was obviously not a high budget game. A Wonder Woman game on today's consoles would look outstanding. She has a rich Greek mythology backdrop, which be a nice change of pace when compared to the more grounded world of the Arkham series. Her homeland Themyscira would give the setting a God of War-like look. There's a🌸 ton of potential for the gameplay. Wonder Woman has Superman-like strength, something that has yet to be seen in full glory on a console. Of course, using her bracelets to block bullets and throwing her t🦩iara as a boomerang would also make for excellent mix-ups in the gameplay. Out of all the characters on this list, a Wonder Woman game could be the most grand.
6 Sho💫uldn't: Supergirl
Supergirl's inclusion in this list is a bit tricky. She has been in numerous comics, some animated shows, her own movie and a current successful series on the CW. She's a great character, so why shouldn't she (yet) get a video game? It's quite simply because her cousin has yet ♋to get a definitive game.
Superman's video game history is a bit tragic. His Nintendo 64 appearance (which was titled Superman: The New Adventures) is known as one of the worst video games of all time. Shadow of Apokolips for the GameCube was decent and so was the Superman Returns adaption, but few would call those games great. As shocking as it may be, the Man of Steel to this day has not had a critically acclaimed game like Arkham City. So, beforeꩲ any other character with the 'S' insignia gets their own game, first Superman needs to get his definitive installment.