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The Comic Book Video Game Round-Up

It’s been another summer chock full of comic book-based movie blockbusters, culminating in last weekend’s Dark Knight box office beatdown. Part of the reason studios are so committed to this genre are the promotional tie-ins: the toys, the “collector’s edition” soda bottles, and of course, the licensed video games.

But like the films themselves, not all video game adaptations are created equal. A great movie can sometimes make a wack game, and vice versa. After the jump, check out our analysis of every game release that was inspired by one of this summer’s superhero-style action releases.

IRON MAN (Sega: All Consoles)

RATING (OUT OF FIVE): 3.5
We thoroughly enjoyed everything about this solid action shooter, especially the inclusion of all of Iron Man’s various suits. Shit, that’s the best mech suit we’ve seen since Neon Genesis Evangelion! The only downside is that the game is fucking hard. Yeah, we’re quitters.

LEGO BATMAN (Warner: All Consoles) Shipping 9/23

RATING: 4
Fresh off LucasArts’ mildly disappointing LEGO Indiana Jones game comes another blockhead adventure, this time starring the Caped Crusader. Technically, this lighthearted game is more like the ’60s TV show than the The Dark Knight, but with plenty of villains and sidekicks, it looks way better than Indiana Jones. We’ll give it a 4 on the trailer alone.

SPEED RACER (Warner: Wii, PS2, DS)

RATING: 1
If you like the film, you’ll love the ga…wait a minute, did anybody actually like this film? ‘Cause we sure thought it sucked balls. Likewise, the game is good for about two minutes before crumbling into a big mess.

HELLBOY: SCIENCE OF EVIL (Konami: 360, PS3, PSP)

RATING: 3
We love the simplicity of third-person button-mashers, and this one delivers. It’s not based on the film, but it stars the same cast, and director Guillermo del Toro helped in the development. Call it a poor man’s God of War—and that’s a pretty good compliment.

THE INCREDIBLE HULK (Sega: 360, PS3, PS2, DS, PC)

RATING: 2
Another summer, another mediocre Hulk movie, another mediocre Hulk game. Some things never change. You know, Bruce Banner, his angry alter ego, a wide-open city…smash, grab, smash, grab. Yawn.

WANTED (Warner: TBD) Shipping Late 2008

RATING: TBD
All we know about this forthcoming title is that it’s being developed by the dudes behind Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter and that it’s a third-person shooter that incorporates curving bullets and a storyline that picks up where the movie left off. Meh. We can wait.