14. Batman (NES)
Sunsoft’s Batman video game is essentially Ninja Gaiden right down to the wall jumps and ridiculously high difficulty. Is that really an issue, though? Is there any other game of the ‘80s more fit to be converted into a Batman title than Ninja Gaiden?
When it comes to replicating the fluidity and thrills of that style of 8-bit action gameplay, Sunsoft meets (or even surpasses) their obvious inspiration. What makes this game so magical all these years later, though, is the sheer style of the thing. From the magical chiptune version of that classic Danny Elfman score to the eerily effective gothic visuals that make this one of the best-looking NES games, Batman helped show that adaptations could be something special.
13. Ghostbusters: The Video Game
Ghostbusters: The Video Game is a solid little action/adventure title that plays closer to a survival horror game without sacrificing the property’s comedic elements. When combined with a welcome co-op multiplayer mode, it’s pretty much everything you could hope for in a Ghostbusters video game. What makes this one more than that, though, is the involvement of the film’s cast.
Not only did Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Bill Murray, and Ernie Hudson lend their voices and images to the game, but Ramis and Akroyd were closely involved with the game’s writing and story structure. Akryoyd later called this their vision of a third Ghostbusters movie, and that’s pretty much what it feels like. Rather than be forced to watch the old actors try to pretend like they’re the old Ghostbusters, though, this game affords the group the dignity of one last adventure unburdened by most logical real-world limitations.
12. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game
While technically inspired by the comic series, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game was released to help promote Edgar Wright’s 2010 film. It is also a kind of throwback to the age when many properties received an arcade-style beat-em-up tie-in game.
Scott Pilgrim is more than a tribute, though. Developer Ubisoft packed a surprisingly robust adventure into what was ultimately a budget title intended to help promote a new movie. Most importantly, the developers demonstrated both their love of the source material and their understanding of how to translate those elements into this kind of experience. This game has only gotten better since it went largely ignored at the time of its release.