Top 5 Comic Book Video Games

Best Adaptations for Xbox 360, PS3, Wii

Dec 12, 2008

For just about every major comic book-related movie the industry grinds out a video game. Which ones are actually worth the money for a next-gen console?

Of course, nothing can beat some of the classics (see Freedom Force), but here are the top 5 best comic book video game adaptations for Xbox, Xbox 360, PS3, PS2 and Game Cube/Wii.

Best Comic Book Video Games

Its title lives up to its playability. Marvel Ultimate Alliance is the Ultimate comic book video game. With over 20 playable characters and more unlockables and downloadable characters, this Action-RPG is simply the best for any major Marvel fan/gamer.

Players can be anyone from Wolverine to Captain America, and the game handles up to 4 players with fully cooperative, fully engaging play. With a sequel coming in 2009, Marvel Ultimate Alliance also proves it withstood the test of time—no small feat in the comic book video game world. Availabe for: Xbox, Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, Wii, Game Boy Advance, PSP

Though not available on Xbox 360 or PS3 (yet still compatible), X-Men Legends 2 deserves a shout out. It is the perfected platform on which Marvel Ultimate Alliance is based, except it is purely set in the X-Men Universe. Four-player cooperative, excellent villains, and engaging story, X-Men Legends 2 definitely deserves the #2 slot not only for raising the bar for comic book video games but also for sheer enjoyment and replayability of the game.

Publisher: Activision Systems: GameCube, PC, PS2, Xbox Release Date: June 28, 2004

Spider-Man, one of Marvel Comics most beloved characters of all time, makes an appearance in nearly 20 video games. At least one video game came out with each of the mainstream Spider-Man films and a host of other Spider-Man related games have been released ever since the dawn of video gaming consoles. Sadly, most of them are sub-par. Most except Spider-Man 2.

The game lets you swing around as Spider-Man in real Manhattan in a Grand Theft Auto-type of gameplay. Not only is it a great comic book video game but it’s also the best Spider-Man game and it also made #5 on IGN's Top 10 Best Comic Book Video Games of All Time.

With 22 playable characters including Green Lantern and the Joker, this is the closest DC equivalent to the host of Marvel-themed multiplayer/character games. It’s surprisingly fun and it looks great on the Xbox 360 and PS3.

LEGO Batman is the sleeper hit of comic book video games. It’s not based on a movie or comic book plot; it is its own adventure. And a fun Batman one at that. The LEGO graphics surprisingly even add to the game play. There are also a number of unlockable characters and other goodies to be found in this refreshingly fun comic book game.

Best Upcoming Comic Book Video Games

A few oldies might be bumped off this list with the advent of several new comic book video games. The new titles that are generating the most pre-release buzz:

Comic book video game adaptations are notorious for being less than stellar. Most of the time they are simply marketing devices, designed strike while the iron is hot for the particularly comic book series. These games prove that not every developer is looking to cash in. Some do care about providing a fun, quality game adaptation.

The copyright of the article Top 5 Comic Book Video Games in Graphic Novels/Comics is owned by Stephanie Cox. Permission to republish Top 5 Comic Book Video Games in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.