“The Dark Knight” Doesn’t Play Games

Filed Under Blockbusters, Movies, Video Games

Earlier today, I was wondering why there isn’t a video game based on “The Dark Knight,” then coincidentally, I stumbled upon an article in Newsweek that’s just as puzzled as I am. Setting aside the fact that friggin’ Newsweek(?!) is addressing this issue, what gives? Surely a crappy video game tie-in must’ve been considered at some point. You can’t sneeze at the mall without some of your sputum hitting scores of bat-paraphernalia. The glaring omission of a video game based on the biggest movie of the summer — and doubtless the year — is curious indeed.

“The Dark Knight” is clearly a more grown-up superhero movie, but I think it still could rather easily translate to consoles. Hell, the climax of the movie couldn’t be more like a video game, as Batman fights his way through dozens of clowns, cops and canines on one level of a building after the another before reaching the top and having a final showdown with the Joker — a total rip-off of Donkey Kong.

How rad would it be to play a Batman game that follows the more open-ended approach to gaming that’s all the rage these days, one in which you could play as Bats, Commissioner Gordon, a Copycat Batman, Two-Face or even the Joker? Each character would have his own strengths and weaknesses. Batman, of course, would have all the moves and gadgets, but no gun; Gordon would come armed and able to summon help in the form of the GCPD, but not be able to soar across the rooftops; a Copycat Batman would have an arsenal, but limited fighting abilities and only hockey pads to protect him; the possibilities are limitless.

Side missions could include Batman’s trip to Hong Kong, or the Joker putting a smile on a mob underboss’ face. It’d be a video game adaptation that — unlike the ones for the Spider-Man films — wouldn’t have to bring in all sorts of 3rd rate villains to pad out the storyline. There’s so much going on in “The Dark Knight,” you don’t really need any embellishments. And holy cats, the Bat-Pod level would be the sickest thing ever.

I’m not even a ginormous gamer, and I want this game to appear from the ether in time for Christmas. According to the article, it doesn’t seem like that’s going to happen. I guess I’ll have to boogie over to Amazon.com and pick up the underselling “Batman Begins” video game instead. Sigh.

-Brad Lohan

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