Siliconera Speaks Up: Anime, Manga, and Games

By Louise Yang . April 19, 2009 . 7:34am

Siliconera Speaks Up: Anime, Manga, and Games

Varied stories, distinct art style, and archetype characters are all key features in both video games and anime/manga. It’s no wonder that the two go hand in hand. What anime/manga would you like to see converted into a game and what genre would it be?

 

Siliconera Speaks Up: Anime, Manga, and GamesSpencer:I grew up watching Hayao Miyazaki movies, but his classics don’t have video game counterparts. Licensed video games often pale in comparison to their source material, but a cel-shaded, stylish action game of Princess Mononoke would be awesome. Telling the story from two sides — Ashitaka’s and San’s can compliment the story too. Being a hugely popular character Totoro from My Neighbor Totoro should star in his own game. Practically putting Totoro in anything would be a sure sale, although throwing the loveable forest spirit in a first person shooter would taint the movie… a lot. Totoro and all of the creative characters should have been used to make an environmental game like Eco Creatures. The main character in that game practically looks like Totoro anyway.

Thanks to a partnership with Level 5, a Miyazaki developed video game is coming to the Nintendo DS.

 

Siliconera Speaks Up: Anime, Manga, and GamesJenni: Most of the anime and mangas I enjoy have already been turned into video games. You can find Ouran High School Host Club, Nana, Gakuen Alice, Vampire Knight, Aria, Bleach and Saiyuki games in Japan, often on multiple platforms.

There are a few series I’d love to see turned into games. Honey Hunt by Miki Aihara could be a simulation game where you try to turn Yura into a superstar. The Princess Tutu anime could inspire a ballet game, where you dance as Princess Tutu/Ahiru to restore Mytho/Myuto’s heart. Or maybe a fashion design game based on Ai Yazawa’s Paradise Kiss or a classic, turn-based RPG based on Planet Ladder.

I’d also love to see a Fruits Basket game. Perhaps a life simulation where players go through Tohru’s daily life, trying to build friendships with all the Sohma family members so the curses will break. A Fruits Basket visual novel could work quite well too.

 

Siliconera Speaks Up: Anime, Manga, and GamesLouise: Like Jenni, a lot of the anime I watch has already been turned into games. But that’s not saying that they got turned into good games. One of my favorite anime is Cowboy Bebop. I was ecstatic to find out that there was a Cowboy Bebop PS2 game, but like most licensed games, it was pretty mediocre.

I’d love a next-gen Cowboy Bebop game. That’s not to say I want it to be fully 3D with awkward models or anything. Something in a 3D environment, but cel-shaded would be awesome. I think Cowboy Bebop would really make a great GTA-type sandbox game where the player could just pick different missions to go on while at the same time trying to fly under the radar.

 

Siliconera Speaks Up: Anime, Manga, and GamesIshaan: While I read and like all kinds of manga, most of my favourite series tend to fall into the shounen category. The first manga I ever read was Flame of Recca and it left a huge impression on me that still influences my reading list to date. Even after reading several other series, I would always look back at Recca and marvel at how cool every single character was. I could never actually pick a favourite character that I could stick to for more than a couple chapters. The art improved continually as the series went on, the fights were insanely cool and the humour really had me in splits in places.

I’d love to see to see someone turn Flame of Recca into an action-adventure game where you could pick to play as a particular faction (Hokage, the various “Uruha” groups etc) and work your way through a story-focused hack-n-slack quest a la Devil May Cry, making use of all the various element weapons. (No, Final Burning on PS2 doesn’t count) Beyond that, I’d love to see a .hack MMO done right (where is it, Namco?), an original Gundam game with all the drama and character development from the anime series and a Rurouni Kenshin game that explores Kenshin’s days during the revolution in greater detail.


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  • http://www.liquid-crystal.biz/ kryptonics

    I think a lot of popular anime already have videogame counterparts. Not directly, but spiritually. Xenogears and Xenosaga were both a little too close to Neon Genesis Evangelion. People looking to continue the psychologically tense setting of Neon Genesis Evangelion were able to without rehashing characters and story, preserving the integrity of both.

    There may not have been a Miyazaki game until now, though Twilight Princess has some strong connections. While never forcing it down players' throats, the storyline in Twilight Princess has a subtle nature vs. technology motif. Many of the Twili's designs had a circuit board appearance to them, while phasing in and out of Twilight realm was accomplished by what looked like oversized pixels coming apart. It's always referred to as “magic,” and even if it is, the story still sides closely with nature.

  • daizyujin

    It isn't anime but I want a good game based on Kamen Rider. The series has been around longer than even Gundam and we have yet to get a great game based off of it.

  • Tye The Czar

    Mai Hime as a Multiplayer action game. Dear God, that would be greatness.
    Another would be Code Geass (One of my favorite anime of all time) turned into an RTS + Adventure Game or Multiplayer Tactical Shooter.
    Rozen Maiden could possibly work as an Action Adventure game, with Telltale games at the helm, and maybe Platinum Games(would be a match made in heaven).
    A DBZ or Naruto(Less forgivable since the Ubisoft ones had high expectations) game without the mediocrity. Just give them both to good hands at Capcom, just like they once did with Disney.
    As much as Boondocks isn't technically anime, it comes pretty close visually. Give me a Tournament-Quality Fighter or Action/Adventure game and I'll be satisfied.

  • Ishaan

    That's a great point. Spiritual counterparts.

    I said I wanted a Rurouni Kenshin game in the post, but I've always thought of Samurai Shodown as the closest you could get to Kenshin. They even had Watsuki design some character for Samsho 5.

  • cesca

    A good Twelve Kingdoms RPG. I got an “illegal copy” a few years back, and though I didn't understand a word of it it seemed a competent, albeit low-budget game. The music was great though.

    An Utena RPG in the vein of Persona (school days passing, relationship building) but with a dynamic, Utena only battle mode.

    Nausicaa would make a great KIngdoms Hearts-ish game, as well as Mononoke.

    A Black Lagoon/Noir/Madlax TPS would be nice.

    And was always a good Cowboy Bebop game would be great.

  • http://www.infinite-bits.com NickyD

    A sandbox-style game using “X” might be interesting if done right. Lots of unique characters, unique powers, all set in a to-scale Tokyo. The potential is there; and since Clamp never seems to decide on a proper ending for the franchise, sandbox open-ended stories for each character would be acceptable without hurting any sort of fanatic's idea of “X canon”.

    There have been some Berserk games already; I enjoyed the Dreamcast one quite a bit, but we never saw the PS2 one. Supposedly it wasn't that great.

    A few other good ones:
    -Mushi-shi in the style of the early Atelier games (collecting ingredients) with a splash of adventure titles (gathering clues, solving mysteries)… of course, that probably exists already since it seems like such a great idea.
    -Innocent Venus – you have robots, you have strong lead and secondary characters… and you have a solid ending. The show really was like Xenogears in many ways (one of the dudes even looked like he could be Fei Fong Wong's twin).
    -Noein… I know! It'd be insane. Parallel universes, multiple characters of the same person in your party (if we go RPG)… I have no idea how it'd work, but that show had so many great ideas and world concepts/enemy/character design.

    Oh, and I say “show” for all these because… well… I don't read the comics. I don't read much domestic material, so why should I read international stuff? Readin' ain't my thing anymore. Writing is. Sorry for the long post!

  • matty

    Cowboy Bebop actually was scheduled to be released here in the U.S., but was canceled. You can probably guess why. Oh, but there was a mod that has Spike actually in GTA: San Andres. Pretty funny!

    Azumanga Daioh has a few games. There was an arcade puzzle game, but the best ones are the fan made games, like Azu Fighter!
    Boogiepop Phantom?

    It's hard to see my favorite series actually be turned into an interesting game. I would like to see the other way happen, like Phoenix Wright getting his own series. It'll be like a quasi Closed Close/Detective Conan type show which is already excellent.
    Idolm@ster was turned into an animated series. I'm trying to forget that. Oh, and so was Disgaea.
    Well, you can't go wrong with zombies.

  • Aoshi00

    Hm.. anime titles usually have to be uber popular and long running series at their prime in order to be turned into video games (like DB, Slam Dunk, Sailormoon, Yu Yu Hakusho back in the 90's or Naruto/Bleach/Prince of Tennis now). Problem is a lot of them are only mediocre at best and are just quick cash cows.

    I don't have that many favorite anime that I want to see in game form, other than Kenshin as a new fighting game a la Marvel vs. Capcom w/ next gen graphics. There were a few side story RPGs and polygon fighters on the Playstation back then. Actually I think Watsuki's Busou Renkin would fit the bill even better, but it's not as popular and there was alrdy a sucky PS2 game for it.. I guess I want a really good Dragonball or Saint Seiya game too. The new Saint Seiya and Yu Yu Hakusho games on PS2 in recent years were horrible. And no offense Isshan, I couldn't stand Flame of Recca and thought it was real bad thru & thru, the manga's art was never particular good either even after dozens of volumes, even the later MARS. I just hate Anzai Nobuyuki the copy cat.

    It would be so awesome if they would make a game for Dragon Quest Dai no Daibouken, it was an anime based on DQ, but they should make an RPG out of that w/ orchestrated Sugiyama soundtrack. Or if they can make a good Hunter x Hunter RPG. I hope that Claymore DS side scroller would be at least decent.

  • CleruTesh

    Most of what I think of I know Japan has already, Haruhi, Toradora, Evangelion… I believe there are actually PSP games based on all of those properties. Which makes me wonder, with how poorly the PSP is doing in the US, why doesn't Sony work on getting some of those titles stateside? Might give the PSP a boost, and since most anime fans don't even want the vocals translated, doesn't seem like it would be that hard to translate?
    Aside from that, a Nintendo DS version of Death Note could potentially be unbelievably awesome.

  • http://myanimelist.net/profile/Mario1-7 Mario1-7

    Watch Clannad and Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei! 2 of the greatest anime EVER!

  • http://www.battlemouth.com Jason

    Series that has games already:

    One Piece – We need a new console fighter that is a solid fighting game. So much potential because characters actually do different things and have different techniques. Give us Grand Battle IV already for PS3 and stop with this Unlimited crap is what I say.

    (Hell, a Jump game for the console wouldn't be bad either or DBZ vs One Piece (out of all the cross-over series and the hour timeslot they now share [Dream9], I don't see why not).

    Series that don't have games:

    Can't really think of any…. I know there are a bunch that have only had releases in Japan.

  • EvilAkito

    There is quite a bit of anime out there that could be adapted into a good video game. It's hard for me to really narrow it down to one good choice, so I decided to just narrow it down to the neatest and stupidest idea for a game I could think of.

    This idea of mine is more of a gimmick idea than an actual compelling idea for a game, but imagine this: Death Note for the Wii. You have the shinigami eyes and can freely walk around and see everyone's name. The game would link up to your Nintendo DS, and with the use of hand-writing recognition, you can write down their names on the touch screen to kill them. As I said, I don't know how you would make a good game out of this concept, but it certainly be cool.

  • Corey Lucas

    KENSHIN RULEZ!!! I LOVE THE PS2 GAME!!!!! I HAVENT PLAYED IT IN AWHILE!! AND I WANT MORE BLEACH GAMES!!!

  • CleruTesh

    I don't see the need to use the Wii.
    I'm thinking something along the lines of Time Hollow.
    Someone with a Death Note is targeting people close to you, then you get a Death Note. You talk to people and search around, each “chapter” could end with you having to write a name in. Add in branching paths depending on what you write, it could be awesome!

  • LordGeo

    I think the manga Eat-Man could be adapted into a 3D action title really well. The main character, Bolt Crank, is a mercenary has the ability to eat any type of inorganic material and reproduce it through his right hand. He can eat guns, bullets, missiles, bombs, gasoline, etc. and then bring them out whenever necessary. The focus wouldn't be so much about keeping your ammo in check but instead finding out the best way to accomplish each job: Do you bust in guns blazing or do you just blow up portions of the place in order to create havoc?

    Eat-Man just has so many possiblities…

  • Titanis

    “I think a lot of popular anime already have videogame counterparts. Not directly, but spiritually. Xenogears and Xenosaga were both a little too close to Neon Genesis Evangelion. People looking to continue the psychologically tense setting of Neon Genesis Evangelion were able to without rehashing characters and story, preserving the integrity of both.”
    Not to mention that Evangelion's had a LOAD of actual games made about it…

  • Ian

    I think a Black Cat game could be awesome. It'd be sorta like Metal Gear Solid, but less sneaky. Also, there' ssome parallels between the two series.

    Best example would be the Magic vs. Science motif, the MGS series goes from unexplained magical powers to Nanomachines the same way Black Cat goes from Creed using Tao to get stuff done, and then relying on science.

    Also, a super-graphics PS3 Gurren Lagann would be awesome. Could be sorta like ZOE, I guess.

  • Crosz

    I've been hoping, with little grounding that one day we'll see a Rock Band: Beck Mongolian Chop Squad edition … it'll never happen, but still … the hope's there.

  • http://www.liquid-crystal.biz/ kryptonics

    True, but not many (if any??) have left Japan.

  • Aoshi00

    They've made three DS games for Death Note alrdy and none of them are particularly good, except the L detective game. I've played only the beginning and found the bomb dismantling rather repetitive. You cut wires and take out screws w/ the stylus, which would've been fun if you only get to do once like Policenauts.. So I'm not too sure what they could do w/ it. Plus the popularity for the title has sort of passed.

    Am I the only one who thought Time Hollow was quite boring? The story and characters did not grab me at all.. I liked Shadow of Destiny on the PS2 but TH just seems so uninteresting and contrived to me.

    While I'm pondering this question, I was looking up and down at the manga titles lying on my shelves, and see that almost all of them do have games.. Eyeshield 21's Wii game wasn't that fun and Prince of Tennis has lots of crappy games aimed at fangirls.. If EA could use the Madden or NBA Jam engines for Eyeshield and Slam Dunk they would make very deep games, of course neither of those sports titles are popular in the US..

    I just thought of one more manga title, the gruesome “Parasyte” (Keiseijuu). There was talk of making a live action movie of this long ago when Tokyopop was serializing it, don't know what happened. That would make kind of a cool survival horror game maybe. Or using the stylus on the DS to fight w/ bladed appendages. I really love that manga even to this day.

  • Aoshi00

    I know this is just a big what-if or wish list, but I don't think Miyazaki would want to see his animated features being made into video games, the director doesn't like people “sitting around and wasting time”.. His movies are filled w/ imagination and all (w/ the biggest budget of course), but I've always found them to be too preachy for my taste and am kind of fed up by the recurring environmentalist theme. It's good the man has a goal, but I don't like how he thinks other entertainment is a waste of time.

  • CleruTesh

    So they have. Guess I should have researched a little before posting.
    I guess the moral of this story is that I should learn Japanese. Eh, sounds like a lot of work.
    Oh, and I loved the characters and story of Time Hollow.

  • http://www.nakedsushi.net/ Louise

    Was there a Japanese SNES game based on Kamen Rider? I vaguely remember something like that.

  • daizyujin

    There have been many games based on Kamen Rider over the years. Unfortunately they have ranged from mediocre to just plain aweful. Just check out the Famicom Disk System version of Kamen Rider Black. That is one of the worst games I have ever played. It is just horrible.

    The SNES one that was a side scrolling beatem-up based on the original series wasn't too bad and the first few ones on the original Playstation were somewhat fun also, but seriously, talk about a franchise that has not shown much potential in the video game world.

    Considering that Namco/Bandai has a very close relationship with both Toei and Ishinomori Productions in the creation of a lot of the different shows in the series, it almost seems rather weird nothing has came out of it yet. Like I said, the series is older than Gundam and while a lot of Gundam games are pure crap, a few are really good.

  • Nika

    I really like the unlimited series actually… They somehow keep me hooked for hours at a time (although, I got the urge to trow with controllers in the dimension zone of the first one *cough*)

  • http://www.siliconera.com Spencer

    Thoughtful parallels! Totally agree on Xenogears / Neon Genesis Evangelion. The comparison I always make with Twilight Princess is Okami, but it's easy to imagine Nintendo got some ideas from Princess Mononoke.

  • http://www.siliconera.com Spencer

    One of the PS2 ones I played was a garbage fighter. It did preserve the man vs. rubber monster costume feel which was a plus in my book for campy value. Otherwise it was a mess.

  • http://www.siliconera.com Spencer

    A Phoenix Wright anime could work out since the game is so heavily story based. Although I would want the series to avoid the turnabout of the week and have a four linking story arcs for one season, just like the games.

  • http://www.siliconera.com Spencer

    Without spoiling it under the guise of a love story Ponyo was envior-preachy.

  • http://www.siliconera.com Spencer

    I don't think the Evangelion games have mass appeal since they're text heavy which is why they aren't high on the localization list. The Bleach games are another story. Sega has been successful with the license, but Sony just isn't interested in pursuing them.

  • http://www.siliconera.com Spencer

    A One Piece fighting game would be awesome with the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm engine.

  • EvilAkito

    I liked Time Hollow, although my big complaint is that it wasn't so much a visual novel as it was a “visual short story.” It could have benefited greatly from adding sub-plots, more background info on the characters involved, and some more complications in the main plot. Instead you get a fun, but short-lived experience that doesn't really deliver $30 worth of story-telling.

  • Aoshi00

    I saw Ponyo a while ago, the story was cute and the slightly different art style was very unique, but again my biggest gripe w/ Miyazaki movies in recent years, other than them being preachy, is the amateur cast leaves much to be desired (actress Yamaguchi Tomoko as Lisa..), don't know what he got against using professional voice actors, I think the lackluster performance
    by the actors really takes you out of the story.. Nausicaa and Laputa were so much better because they used seiyuu for one thing.

  • http://www.destructoid.com Colette

    I love that you guys do posts like this. Makes me happy! I share your Miyazaki love, Spencer! ^__^

  • Celedin

    I was going to mention Mushi-shi and Noein! An Atelier-style Mush-shi game would be fantastic if that were to happen!

  • EvilAkito

    Yeah, I always thought Eat-Man would have made a great game as well. It would be cool to have some kind of synthesis system in place where you can get new weapons by eating the materials needed to build them.

  • Scypher

    I'm digging deep into lesser known shows here, but hey, why not? These are some super-optimistic designs that will never be. I'm also hoping this will pique some interest for those of you who've never heard of these before.

    Mononoke (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98bUgrI3Mbk) as a mostly text-based adventure (e.g. Phoenix Wright) with over-the-shoulder action battles. The main draw would really be the visuals – a cel-shaded, heavily textured, chaotic beauty — and the secondary draw is that it's more of a character drama than a hack-and-slash. The game would be split into self-contained episodes, much like the show, where the structure is loosely: explore new location & characters, identify problem (the ayakashi-of-the-week), face ayakashi with limited knowledge, re-explore and have that story unfold, then exorcise ayakashi. I fear that sounds bland to anyone who's never seen this anime, but I think it would make a fantastic game. The episodes could even be monthly DLC like FF4: After Years; that really takes the edge off the whole product being “perfect.”

    Kannagi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oghxyBDCrUI) as an Idolmaster-esque rhythm + manager game. Kannagi brought up such a funny and interesting concept where the female lead is a long-forgotten nature goddess who hardly has any powers because nobody worships her anymore. The solution? Become a Japanese pop idol, obviously. Unfortunately the anime was too short to make good on any of this, but make it a game and I'm so there. Hell, just make an Idolmaster mod and I'd buy it.

    Casshern Sins (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAuJAKxbGVY) as a Viewtiful Joe-style beat-em-up. I'll be honest: the gameplay for this one can be utterly bland, as long as the post-apocalyptic backgrounds are beautiful, and lightning-chopping a robot in half feels as satisfying as it should.

    And, since someone mentioned it, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00rC8BdxmP4) as a ridiculous, satirical microgame marathon. Like WarioWare on crack. More crack. Keep the spirit of SHAFT's sharply graphic, quick cutting animation style and you're golden.

  • L

    I like your style.

  • L

    I like your style.

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