After “Robocop”, “Star Wars” and even “Alien”, while waiting for “Terminator”, Indiana Jones marks his arrival. A new hero from the 1980s to make his mark on consoles and PC, a trend that is all the rage.
A whip, a raised hat and a face that appears in the darkness that everyone recognizes. The first images of‘Indiana Jones and the Ancient Circle stirred up fans of the famous archaeologist, as the resemblance to Harrison Ford from the 80s was particularly successful.
A new hero who lands on December 9 on consoles and PC (December 6 in early access) in a game worthy of a film. It must be said that the power of machines now makes it possible to create works that cinema can envy and to recreate emblematic characters larger than life, rekindling a touch of nostalgia in the hearts of older players.
Seduce the forty-somethings with their Proust madeleines
If the films of the 80s largely took advantage of the rise of consoles and computers to offer video game adaptations, these were for a long time dependent on the technological constraints of their time: pixel games which extended the adventure for the most open minds. Today, the technical boom allows us to get closer to the 7th art, and the studios have understood that their preferred target – those who can also more easily afford games at 70-80 euros – need Proust’s madeleine.
For several years, we have seen games flourish that draw their inspiration from the films and franchises of this decade. Before Indiana Jones, the hero “50% man, 50% robot, 100% cop” made a successful return last year in Robocop: Rogue City. Star Warsfor its part, is a perennial who has multiplied the games since the beginning of the 80s, until Star Wars Outlaws released this summer with its good idea for an original story and a graphic style that recalls the cinematographic style of the first trilogy, the one that rocked the childhood of many seasoned players.
If cinema borrows more and more from video games, the latter also knows how to recognize the former’s talent in the creation of characters or universes. In addition to offering games of all styles, Ghostbusters largely inspired Luigi’s Mansion and Luigi’s ghost vacuum cleaner. Alien had with Alien: Isolation a game worthy of its oppressive atmosphere, where the monster pursues you relentlessly and you can never kill, forcing you to do everything to survive. Horror cinema also has its video game equivalents, taken from the worlds of The Thing or from Killer Klowns from Outer Spacea notorious joke of the time, but which will revive fans of the genre with its completely crazy killer clowns.
Action heroes made for video games
But it is above all the muscular heroes, emblematic stars of the decade, notably with the cleverly maintained opposition between Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, who delight the players. Terminator will return to action next year with cinema’s most famous cyborg as the star. Broforce had found success by taking all the Action Heroes of the time to oppose them in a sarcastic manner with revisited, but very explicit names (Rambro, Demolition Bro, Brobocop, Ellen Ripbro, Brommando, etc.).
-Based on this observation, creators also like to make a few nods to emblematic figures. So, the game Hitman will offer itself an extension around Jean-Claude Van Damme. Nicolas Cage has been modeled for Dead by Daylight with its current features, but in homage to its characters of yesteryear. Enough to give it renewed appeal for its appearance in the world of video games. And what about the game? Crime Boss: Rockay Citywho understood the attraction for the 80s and 90s with its range of characters having the features of famous actors and actresses, but with their faces of yesteryear (Chuck Norris, Kim Basinger, Michael Madsen, Danny Glover… ). A total fiasco, but an idea that made those who knew that era smile.
How can we explain this renewed interest in the decade and its key elements of pop culture and cinema of the time (Goldorak also returned to the game)? By a nostalgia and a carefreeness which is popular with players, in particular the forty-year-olds of whom these heroes made the sweet hours of childhood and the first cultural memories. A time also when things seemed easier in entertainment, where the subjects discussed at the time were not as dark as current issues (crisis, environment, climate, society, etc.). Everything seemed easy and the players also want to find this atmosphere again.
And the children of then have also become the parents of today, happy to share with their offspring what forged their cinematographic culture with a medium that makes it easier to transmit: video games. So the heroes and references multiply. If franchises like Star Wars are timeless because they were able to be created in a transgenerational way and thus speak to all ages, others will undoubtedly experience a comeback. Back to the future deserves a modern game – even if Telltale’s work was excellent.
What will I say about John McClane (Crystal Trap) who seems cut out to be a video game hero? His saga has sufficiently inspired stealth and action games for him to be entitled to his own quality story, like Indiana Jones today, spiritual father of Lara Croft (Tomb Raider) et Nathan Drake (Uncharted). Just like horror games (The Thing, Halloween, Friday the 13th, Night of the Living Dead and Claws of the Night) gave birth to a real genre of horror video games. Let them act quickly to remember the good memories of the players! The 90s are already knocking on the door of video games.
