What I look for in movie games...

I've been playing the new Star Wars III game and having a blast with it... The reviews have been a bit harsh on it and I agree. So why am I having so much fun with it? Because I like Star Wars, and anything that lets me be a part of that universe is great.

It has gotten me thinking about the whole game / movie tie in thing. Yes there have been terrible games based on movie franchises and there always will be. I remember when I first played the Matrix game that was released with the third movie, it was horrible. Horrible when compared with Max Payne and others I was playing at the time on my PC. Fast forward to 2005 and me purchasing it again for $7 for the PS2. Great game!

I had recently sat down for a weekend of Matrix-cide :) Follow that up with some good mindless wall running and bullet time on the console and you have nirvana. Same with Revenge of the Sith console game, regardless of how unrevolutionary the gameplay is, I am still playing as Anakin on the cusp of becoming Darth Vader! There's a story there and I'm pumped for the movie.

Reviewers should highlight gameplay elements of a game, after all they are reviewing a game first and foremost. But I would like to see them get a little into the experience. Does the game introduce new a new plot or experience to the movie franchise? After my experience with Sith for PS2 I would say the game is excellent on a whole, same with the Lord of the Rings Return of the King and Matrix game.

I really enjoyed feeling a part of and interacting with these movie games. Defending Helms Deep was awesome, was the gameplay new or revolutionary? No... Seeing why Anakin becomes Darth Vader is very cool. From now on I will look at these games as interactive movies, instead of games. Categorizing them as games is a disservice, its an experience.