This Time-Bending Video Game Adaptation Has One Crucial Problem

"Between the success of movies like Sonic the Hedgehog and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, as well as television shows such as The Last of Us and Fallout, it's indisputable that we're in a Golden Age of video game adaptations. A far cry from the early days of half-recognizable IP brought to the big screen, studios are now constantly on the lookout for something with a built-in audience to capitalize on."

"Time-travel has been a cinematic predilection for decades now, and while video games have also dabbled in the concept of jumping back and forth between the past and present, what made Life is Strange feel so fresh is how the narrative actively confronts players with the ripple effects of their temporal meddling. When bad things happen, the blame falls partly on the players themselves."

Video game adaptations are experiencing unprecedented success with films like Sonic the Hedgehog and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and television series such as The Last of Us and Fallout. Studios actively seek established gaming franchises with built-in audiences. However, narrative decision-based games have largely been overlooked in adaptation, with Life is Strange being a notable exception. The 2015 graphic adventure game from Dontnod Entertainment is receiving an official Amazon Prime Studios adaptation. The series will follow two teenage girls navigating a time-traveling mystery in Arcadia Bay, Oregon. Life is Strange gained critical acclaim for its decision-based gameplay where players experience consequences of their choices, raising questions about the necessity of a live-action adaptation.

Read at Inverse