“Red’s Top 7 Favorite Superhero Games”
5 min read
So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.
-Christopher Reeve
Do you know how long I brainstormed to try to come up with a header image that wasn’t DC or Marvel? Of course, there are plenty of other non-DC, non-Marvel comics and superheroes but Batman and Spider-Man were both my firsts. I read a lot of Marvel comics up till about 2000 and then after that, I became a die-hard DC comics fan. Emphasis on the die-hard. It’s not easy explaining why I love DC (because of the comics) in an age when people barely read for pleasure anymore and a bunch of horribly directed film adaptations in a miscast, studio-crashed shared universe is all the mainstream thinks about. Films matter for public opinion of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, so I hope they get their act together, but for now, I need a tattoo on my forehead that says “the book was better”.
Guess I still had to get that off my chest. Up, up, and awaaaaaay~!
#7. DC Universe Online
Speaking of “the book was better”… DC Universe Online was a free-to-play guilty pleasure MMORPG I got sucked into for a length of time, dragging the Black Humor Mage behind me kicking and screaming. I became obsessed with re-creating iconic DC villains and heroes with the game’s character creator, and I even ran my own guild for iconic villains called Rogues Gallery, led by my Gentleman Ghost and Mister Mxyzptlk. I had created a guild after the previous one I was in began treating its members like they were in military camp (so I stole everything from their treasure as my Black Manta character and left the group, prompting an inside joke of mine: “Manta took everything“; but don’t worry I did give it all back later).
After getting bored with the endless grind for gear and being harassed by someone who kept trying to get into my guild, who threatened to kill themselves if I didn’t let them in (true story), and being harassed by someone else who grew fanatical with creating a rival guild of their own and stealing my characters, I decided enough was enough and I’d never play another MMO again.
#6. Batman: Return of the Joker
One of my very first superhero video games, Return of the Joker has never stopped haunting me with its catchy, percussive music. I mean, that stage one track is incredible and so quintessentially NES. This is one 8-bit superhero adventure that is not to be missed for retro gaming fans.
#6. Earthworm Jim
One of the silliest games I’ve ever played, Earthworm Jim is the unlikeliest superhero: a simple earthworm that lucked into inheriting an ultra-powerful cybernetic super suit, which led to many an adventure across the galaxy fighting off a professor with a monkey for a head, a cat that’s the embodiment of evil, and the Queen Pulsating Bloated Festering Sweaty Puss-filled Malformed Slug-for-a-Butt. Beyond classic and a groovy personal favorite. Earthworm Jim for Smash.
#4. Batman: Arkham Knight
“This is how it ends. This is how the Batman dies.” Rocksteady’s final take on the Dark Knight is a swansong to the character and the grim universe they crafted for him, what seemed like a fitting farewell to the DCAU Batman (Conroy) and Joker (Hamill). I’ll be the first to point out the failures of Knight to match the specific triumphs of its predecessors, such as the narrative focus or the boss fights of the previous entries, and the extreme over-reliance on the Batmobile was a real drain on the gameplay itself but boy does the fat lady sing.
#3. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time
Yes, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are superheroes! They even teamed up with Batman for an epic crossover.
I haven’t played every TMNT game but Turtles in Time is easily my favorite, plus I wanted to get a beat ’em up representative on my Top 7. There’s nothing quite as zen as a side-scrolling brawler and couch co-op is a distinctly enjoyable gameplay experience. Turtles in Time is fondly remembered and for good reason. It’s smooth and full of a variety of settings and bosses.
#2. Marvel vs Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes
Not just one of my favorite superhero games, but one of my favorite fighting games of all-time, Marvel vs Capcom 2 impressed me years ago in the theaters and became a lifelong joy for me. It may be one of the most played PS2 games I own. Mega Man, Tron, and Servbot (or Bone Wolverine) were my team! Who were your favorite characters?
#1. Batman: Arkham Asylum
Tada! This is my favorite superhero video game, by a long shot! Even in the context of the Arkham series, Asylum had amazing narrative focus and emphasis on the classic Batman supervillains (and their reinterpretations). Its mechanical precision with the free flow combat encapsulates Batman’s martial prowess, and his detective skills and gadgets are all here, too. Asylum managed to feel like a classic Batman story while still establishing a reasonable foundation for a distinct universe of its own, one based on but separate from the comics with enough changes to the status quo to prevent it from being predictable from start to finish.
Asylum’s claustrophobia and tension were later lost with the rest of the Arkham series as the open-world format set in. It’s truly a special game.
GUESS TOMORROW’S #1
All that’s left is to prompt you to guess tomorrow’s #1 pick! Tomorrow’s Top 7 list will be… my 7 favorite video game towns! It’s towns, cities, suburbs, villages, hamlets… any place where people live, featured in video games. Pretty self-explanatory.
Let me know what you think my #1 top favorite video game town is in the comments below TODAY! Remember to leave your name or username so I know who you are! Link to your Twitter or blog if you want to. Follow the event on Twitter with #TWRM7top7.
I’ll reveal my Top 7 favorite video game towns in a post on this site tomorrow at 8am Pacific (Monday), so come back and discover the truth! OR you can poke around and see if you can pick up any clues… or review the rules.
Good luck and happy cash-grabbing! We are halfway through this giveaway!
Red formerly ran The Well-Red Mage and now serves The Pixels as founder, writer, editor, and podcaster. He has undertaken a seemingly endless crusade to talk about the games themselves in the midst of a culture obsessed with the latest controversy, scandal, and news cycle about harassment, toxicity, and negativity. Pick out his feathered cap on Twitter @thewellredmage, Mage Cast, or Story Mode.
I am not surprised at all with Number One. Good choice.
I’m going to guess Truce.
Between the Millenial Fair, the layout, and the gorgeous scenery, I can’t imagine it not being your favorite.
Wow, this next one’s a toughie!! I think Chrono Trigger’s been waiting to sneak on more lists, so I guess I’ll go with Zeal.
Um… a town in Chrono Trigger! Vague answer is vague, haha. I’m seriously going to play Chrono Trigger soon. Probably after I’m done with the MGS series 🙂
I’m gonna guess Choras. Mostly through the magical power of random selection :p
Seeing how this is The Well Red-Mage I’m rolling with Melmond. The town from the original installment of the long running Final Fantasy series.
Uff, there are so many good towns…
My feeling tells me to look at the Final Fantasy series… so…
Wild guess, Edgar’s Castle/Figaro Castle in FF VI?
Gonna have to say Zeal Palace. Just cuz that place was the place of awesomeness.
My twitter is @bathenon.
I am surprised there were no Spiderman games for the PlayStation 2. I thought those games were very popular and I remember that the Spiderman 2 game was quite innovative.
I am guessing that your favourite town is Guardia from Chrono Trigger.
I liked Ultimate Spider-Man alright and it’d probably be in my top 20. I also wanted to mention the game “Spider-Man” on SNES that was based on the animated series on Fox from the 90s but I didn’t have the room.
Thanks for guessing!
Truce
Great list. I love that Turtles in Time is mentioned. And I had no idea you were the leader of Rogues Gallery! I was in that guild :). Sucks how things ended for you though. I always thought Arkham Knight got too much hate. I really liked it. And I totally knew your number 1 pick :).
Funny thing is I’m working on a top 10 superhero list too :).
You were in Rogue Gallery?! Wait whaaaaat? Who were you?
You’re testing my memory dude! I don’t remember my old toon :(. It’s been years since I last played, but I remember the guild name and I remember playing with my batman wannabe hero :).
Yeah I stopped playing riiiight before starting TWRM, and actually the experience in that MMO what with trolls and admittedly my own poor behavior was an influence in trying to build TWRM on civil discourse. So apologies if I slighted you somehow there! I was a different Gentleman Ghost than I am now lol! If you remember your character, let me know!
I wasn’t much better in my youth :). I’m sure both of us were very different people during our time in DC Universe. I’ll definitely let you know if it ever comes back to me!
Truce @protoavi
The Kingdom of Zeal.
Technically a town, it’s small enough in the game to be classified as one.
I hope this counts. xD
It counts! Good luck!
I guessing medgar. (Though two other towns come to mind, Hint for one of them, “Here lies link’.
I gotta guess your’s now?! Hahaha uhm… is it Elftown from FF1? I think it was in that game.
Elfheim is correct, you are spot on. Took me a moment to remember the name. (Felt like a humble turning point in the game, contained humor pointed at the “then almost uncontested” zelda series, and contained more than one level worth of spells and items so it felt like a comfterble, albeit expensive, place to stop and grow). Was there a version of this that poked fun at dragon warrior too by chance? (Edrick?).
Yes! That’s #2! Favorite town? Oh, God. IDK, Onett?
I can hear the music… that’s a decent sign!
I’m not gonna be too technical with the definition but basically not counting dungeons. I’d count Gold Saucer, though! Sure!
Yay!
For towns, I’m going to go for the best town: Lavender Town…
OOOooooh! Spooky!
Forrrrr my guess next it’s gonna be…. Midgar from FF7!
I can hear a whole bunch of music in my head from Midgar right now!
Same, just The Turks theme over and over again
For some reason, the 1st song I always hear is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgvXCg1e_T8
It won’t let me see the link 😂
Aww well it’s “The Oppressed”
That is a damn good track
Hmmm…I’m honestly not sure if I’ve ever played a superhero game before. I own Arkham Asylum and Arkham City, so I could change that pretty quickly.
I recommend Arkham Asylum, of course! 🙂