Video Game Characters Inspired By Literature

Key Takeaways

Many popular video game characters, like Professor Layton , draw inspiration from literature, such as Sherlock Holmes.
Games like The Binding of Isaac and Bloodborne explore deep themes from their source material, like faith and cosmic horror.
Characters in games like The Sims 2 and The Lion King are modern twists on classic literary figures, preserving original plot themes.

As a literature enthusiast with a penchant for gaming, I find it quite fascinating to delve into these adaptations of classic literary figures. It’s intriguing to see how these characters, who were born from the vivid imaginations of authors like Shakespeare, Shelley, and Stoker, are reimagined in the digital realm, each time adapting to fit the unique gameplay mechanics and themes.

Discussions and critiques about turning popular video games into movies have become commonplace in gaming circles. The box office success of films like “Sonic The Hedgehog” and “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” has sparked debates among audiences regarding the merit of transforming game narratives and characters for the silver screen.

Video games have long embraced adaptation, a practice that dates back to the 1980s and games like “The Hobbit” on the ZX Spectrum. Even upcoming blockbusters such as “Black Myth: Wukong”, set for release in 2024, draw inspiration from literature. Moreover, it’s worth noting that numerous well-known video game characters trace their origins back to books, as this list demonstrates.

1. Professor Layton – The Professor Layton Series

An English Detective With Roots In London’s Baker Street

Nintendo’s Professor Layton series chronicles the escapades of Hershel Layton, a British detective, along with his assistant Luke. Together they embark on an intriguing journey filled with enigmas and brain-teasers in diverse settings. The games primarily revolve around storytelling, offering numerous puzzles for players to decipher as they progress towards the thrilling resolutions of each tale.

The team behind Layton’s character has openly acknowledged that they took substantial inspiration from the Sherlock Holmes book series by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Both characters are detectives, reside in London, and possess an air of refinement, echoing their gentlemanly demeanor.

2. Isaac – The Binding Of Isaac

Based On A Biblical Tale

In this rephrased version: “The Binding of Isaac” is a highly-acclaimed indie video game that draws significant inspiration from the biblical tale with the same title. Within the game, players assume control over Isaac – a young boy who seeks to flee his mother’s sinister intentions for a human sacrifice. This act is prompted by her claim of receiving a divine message instructing her to offer up her son as a sacrifice.

The game is deeply influenced by its content and presents motifs of belief, self-sacrifice, and endurance. It skillfully combines ominous, symbolic visuals with roguelike gameplay mechanics to produce a distinctive storyline that merges religion, mythology, and psychological terror. The Binding of Isaac offers an investigation into the unnerving influence of religious fervor and apprehension.

3. The Great Ones – Bloodborne

A Lovecraftian Creation

In the game Bloodborne, players come across the Great Ones – powerful, god-like entities whose presence greatly affects the world in a terrifying manner. These entities take much of their essence from the writings of H.P. Lovecraft, particularly his tale about Cthulhu, as initially published in the 1928 issue of “Weird Tales.

The unusual architecture of the Great Ones symbolizes a chilling cosmic unknown, highlighting human frailty when confronted with unfathomable powers – similar to the themes they inherit from their Lovecraftian influence. Furthermore, the Great Ones resonate with ideas of proscribed wisdom, madness, and profound fear about existence.

4. Geralt Of Rivia – The Witcher Series

Perhaps The Most Well-Known Adaptation

Geralt of Rivia serves as the complex, morally gray protagonist in “The Witcher” series, navigating a world where right and wrong aren’t always clear-cut. He questions conventional notions of good and evil, yet remains a central character. The character is deeply rooted in Andrzej Sapkowski’s book series, which shares the same name, and embodies many themes typical of dark fantasy literature, such as the brooding demeanor often associated with misunderstood characters.

The inspirations for Sapowski’s work are deeply rooted in the captivating tales of European folklore, with notable influences from writers like J.R.R. Tolkien and Michael Moorcock. Characters such as Geralt exhibit a similar complexity and moral ambiguity that can be found in characters crafted by all three authors.

5. Romeo Monty – The Sims 2

A Spin On A Shakespeare Classic

As Romeo Monty, a character in The Sims 2, I find myself echoing the passionate tale of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. In this digital world, I embody a contemporary and humorous take on the original play’s male lead. Just like my literary counterpart, I’m impulsive, full of passion, and find myself entangled in a clandestine love affair with the daughter of an adversary family.

In an innovative twist, The Sims 2 creatively adapts the timeless Shakespearean tale for modern times, preserving the core themes of love and familial strife. Yet, it also empowers gamers to influence Romeo’s destiny.

6. Juliette Cap – The Sims 2

Part Of A Not-So-Tragic Tale

Continuing from our last discussion, the character Juliette Capp in the video game The Sims 2 serves as a representation of Juliet in the game’s adaptation of William Shakespeare’s classic play, Romeo and Juliet. Similar to Romeo Montague, her persona carries over characteristics from the original story including a forbidden romance and strong-heartedness.

In The Sims 2, she is depicted as a young woman from an affluent family residing in suburban Veronaville instead of her traditional historical backdrop. This game offers players the opportunity to shape her destiny, possibly sparing her from the unfortunate fate that characterized her original portrayal.

7. Simba – The Lion King For SNES

Disney, But It’s From The 16th Century

Similar to how Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet draw inspiration from a classic Shakespearean tragedy, Simba from the video game “The Lion King” takes cues from “Hamlet”. Just as Hamlet seeks to avenge his father’s death while retaining his position as ruler, Simba endeavors to do the same within his own kingdom.

In this reimagining, both characters grapple with emotions like guilt, self-questioning, and the weight of fate. Yet, the playful atmosphere of the “Lion King” video game creates a colorful and lively animated landscape for these heavier storylines to unfold.

8. Ophelia – Elsinore

Providing A Fresh Perspective

Platform(s): Windows, macOS, Mac operating systems, Linux
Released: July 22, 2019
Developer(s): Golden Glitch Studios
Genre(s): Adventure

A fresh take on Hamlet appears as “Elsinore,” a 2019 indie game, where players get to embody Ophelia, Hamlet’s romantic interest from the classic tale. In Shakespeare’s original play, Ophelia is powerless against her tragic destiny and serves more like a tool in Hamlet’s narrative rather than having an active role of her own.

In Elsinore, she reclaims control of her storyline via the character played by an actor, thereby ensuring her survival becomes more significant than the initial plot of the play. This character is now capable of shaping events, maneuvering relationships, and making choices that reshape the story’s direction.

9. The Creature – Castlevania

A Classic Gothic Horror Figure

In the video game Castlevania, the character modeled after Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein takes on a more sinister, beastly form compared to the tragic character in the original novel. Unlike Shelley’s Monster who yearns for understanding and fights against his creator’s indifference, the creature in Castlevania is depicted as a more aggressive entity.

Although they differ in many aspects, both adaptations explore common themes such as abandonment, self-discovery, and the repercussions of bringing something into existence. The creature has been tailored to suit the game’s fast-paced gameplay and dark, monstrous aesthetic.

10. Dracula – Castlevania

Bram Stoker’s Iconic Creation

In the game “Castlevania”, the supernatural adversary, Dracula, is a modernized interpretation of the famous character from Bram Stoker’s novel “Dracula”. Unlike the original, who was a brooding aristocrat consumed by a desire for eternal life, Dracula in “Castlevania” is portrayed as a more dynamic and aggressive antagonist.

In Castlevania, Dracula undergoes an intricate redesign to align with its fast-paced, action-oriented gameplay while still maintaining the elements of mystical power and ties to the supernatural. The game underscores Dracula’s ruthlessness, dominance, and command over dark forces, thereby portraying him as a menacing figure within the gothic setting.

2024-12-03 15:34