With Captain America: The Winter Solider burning up the box-office and the recent announcement of Batman: Arkham Knight sending video game fans running for the hype train, Kidzworld thought it would be fun to look back at our favorite superhero video games from over the years.
Did your favorite make the list? Read on to see our #1 pick.
10) The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction (PS2, Xbox)
The first and only truly fun video game based on the angry and green Incredible Hulk. Ultimate Destruction was what fans wanted. Finally, we could use The Hulk's incredible strength and agility to simply lay waste to the city surroundings. The army after you? No worries, just pick up some speed, running along a building and then HULK SMASH! Goodbye pesky enemies. The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction lived up to its name.
Hulk Smashes on Gamecube, PS2 and XboxCourtesy of Activision
9) LEGO Marvel Super Heroes (PS3, Xbox 360, PC and more)
TT Games churns out LEGO games at a constant rate these days, luckily, most of them are pretty good. Some are even great and LEGO Marvel Super Heroes easily one of the best. Featuring an original story and TT Games penchant for rib tickling charm, not to mention dozens upon dozens of content in the way of characters to unlock and secret items to discover, LEGO Marvel Superheroes stands out from the pack and is a must play for LEGO fans and Marvel fans alike. Read our LEGO Marvel Super Heroes Game Review here.
8) Viewtiful Joe (Gamecube, PS2)
Viewtiful Joe is a tough one to explain if unfamiliar with it. You play as a Joe, a young man who one day is watching a movie about his favorite superhero with his sweetheart, Silvia, when she is suddenly kidnapped. Not long after Joe is sucked into the movie world as well and is given a special arm band which can transform him into his own superhero persona. Joe uses his new found abilities, VFX Powers, to slow down or speed up time. Enabling him to conquer even the most hardened of baddies while solving a puzzle or two along the way. The action is fast, fun and unique with an incredible art-style to boot.
7) TMNT: Turtles In Time (Arcade, Snes)
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles almost didn't make the list as I often forget about them amidst all the cowls and capes...but I came to my senses. TMNT: Turtles In Time is considered by many to be one of best beat-em-ups of all time. Specifically the Arcade version stands out. Pumping quarters into the 4-player co-op action game at the local arcade, laying the smack-down on The Foot Clan as you jump through history was a gloriously good time. The Snes version held it's own but was understandably scaled back from it's arcade brother.
Still the best TMNT game out there.Courtesy of Konami
6) X-Men Origins: Wolverine (PS3, Xbox 360)
Not many people actually got their mitts on this often missed gem. But those that took a chance on it - after the disappointing movie - found a game that actually surpassed Wolverine's celluloid origin story on every level. Hugh Jackman reprised his role and provided VO for the game and for once, we actually got to feel like the true beast Wolverine is. The action was well realized and Wolverine's (Logan) shirt would even get torn up revealing cuts and bruises on his battled body. Solid writing, great action and pretty visuals make X-Men Origins: Wolverine deserving of a spot on this list.
Wolverine goes berserkerCourtesy of Activision
5) X-Men Arcade (Arcade)
Like Turtles In Time, there's something to be said about standing up at one of the old arcade cabinets with 4 of your friends. X-Men Arcade remains a classic for good reason. An excellent assortment of characters including Cyclops, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Storm and more are available to play and each has their own unique mutant powers that could clear a whole screen. It's not as deep as some other games on the list, but the pure and satisfying 2D beat-em-up action is second to none.
co-op beat-em-up action at its finestCourtesy of Konami
4) Ultimate Spider-Man (PS2, Xbox, PC)
I was so close to putting Spider-Man 2 in this spot, but I fought through the haze of nostalgia to name the genuinely better game, Ultimate Spider-Man. It was Treyarch's third Spider-Man game at this point and it improved on everything it's predecessors did. On top of ridiculously satisfying free-roam web slinging it features some fantastic cell-shaded graphics and comic book stylings making it one of the most visually impressive games of its era. And oh yeah, you get to play as venom in Ultimate Spider-Man...bonus points.
3) inFAMOUS 2 (PS3)
While not a superhero game in the sense that many would first think. InFAMOUS 2 is indeed a superhero game, albeit one that allows you take a darker, more vigilante approach to the proceedings if you so choose to. Fast and responsive gameplay, graphics that push the PS3 pretty hard and never fail to impress and one of the most satisfying endings to grace any game. InFAMOUS 2 is a must play.
InFAMOUS is action packedCourtesy of Sony
2) Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3, Xbox 360)
Batman has been lucky enough to appear in a few good games. Batman on NES was a great 2D action games and Batman: The Animated Series Videogame on Snes was also excellent. But Batman's presence in video games was taken to a fan drooling level when Rocksteady Studios unleashed Arkham Asylum on the world. Many people consider Arkham Asylum to be the better game over it's phenomenal sequel to this day. Inventive bosses, a world that opens up in a "Metroidvania" fashion and Scarecrow's insanity inducing levels all help to define Arkham Asylum. But best of all, we really got to experience Batman as the detective he truly is.
DC's greatest Detective, BatmanCourtesy of WB Games
1) Batman: Arkham City (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U)
How do you make a sequel to the best Batman game ever made? You blow it out, giving players more freedom, more gadgets, more Batman. Why Arkham City takes the crown over Asylum for me is that while Asylum made you feel like the detective Batman is, Arkham City truly let you experience Batman in the city wilds. Never before have I really felt like I WAS Batman. Sitting perched high atop a tall buildings gargoyle decoration as I peered down from the shadows. Picking my targets wisely. Gliding down through the buildings and tackling a group of enemies as I simultaneously throw a smoke bomb to obscure their vision. Taking on 12 or more thugs at once and then quickly grappling out of the area. The action and fighting mechanics are rock solid and never get old.
Batman Arkham Knight...The Best superhero game yetCourtesy of WB Games
With a sharply written script from Batman writer Paul Dini, Mark Hamil gives one of his best performances of Joker ever which also happens to be his last - unless he comes out of retirement again. Everything about Arkham City is first-rate. The writing, graphics, gameplay and soundtrack; It's all just drool worthy. If you have yet to play this epic game...do it, do it now. It's actually free on PSN Plus as of this writing too!
If you missed the debut trailer for Batman: Arkham Knight, check it out right here!
Honorable Mentions: Spider-Man 2 (PS2, Xbox), Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (Arcade), The Punisher (PS2, Xbox), DC Universe Online (PS3, PS4, PC), Marvel Ultimate Alliance (PS2, PS3, Xbox, Xbox 360)
And the worst Superhero game of all time...
Superman 64 (N64)
If you were unfortunate to get excited about this game back in the day, as I was, I feel your pain. Superman 64, a game many of us thought would finally allow us to experience the magnificent power of flight thanks to the power of the N64, was a bonafide disaster. Sloppy game design, horrible and bland missions and controls that left much to be desired rear their ugly head constantly in Superman 64. I leave you with a short video off what we here at Kidzworld are naming the worst superhero game ever! Even the first level is a drag...
Have Your Say!
Which is your favorite superhero video game? Let us know in the comments below!
