#2. Deadpool - Deadpool
Originally a fringe character in the Marvel Universe, Wade Wilson a.k.a. Deadpool was created by artist Rob Liefeld and writer Fabian Nicieza as an action-comedy spoof of the angst-ridden anti-hero comic books of the early 1990s. Deadpool, the “Merc With A Mouth” is a gun-for-hire, and a survivor of the Weapon X program; the same program that gave Wolverine his regenerative capabilities. Suffering cancer, Wade Wilson underwent the experimental procedure but instead of curing him of his illness, the cancerous cells spread rapidly, taking over his body and disfiguring him in the process. Since his brain cells are constantly healing from the various forms of head trauma he has suffered, Deadpool suffers from severe dementia, with no fewer than two voices speaking to him at any given time.
Deadpool has recently been thrust into the Marvel spotlight, with the wisecracking assassin appearing in more crossover titles than we can list. He’s been featured as either a playable character or boss in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, and has been announced as a fighter in the upcoming Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds. The popularity is easy to understand: Deadpool is crazy, talks to himself, constantly breaks the fourth wall between he and the reader, can kick serious butt, and is legitimately funny. What’s not to like?
He is the video game lead that some development teams spend years trying to construct: a pop-culture-referencing, smart-ass, sword-wielding, gun-toting mercenary. So any Deadpool game would be worth playing. But we don’t want to see a goofy Deadpool, with PG-humor and gameshow-host monologuing. We’re talking about the real Deadpool. You see, Deadpool is the “Merc with a Mouth” and Merc comes first. He was a ruthless assassin before Weapon X, and his skills are as gruesome and honed as you can imagine. We would never want to know anyone even remotely like Wade Wilson, but we would definitely love to play as him.
Why We Need a Deadpool Video Game:
Aside from the sheer awesomeness that a sword and gun-fueled Wet-style action game would give us, it would also break new ground in mature-rated games. Until now, “mature humor” in gaming generally refers to comedic games with a notably immature sense of humor. Much of the levity in “mature” games like Grand Theft Auto begins and ends with jokes and content that seems written more for 12 year-old boys than grown adults, but the genuine humor that is a hallmark of Deadpool would change that.
With games like Shank, Dead Rising, and Deadliest Warrior, it’s clear that players want more titles that offer violent gameplay with a strong sense of humour. Major game studios are more than happy to oblige, with Gears of War developer Epic Games moving from the gritty world of Gears to the over-the-top kill-fest that is Bulletstorm.
Deadpool would have the ability to provide a distinctly adult experience due to the graphic nature of his profession, but with a type of comedy that is intelligent, witty and fun, rather than lewd or immature. Not to mention all the swords and guns. Throw in a co-op element that features Deadpool’s half-cybernetic and telekinetic powerhouse Cable, and that right there is a recipe for success.
With a Deadpool movie currently in the process of getting off the ground, there is a good chance that we’ll see a Deadpool game at some point. Hopefully the Ryan-Reynolds’-headed production will stay true enough to the comic roots that the game will do the same, but most gamers don’t need to be reminded that most movie-to-game transitions result in a less than fantastic result. Even with the announcement of Captain America: Super Soldier, skeptics are already doubting the end-game will be anything more than lackluster. Still, we can hope.
So we have finally arrived at the character many of you were waiting for, but one spot still remains. What comic book or character could be capable of making the previous entries on our list take a backseat? The answer will be revealed tomorrow when we unlock the door, and take a good look at the comic book that is most deserving of its own title. Now – where did we leave that key?…
