Reviving Nostalgia: Transforming Saturday Morning Cartoons into Epic Modern Games

Highlights

G.I. Joe deserves a new game and retro collection that honors the franchise like TMNT: Shredder's Revenge and TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection.

G.I. Joe has been neglected in recent games, as 2020's Operation Blackout failed to capture the essence of what fans adore about the franchise.

A strategic game with turn-based tactics, reminiscent of XCOM, would be an ideal match for G.I. Joe. It would allow players to fully immerse themselves in the distinct personalities of the characters and participate in managing their base. The success of Transformers: Battlegrounds has already demonstrated the potential of animated tactical games.

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Last year, TMNT: Shredder's Revenge was a wonderful addition to the expanding collection of modern beat 'em up games. It successfully captured the essence of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' iconic video game moments while paying tribute to the beloved 1987 animated series. Shortly after its release, fans were delighted with TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection. This anthology showcased the video game legacy of the Heroes in a Halfshell, accompanied by a meticulously curated digital museum that chronicled their multimedia empire. Considering other popular Saturday morning cartoons that deserve a similar treatment, it's difficult to argue against a new G.I. Joe game and retro collection that honors this franchise.

While the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Transformers have had recent games that effectively utilize genres that suit their respective intellectual properties and capture the essence of what makes each franchise special, G.I. Joe has unfortunately been neglected for the most part. The poorly received Operation Blackout, released in 2020, marked the first console game based on the animated version of the Real American Heroes in nearly three decades. However, it failed to capture the elements that fans adore about the franchise and its characters, delivering generic third-person shooting gameplay. If there's one genre that perfectly aligns with the legacy of G.I. Joe, it's turn-based tactics in the style of XCOM.

A G.I. Joe XCOM-Like Is a Perfect Match for the IP

When translating a licensed property into the realm of video games, it is crucial to carefully consider how well the intellectual property (IP) aligns with the intended gaming genre. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' video game legacy is often remembered with nostalgia, as they seamlessly fit into the beat 'em up genre, which perfectly complements the turtles' storyline. Conversely, G.I. Joe games have encountered challenges since the early nineties, primarily because they have mostly revolved around third-person action and shooting. While this may initially seem suitable for the military-themed franchise, it fails to fully embrace the franchise's most crucial element: its distinctive characters.

In addition to the unsuccessful release of Operation Blackout, 2020 brought forth G.I. Joe: War On Cobra, a now-defunct free-to-play mobile game that focused on base building and tower defense. Despite its mixed reception, this game marked a significant departure for the G.I. Joe property, as it explored a different genre aside from third-person shooting. It is now time for G.I. Joe to venture into the realm of turn-based tactics and strategy games, where players can engage in base management and development in between missions, much like in XCOM: Enemy Within and XCOM 2. Each unique character from the Joes and Cobra should be represented as swappable squad members, ensuring their individuality is highlighted.

Transformers: Battlegrounds Proved the Viability of Cartoon-Based Tactics

A tactics game featuring the Joes and Cobra, similar to Transformers: Battlegrounds, already exists as precedent. While not as extensive as the Firaxis XCOM titles, Battlegrounds captures the essence of the Transformers franchise with its iconic Autobots and Decepticons. Controlling beloved heroes and villains with unique abilities allows fans to relive their childhood battles in a digital form, creating an enjoyable experience. Given that another Hasbro property already has a successful turn-based tactics game, it makes sense for a developer to explore the same genre with the G.I. Joe franchise. Capitalizing on nostalgia, a popular trend among studios, is crucial. TMNT: Shredder's Revenge further demonstrates that licensed games can excel when developers understand what fans appreciate about the IP. Ultimately, knowing the essence of the franchise is key.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge is available now on Mobile, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.