Marvel video games have come a long way since the early years when they were best known as side-scrolling beat 'em ups. Now, major studios have signed on to deliver fantastic AAA titles that not only perfectly capture the hero's essence but also add to the lore in new and exciting ways. One of the best examples of this is Marvel's Spider-Man, which firmly established itself as an important part of the character's canon. Since then, more heroes have gotten an equal chance in the spotlight.
One superhero that deserves the same treatment is Iron Man. While he hasn't had nearly as many solo games as Spider-Man, his entries since the 2008 movie tie-in have managed to give players an immersive experience, making them feel like the titular hero. In fact, one of the most immersive titles yet, Iron Man VR, literally lets players wear the suit and fly. With EA and Motive Studios announcing a new third-person, single-player experience, Iron Man games may finally provide the one crucial aspect they have lacked -- story.
Iron Man Games Have Been Short on Story
Like Spider-Man, Iron Man has a rich history of allies and enemies that have helped or hindered the armored Avenger through his worst moments. In fact, his stories may be even more diverse in supporting cast members than Spider-Man's ever were. Featuring heroes like Rescue and War Machine, and villains such as Crimson Dynamo and Spymaster, there's no shortage of unique characters that could have been explored in the past. However, each of his video game ventures has failed to deliver in terms of lore.
The Iron Man movie tie-ins, as well as his appearances in Marvel's Avengers and Iron Man VR all focused on well-known villains, with Iron Man still facing Iron Monger in his 2008 game and Ghost being the villain in the VR title. A single-player experience should allow players to explore more of the corporate enemies that Tony has faced, like the Hammer family. This would then open doors to other supervillains, like Detroit Steel or a new take on The Mandarin. With EA focusing more on the game's story, any of these additions would feel as organic as the Sinister Six in Marvel's Spider-Man.
EA's New Iron Man Game Will Give the Hero His Due
With the studio behind Dead Space involved in creating the new Iron Man title, there will hopefully be no shortage of interesting gameplay mechanics. For example, Iron Man could access even more weapons besides the standard missiles and repulsors, and may even offer levels of customization. With luck, the hero's flight may be the most advanced yet, as Motive Studios is no stranger to making their protagonists feel and act real.
Most importantly, each of the tools used in gameplay has an opportunity to be utilized in conjunction with the story, similar to how one of Spider-Man's suits tied into Octavius' betrayal. Essentially, the lore behind Tony Stark would further enhance gameplay that is likely not too dissimilar from what has come before. In the end, Iron Man may finally get the impactful narrative a complex character like him has deserved for years.