Recently the new trailer for the stand-alone G.I. Joe Origins: Snake Eyes movie was released. The character is arguably one of the most popular from the G.I. Joe franchise and easily the most recognizable. While the silent ninja has been represented in toys, comics, films and animated series, he has never had a video game title all his own. However, Snake Eyes is perfect for his own title, and now is the best time to do so.
Snake Eyes is the most mysterious of the Joes. His background and name are all a secret from his teammates. All they know for certain is that he is a trained ninja and a skilled commando. The character has been a popular member of the franchise since the beginning, and he has several skills and characterizations that would work in most video game formats.
One of the most important parts of any video game is the gameplay and how it is used to keep the player entertained. Snake Eyes, as a character, comes with many skills and abilities that aid him in both battles and in traversing the world. First and foremost, he is a ninja, which gives him access to a number of bladed weapons and martial arts, as well as a whole host of stealth abilities. Having the option to engage enemies in either direct combat or from the shadows means that no two engagements are the same. Snake Eyes can also combine these skills with his firearm proficiency, enabling players to clear any situation.
G.I. Joe Origins: Snake Eyes indicates the studio plans to revitalize the franchise, and one of the best ways to do that is to work with as many different forms of media as possible. However, the history of movie tie-in games is not a good one, with the products often being rushed and poorly produced. Most often, these fail because they try too hard to follow the film's plot, which would not be necessary with Snake Eyes. The character is known to be something of a loose cannon with his team and has often left on his own adventures. The character has often gone rogue and has even come into conflict with the rest of the Joes. This history means that any game could be set at a completely different point in the character's life with little to no impact on any potential cinematic canon whilst being in the same universe. The general size of the main roster in G.I. Joe also means that other characters could be mentioned or introduced without intruding too much on any other plans the franchise might have.
G.I. Joe hasn't had the strongest history of video game adaptation due in part to trying to focus on the entire team rather than as streamlined stand-alone titles. However, with the spotlight on one of the more interesting characters, it seems like now is the perfect time to release a game that brings both the Joe spirit and taking lessons from the series lackluster attempts in the past. Hopefully, we get to hear something that lets players shout, "Go Joe!"