Top 5 Franchise Crossover Fantasies

The best thing about the Super Smash Brothers franchise is that it finally settled the age old question, “Who would win in a fight, __ or __?” Well, maybe it didn’t settle the question but it sure gave us the opportunity to make a case for our favorite hero. Video game crossovers are a guilty pleasure for most gamers, and why shouldn’t they be? Is there something wrong with sticking Yoda in a Soul Calibur game or pitting Sub-Zero against Batman? Crossovers are great, but they shouldn’t be limited to fighting games. Here are my top five video games that should arrange a play date.

5) Tomb Raider and Uncharted

This seems like a dream come true. Imagine Drake battling through an Aztec temple when a bold heroine comes blazing through to help him in a jam. Sure, Drake has his own female sidekick, but would it be epic to throw Lara Croft into the mix? Take what Naughty Dog has done to advance the genre and give them the legendary Lara Croft to play with! Lara is in desperate need of a reboot anyway, so sticking her next to Drake with the help of Naughty Dog’s story writers might be just what she needs to finally rise from the abyss.

4) Dead Space and Aliens

EA Redwood did a wonderful job scaring my socks off with Dead Space. However mutated, fleshy… whatevers… can only terrify you for so long. The problem is that in all of their gory, disgusting looking glory, they were just a little too unreal. Now, if you were to end up stranded on a mining ship full of Hollywood’s most terrifying extraterrestrials, THEN you would have something to jump at! Aliens would be fun as hell to dismember because of the whole acid-blood thing. Plus, they are dark skinned, so when they attacked all you would see is the shimmering light off their skin. Careful though, you would definitely still need to keep an eye on the vents…

3) Grand Turismo and Burnout

This would be a combination of the two complete extremes in racing games. Grand Turismo is arguably the most beautiful racing game on the market, featuring hundreds of licensed car brands and an incredible sense of realism. In sharp contrast, Burnout has some of the most spectacular vehicular destruction since the invention of the monster truck. Combine the best of both worlds and you would have the most comprehensive racing game ever devised. The only thing that could make it better would be the ability to throw green turtle shells at other racers…

2) Assassin’s Creed and Hitman

Taking elements from two of the best silent assassin games in history could create the perfect blend for Altaïr’s (or at least, his decedent’s) second video game appearance. Since Assassin’s Creed takes place a tad into the future, the stretch wouldn’t even necessarily be that extreme. Given 47’s ability to steal disguises, hide weapons, and most importantly and wield a silenced pistol, Altaïr would make a formidable opponent. Imagine strapping a sniper rifle on the back of a guy who can climb buildings like a spider monkey! Meeting the fabled 47 might be a stretch, but getting a little help from “The Agency” might be fun addition to the lore.

1) Starfox 64 and Star Wars: Rouge Squadron

No, I am not saying that Fox McCloud should Join Luke Skywalker in the battle against the Empire. Instead we should take Fox off of the rail shooter and put him in the same open 3D world made the Rouge Squadron franchise successful. This would also give us an opportunity to introduce more then just three of Fox’s buddies into the fray. A combination like this could save the Starfox series from a case of death by platformer. Of course, hearing Slippy Toad bitch and moan about enemies trailing him in a fully 3D environment might end up compounding our irritation.

Honorable Mentions

Guitar Hero and Headphones- Your neighbors would love this

Alan Wake and Duke Nukem: Forever- Why the hell not? Neither game is ever going to see the light of day anyway…

Dynasty Warriors and a multi-year development cycle- Maybe working on the game TWO years in a row might make it worth playing!

Turok and Pokemon- Turok: Pokemon Hunter… Just think about that for a minute.

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