SweetieGames

Adaptations of video games in TV series and films are more popular than ever before, with many studios choosing well beloved video games as source material for their next hit. Whether it be through animation like Illumination’s adaptation of Mario or through live action such as the film adaptation of Five Nights at Freddy’s, film and TV adaptations of games have been dominating our screens for a good few years now.

It’s no secret that these adaptations have varied in quality; I’ve had a friend tell me that the latest Five Nights at Freddy’s movie is the worst film she’s ever seen, but at the same time I know plenty of people who have barely played video games and are obsessed with the Fallout TV series. However, something that has been consistent throughout is fan reaction to video game adaptations. Plenty of people want zero variation in a character’s appearance, and they seem particularly picky when it comes to female characters. She can’t have a millimetre of peach fuzz, she must be as big busted as she is in her original game and she definitely has to be conventionally attractive. She must be as though she has jumped straight out of the 90s game she came from, with no room for change or interpretation by a new team. This is why I was shocked to see that people are still not happy with Sophie Turner’s Lara Croft for the new Amazon Prime series; in my eyes, she looks exactly like her! Not a single strand of hair or piece of costume is out of place! What were people expecting? Triangle boobs?!

Even American video game retailer GameStop jumped on this on Twitter, claiming that Sophie Turner “is not Lara Croft”. Myself and many others in the replies have no idea if they are being genuine or if they’re making a sarcastic jab at the exact kind of people I mentioned above, but there are also people in the replies who agree with the statement. They’re not clarifying what they want to see though; if you’re really unhappy with any film or TV adaptation of a video game character, nobody is making you watch it! Just play the game!

Unpopular opinion, but I’m not overly fussed about the look of characters in film adaptations. Of course, this has a limit; if that original live action Sonic was genuine, I would be concerned, but that’s only because his ugly look actually takes away from the film by being distracting. A lot of the time, these new designs, actors and costumes have been approved by the original game studio, and as a creative I love seeing different people’s takes on a beloved character! I really hope GameStop were making fun of those who are upset by the new Lara Croft; as long as the story is good, who cares? It’s an adaptation, it’ll never be exactly the same as experiencing the game.