Introduction
Video games have become a part of people’s lives. It is so much more than just something for children or entertainment for teens. Adults play video games too and many people enjoy playing video games on their cell phones, computers, or game consoles.
Nowadays there are some video games that include live-action elements, but did you know that there are actual Broadway shows based on some of the most famous video games? That is right! There are actually a few Broadway shows based on popular and well-known video games. If you played any of these classic arcade and console titles growing up then I am sure that you will have fond memories of them playing them as kids.
Here is our list of 10 Video Games that Made Their Way to Broadway!
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong was a game released by Nintendo in 1981. It was the first video game to feature Mario, who had yet to be given his name in this stage of his career. Donkey Kong was a popular arcade game, and it’s been ported to several different consoles since then, including the Wii and the Wii U.
The plot of Donkey Kong involves a gorilla named King Kong climbing up ladders and throwing barrels at you (you’re an office worker who has wandered into his environment). The object of the game is for you, as this office worker turned uninvited guest at King Kong’s castle/jail cell/snake pit/hotel room under construction site/etc., to get from one side of each level to another without getting crushed by falling barrels or hit by fireballs from exploding cannons or eaten by ravenous crocodiles (or any combination thereof).
The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda is an action-adventure video game series created by Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. The main series (consisting of the games for home consoles) are developed and published by Nintendo, with some spin-off titles in development by other companies. The award-winning[1] game has spawned many sequels, prequels, and a series of action figures as well as a TV cartoon show that ran from 1989 to 1990 on CBS.[2]
The Legend of Zelda centers on Link, the playable character and chief protagonist. Link is often given the task of rescuing Princess Zelda or the Kingdom of Hyrule from Ganon, who has stolen the Triforce,[3] a sacred relic containing three golden triangles representing Power, Wisdom and Courage.[4] When playing as him in these games one can find various items such as swords to attack with or shields to defend himself with; bows to shoot arrows at enemies; boomerangs which can be thrown far distances etc., all while fighting villains like Ganon who want nothing more than destruction!
Pac-Man
Pac-Man was released in 1980 and became the first video game to be licensed for use in a movie. In 1982, Pac-Man Fever was released, making it the first video game to be adapted to a Broadway stage. It was also the first game to have been translated into foreign languages other than English, with versions available in German and Spanish (the latter being dubbed as “Paku Man”).
In 2009, Pac-Man: The Musical opened at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles’ Downtown district. Set during Christmas time with Pac-Man as Santa Claus, it tells his story of becoming disillusioned with life after finding out that eating ghosts does not make him happy like he thought it would after 30 years on this earth.
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. was a popular video game in the 80s and made its way to Broadway in 1993, produced by the same people who brought us The Lion King. In fact, some of the music from The Lion King was used for this production as well!
The story takes place in a parallel universe where Earth has been destroyed by aliens and replaced with another planet called Dinohattan (previously known as Dinosaur Land). Mario and Luigi are living in New York City but are suddenly called back home by their father who tells them that they must travel through time to save their home world of Dinosaur Land from destruction at the hands of Koopa (the evil king). Along with Princess Toadstool and Yoshi, they set off on an epic adventure through time where they meet all kinds of allies – including dinosaurs! You’ll see all sorts of familiar faces along your journey: Wario, Waluigi and Goombas!
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog is a video game franchise created and produced by Sega. The franchise centers on a series of speed-based platform games. The first Sonic game was released in 1991, to provide a rival for Nintendo’s mascot, Mario.
The series centers on Sonic the Hedgehog and his friends who battle against the evil Dr. Ivo Robotnik (also known as Dr. Eggman), who has imprisoned animals in robots which he uses as slaves. He plans to destroy Station Square with his Death Egg Robot and turn it into his own empire called Eggmanland where he can rule over everyone as king (or dictator).
Pokémon
As one of the most popular video game franchises in history, Pokémon has had no shortage of spin-offs in other media and merchandising. In fact, this series has been so successful that it’s been adapted for live-action performances several times over the years.
In 2019 alone there were three Pokémon musicals running simultaneously across Japan (two based on the video games and one based on the anime series), with another currently slated for 2020. The first adaptation was simply titled Pokémon Live! It premiered at Tokyo Dome City Hall from January 31 through February 2nd 2001 before moving onto Osaka’s Sunshine Theater from February 8th through February 10th 2001 and Fukuoka’s Oita Prefectural Art Museum Hall from February 14 through 17th 2001. After this initial run ended its tour continued with stops including Nagoya Civic Auditorium (from March 9th through 11th), Hiroshima Sun Plaza (from March 15th through 17th), Hamamatsu Bunka Kaikan Dai Hall (April 5th through 8th), Yokohama Arena (April 12 & 13) and Tokyo Budokan Hall (May 3rd).
Tetris
The history of Tetris, a puzzle game developed in 1984 by Alexey Pajitnov, is a surprising one. In fact, it’s one of the most unlikely success stories in video game history.
The first version of this popular Russian tile-matching puzzle game appeared for the Elektronika 60 computer—a Soviet-era device that was only released in limited numbers. Despite this setback, word about Tetris spread and soon reached Western markets through media outlets like Radio Free Europe (which was broadcast into Communist countries) and personal computers like Commodore 64s sold in the United States.
The game didn’t catch on immediately outside its native country; indeed, there were many who doubted its appeal to international audiences due to its roots within Soviet culture—and not all of them were wrong! But after being purchased by Sega (in 1989), reworked with bright colors and catchy music by composer Hirokazu Tanaka (who would go on become famous for his work on numerous other famous games), released under their new name Taito Corporation International Ltd., renamed “Tetris” and sold via Nintendo’s Game Boy portable gaming device worldwide…well…you know what happened next:
Street Fighter II
Street Fighter II is a fighting game that was released in 1991. It was developed by Capcom and published by Capcom USA, with assistance from distributors such as Romstar in North America and Ariolasoft in Europe. The game was designed to be an update of its 1989 predecessor Street Fighter but also included characters from a later arcade title called Street Fighter ’89: Champion Edition. The updated version became so popular that it made its way to the stage of Broadway!
It’s important to note that this isn’t just any video game—it’s one of the most popular arcade games ever created, with over 200 million units sold worldwide (as stated on Wikipedia). Even though it’s been nearly 30 years since its debut, it still remains relevant today due to its memorable characters, like Ryu and Chun-Li (a fierce karate fighter who wears blue jeans). Additionally, you might recognize these names because they’ve appeared in other games as well (such as Super Smash Bros.)
Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon
If you were a kid in the 1990s, you probably remember Mystical Ninja starring Goemon. It was released by Konami in 1996 for the Super Famicom. The game follows Goemon as he travels through feudal Japan to stop an evil warlord from taking over Japan.
The story is told with gorgeous hand-drawn art and animation that features some of the most impressive visuals in any video game released at that time—and it’s still impressive today!
Metal Gear Solid
Metal Gear Solid is a stealth action video game developed by Konami. It was originally released for the PlayStation in 1998, and ported to the PC in 1999. The game has been ported to other consoles as well. For example, it was ported to the Nintendo GameCube in 2003.
We’re going to talk about some of these games that made their way onto Broadway:
Some video games are adapted to Broadway and make it to the stage.
Some video games are adapted to Broadway and make it to the stage.
For example, “Dance Dance Revolution” is a popular game that was adapted into a musical. The game involves dancing with arrows on the screen that correspond with steps you have to follow. It has been performed in theaters all over the world, including in Los Angeles and New York City’s Madison Square Garden theater.
Another video-game adaptation that made its way onto Broadway is “Pokémon: The Musical.” The Pokémon franchise was created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1995 as an RPG series where players capture creatures called Pokémon and use them in battles against other trainers; it has since expanded into several other genres such as card games, collectible trading cards and more. This musical tells the story of Ash Ketchum (the protagonist) who travels around with his friends trying to collect all 150 original Pokémon while battling Team Rocket—the villains who aim to steal Pikachu (Ash’s starter Pokémon).
Conclusion
As you can see, video game adaptations can be a lot of fun. Even if a game isn’t adapted to Broadway, there are still plenty of other ways that it can be turned into another form of entertainment. So don’t let the fact that some video games have been adapted for Broadway keep you from enjoying your favorite games!
