Summary
Video games have been a bridge for people all across the world. No matter what nationality one is, play is a universal language, and thanks to the internet, individuals in different time zones can log on and go a round in some of their favorite titles.
Thanks to the interconnected world we live in, video games often depict the mingling of cultures and nationalities in various forms. This is especially true when they integrate Western and Eastern ideals, creating something with a unique identity. Many beloved and obscure titles encapsulate this artistic exchange.
Power Rangers: Battle for the Gridmay appear to be just another licensed title, but it is a surprisingly solid and fun fighting game. Heroes and villains fromacross thePower Rangersuniversecompete with a range of weapons and abilities. Some Rangers can even summon their Zords to deal some serious damage.
While Power Rangers is an American brand, it is based off of Japan’sSuper Sentaiseries, an iteration of the tokusatsu genre of film and television. Saban Brands used footage of the fight scenes from Super Sentai and filmed their own stories with American actors, creating heroes that generations of Western kids would idolize.
Writers and artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird created theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesas a loving parody of Marvel’s Daredevil comics. Their first independent issue would spawn a media empire, comprised of TV shows, movies, toys, and video games. The latter includesTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, which takes the classic beat-em-up action of the original arcade games and adds modern features, including an expanded cast of characters such asSamurai rabbit Miyamoto Usagiin additional DLC.
TheTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesare the very incarnation of East meets West. The Turtles live in the sewers of New York City, were trained in the martial arts by their sensei, Splinter, and enjoy greasy slices of pizza. Also, their nemesis is a ruthless warrior in Samurai armor, who shows the Turtles no mercy.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimateis Nintendo’s flagship arena fighting game for the Nintendo Switch. It takes some of Nintendo’s most beloved icons and pits them against each other in frantic battles filled with unique set pieces and entertaining power-ups.
These elements draw from acrossthe greater history of video games, both East and West. Thanks to its DLC, heroes from titles made by Japanese developers can clash with Steve fromMinecraft, made by Swedish developer Markus “Notch” Persson. Additional content also includes Mii Fighter costumes from iconic indie projects such asCuphead, as well as armor from id Software’sDoomfranchise. Seeing these characters and iconography from wildly different corners of the world is an epic fever dream.
The originalKingdom Heartsfollowsadolescent Sora, who, along with his friends Riku and Kairi, yearns to explore worlds beyond his home on Destiny Island. When dark forces swallow his home and separate him from his friends, he must team up with unlikely allies Donald Duck and Goofy to find them and restore order to the universe.
Kingdom Heartsbrings some of Disney’s most iconic characters together with Square Enix’s most memorable RPG heroes. Players get to see Donald and Goofy talking toFinal Fantasy 7’s Aerith and Yuffie, as well as Sora squaring offFinal Fantasy 8’s Squall Leonhart. The Coliseum area, which is based on Disney’sHercules,also includes a bonus boss battle against infamous Final Fantasy villain Sephiroth.
Afro Samurai: The Video Gameis a 3D brawler starring Afro, a young samurai warrior wearing a legendary headband that is said to grant its wearer extraordinary powers. The stoic samurai embarks on a journey to avenge the death of his father, who once wore the headband himself.
The game is based onthe animeinspired by manga creator Takashi Okazaki’s work. HisAfro Samuraimanga was influenced by hip-hop and soul in the West, including the American television showSoul Train.This influence can be seen in the video game, with a soundtrack boasting a beatbox vibe. The voice work of national treasure Samuel L. Jackson also helps.
At first glance,Red Steel 2does notlook like a sequelto the more visually realistic Yakuza-centered Wii launch titleRed Steel. Boasting a slick, cel-shaded art style and light steampunk influences,Red Steel 2continues the first game’s philosophy of east-meets-west. It throws a lone samurai gunslinger into a Western town whose architecture looks like something out of a Japanese village.
Red Steel 2expertly blends melee and gunplay. It uses a classic revolver and other guns for long-range attacks and hard-to-reach targets, as well as a katana for slicing foes. Thanks to the pointer and motion controls of the Nintendo Wii, combined with the Motion Plus add-on,Red Steel 2provides an engaging experience juggling the two combat styles.
In another entry to the list of games to whichfans demand a sequelthat likely won’t happen,Sleeping Dogsfollows hard-boiled undercover detective Wei Shen as he infiltrates the gangs of Hong Kong, working to earn their trust. His adventure will take him through the vibrant streets of the city, and he will have to fight foes with a mix of violent gunplay and martial arts skills.
Driving through Hong Kong in video game form provides a portrait of a Chinese-influenced city that was once a British colony. It features dingy city streets, a beautiful Temple, and activities ranging from races to Karaoke. Wei can also stop by the local pork bun stands and grab a bite. A man who never eats pork buns is never a whole man.
