Back in 2007 we saw the Transformers movie become a major Hollywood property as it racked up over $700 million worldwide.  The movie was accompanied by a video game for just about every platform out there, and while the games weren’t blockbusters on the same scale as the film, they still sold over 2 million copies combined.  This year will mark the launch of the GI Joe movie, which will more than likely make hundreds of million of dollars despite including Marlon Wayans in its cast, and EA has already confirmed that a GI Joe game will also be coming in 2009.  Take into account the upcoming Ghostbusters game and the seemingly never-ending popularity of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the fascination with and nostalgia over toys of the eighties has never been higher than it is now. There are still a few properties that have yet to be brought into the modern era.  Masters of the Universe and Thundercats are the most obvious choices for movie and game translation, but even more than these (which will likely be subjects for future editions of “How Have They Not Made This Game Yet?”), there’s one staple of my childhood that needs to be re-envisioned for the big and little screens; Voltron.

For those unfamiliar with Voltron, it was a toy line and animated series that followed the space-faring adventures of two different sets of futuristic vehicles.  First was the classic team of five young pilots who controlled powerful lion-themed mechs that could combine to form the mighty Lion Voltron (also known as Voltron of the Far Universe).  The second, less famous of the two was a team of 15 pilots who could combine their vehicles into one enormous robot, known as Vehicle Voltron (or Voltron of the Near Universe).  The show only ran from 1984 to 1986, but heavily influenced the popularity of other mech-themed properties in America, such as Robotech, Macross, and Neon Genesis Evangelion.

So how would the Voltron game work?  The bulk of the gameplay would take place with players controlling their mech from a third-person perspective.  Whether on land, sea, air, or in space, controls would remain the same, and each vehicle would have its own unique attacks.  For example, the red lion would be able to weaken opponents’ shields with a powerful flamethrower, while Vehicle Voltron’s sea-based crafts would be able to slow enemy movements with a deluge attack.  In a multiplayer environment, all 19 vehicles would be on the playing field at the same time, either cooperatively or competitively, creating the feeling of an epic conflict on an alien planet.  In cooperative mode, both robot teams would battle the Robeast forces of the evil Prince Zarkon, vying for control points and enemy kills.  In competitive mode, battles would take the form of 5-on-15 deathmatches where the five mighty lions would take on the fifteen less powerful vehicles in open-world combat. 

All this standard action sounds great, but what about the trademark of the Voltron franchise; the ability to combine mechs into one giant robot?  When things get too hairy, the team’s captain can decide to combine, shifting the perspective to a dynamic, cinematic camera, and setting off a different mini-game for each member.  If any team member fails their mini-game, the combination fails, leaving the entire team vulnerable for a brief period, and unable to combine again until a power meter fills up.  If they do successfully combine, the giant bot is controlled by the captain, who issues direct commands like “fire,” “defend,” and “launch special attack” to his team members. Each command is accompanied by a different, shorter mini-game, played by the person controlling the specified body part, that determines the success and effectiveness of the actions.  Teams that are new to the game will likely have trouble getting off attacks in robot mode at first, making the battles seem like slow, turn-based affairs.  Once a team gets good, however, actions would flow seamlessly, and the on-screen action would be fast-paced and exhilarating. 

So will this game ever get made?  Possibly.  There are plans for a major Voltron movie, and though no one has ever specifically mentioned an attached game, it would make perfect sense.  Many 25-35 year-olds have fond memories of the Japanese export, and would likely go nuts for a game based on their favorite giant modular robot.  Throw in a special collector’s edition with Vehicle Voltron box-art and a collectible figure, and you’ve got a sure-fire hit on your hands.  So what are you waiting for, publishers?  Make this happen!


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