The Bourne Backtrack
Matt Damon has had huge success with the Bourne franchise. Many have said it’s like the next generation James Bond. So it’s no surprise to hear Electronic Arts have nabbed exclusive rights to adapt the late Robert Ludlum’s novels into video games from Ludlum Entertainment. First on their list to adapt? Jason Bourne. I’m getting an odd sense of déjà vu. Do I have amnesia or has this already happened?
To put it simply, no I don’t and yes, it has. In June 2008, almost a full year after The Bourne Ultimatum, Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Conspiracy was released by Sierra Entertainment in association with High Moon Studios. It’s plot was closely related to the first film and took it’s cues from the amazingly well-choreographed fight sequences however, Damon did not lend his voice or likeness to the game. It received mixed reviews and did not sell very well which is not surprising considering it wasn’t promoted along with the film.
Starbreeze Studios, who developed The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay, will be releasing the first Ludlum/Bourne game for EA. No details have been released as to the plot but it would certainly be in their best interest to have it coincide with the next Bourne film. Not to mention convincing Damon to work with them. Last year Ludlum Entertainment and Universal Studios finalized a deal to adapt other Ludlum novels into films. Will the written works have to be made into a movie before EA will consider turning them into video games? Which other novels would make the best choices? Is there really that much of a market for Ludlum games considering the most famous tanked? Discuss!
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The amnesiac part of the plot was part of the game. You started out not knowing much and learn about your past as you play. Some of the game is flashbacks too.
Interesting, I never heard of that other game but it says it was based on a comic so that’s pretty cool. It does seem a lot like Bourne though.
Was the first Bourne game just a shooter, or did it incorporate the whole unraveling a personal mystery aspect of the books/movies?
One game that actually reminded me of Bourne quite a bit — and looked cool in the process — was XIII.
To be honest, I’ve never read one of the books, but I’ve loved the movies so far.