EA Motive’sIron Mangame is exciting in-particular because of the graphical and gameplay capabilities that modern big-budget games have demonstrated. The developer showed its impressive talents withthe recentDead Spaceremake, which amplified and accentuated the original’s dreadful atmosphere. It will be interesting, then, to see how anIron Mangame is handled, especially since it will likely have a vastly different tone. Regardless, it will hopefully be able to delineate itself fully from the Iron Man fans have grown to love in the MCU.
The MCU has been integral for introducing iconic Marvel characters to a wider audience over the last decade. In doing so, Marvel games have been able to flourish as part of an associated IP, even if these games are not connected with MCU directly. However, games that adhere too closely to the MCU’s representation of characters lack an original identity. In terms of thisupcomingIron Mangame, there are many things it could do to separate itself from the MCU, such as omitting Pepper Potts from Tony Stark’s life.
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EA Motive’s Iron Man Needs to Shed the MCU’s Weight
Iron Man is now synonymous with Robert Downey Jr., and it will be difficult for fans to separate his performance from the character as long as Tony Stark is reprised in any medium. That is a glowing testament to how much Downey embodied the role, but it has also not been helpful for games simply trying to emulate that particular performance.Marvel’s AvengersandMarvel’s Midnight Sunsboth interpreted the billionaire playboy philanthropist with an identical wit as Downey, and while neither Nolan North nor Josh Keaton do a poor job in their respective interpretations, the character always seems to be written as an extension of theMCU’s Tony Stark.
EA Motive’sIron Mandoes not necessarily need to make Stark opposite to how Downey portrays him, though it would be a refreshing change of pace that helps to show different sides of the character. In order to do this succinctly,EA Motive could display Stark’s playboy days, where he is habitually drunk and polyamorous.
EA Motive’s Iron Man Needs to Avoid Pepper Potts
It is almost assured that theIron Mangame will include some sort of MCU tie-in, such as howMarvel’s Spider-Manfeatures suit skins from Tom Holland’s MCU appearances. However, a narrative that reflects Stark in a much different tone than fans are accustomed to could be great in refurbishing his image for an original take.
This could be made all the more salient if Pepper Potts is not around. Potts’ comic book origins are bare-bones as a secretary who is infatuated with Stark, and while Potts could be there to redeem Stark once again, it would be too similar of a development as the one seen in the MCU. The MCU makes Potts Stark’s emotional support, and without her Stark would be entirely on his own and desolate in EA Motive’sIron Mangame.
Potts being omitted would leave room for Stark to have relations with other women who ultimately mean nothing significant, but could encourage fun references to many characters in the Marvel universe. Either way, theIron Mangame has a greater chance of standing apart from the MCU if it resists the urge to include Potts right away and depicts Stark as a lonely alcoholic to make his arc over the adventure that much more meaningful.
AnIron Mangame from EA Motive is currently in development.
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