That’s right, true believers; there actually are ten titles worthy of your consideration as the greatest adaptations of our favorite tights-wearing world-savers. Those with a keen eye might be able to perceive that I am in fact, a Marvel guy. To those DC people who haven’t left already: I’m also a biased reporter of the facts, and the fact is when looking for a good superhero game, the pickings are slim. So without further ado, here are the top ten comic book hero video games.

A beat ‘em up arcade brawler featuring the Man of Steel himself – well, for a little while anyways. True to the well-known 1993 comic book arc, Superman dies fighting Doomsday in the beginning of the game, and players play through the adventure as Cyborg, The Eradicator, SuperBoy and Steel. The plot is loosely based on the comic book series and is missing a few notable characters like the members of the Justice League.

All iterations of Superman basically play the same, aside from their unique special abilities. Adding flying into the mix helps this game break from the monotony of the button-mashing gameplay, and there are some flying combat sections that spice up action as well. The Death and Return of Superman is one of the only Superman games out there that could be called decent, and when you do get to play as Superman, it’s pretty fun. Some nostalgia and its association with one of the most popular comic book heroes, and series of comics, seals the tenth spot for The Death and Return of Superman.

Another super-hero style brawler makes the list, and this one usually hung out in the back corner of the arcade for those who remember what an arcade is. Captain America and the Avengers let players live out their comic book fantasies by playing as the superheroes Captain America, Iron Man, and Hawkeye on their quest to stop the evil villain Red Skull. Other Avengers pop in for cameos as well: the Wasp, Quicksilver, Wonder Man, and Namor the Sub-Mariner in particular.

This side-scroller embraced the Marvel universe including a variety of enemies like Red Tornado, Ultron, and the most evil of all villains: the “Mechanical Taco.” Captain America and the Avengers is a fun and varied beat ‘em up which was just a little easier to play than The Death and Return of Superman.

The first 3D adaptation of a superhero that didn’t totally suck, Spiderman for the original PlayStation was an ode to the comic book lore of the web-slinging vigilante.

Spiderman faces off against a laundry list of villains, including Venom, Scorpion, Rhino, Lizard, Mysterio, Dock Ock, and Carnage. If that wasn’t enough, many Marvel heroes make cameos during the story, like the Fantastic Four, Ghost Rider, the Punisher, and Daredevil.

This game was chock full of goodies and Easter eggs, and featured a “What If?” mode that explored possible alternate story lines for Spiderman and the Marvel universe.

Truly an awesome addition to the super hero video game list, and a great find if you can dig it out of a bargain bin somewhere.

While the original Ultimate Alliance was a truly fun experience, and the sequel didn’t add a ton, the civil war storyline and more heroes to play with makes Ultimate Alliance 2 a great super hero romp.

Players must choose their side in an iconic comic book storyline: Marvel Civil War. Heroes are being asked by the government to register and take responsibility for their actions in a very political and realistic storyline that splits our favorite heroes into two factions led by Captain America and Iron Man.

Utilizing the classic top-down gameplay that made the first Ultimate Alliance so popular, players choose their favorite heroes, each with their own set of unique powers, and bash away at friends, foes, and anyone else in their way.

A great game based on a fantastic comic book plotline, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 is a must-own for anyone obsessed with the Marvel Universe.

After the terrible flop that was the first Incredible Hulk Movie, the big green man had to separate himself from all the awful press if he was ever to have a good video game.

Made free of any movie, Incredible Hulk Ultimate Destruction did what seems so simple when you think about it: make a fun game where you play as the Hulk, and not that four-eyed wimp Bruce Banner.

This open-world rampage of a game has the Hulk angry, and this time you’ll like it. Smashing cars into Hulk gloves, using a school bus as a shield, and taking down buildings truly gets the feel of the Hulk in video game form.

The destruction you can unleash in this game knows no bounds as the Hulk learns more moves to take down tanks, helicopters, villains and the environment.

Another good bargain bin find, Ultimate Destruction will have you ripping through more purple pants than ever before.

The X-Men Legends games essentially laid the groundwork for the Ultimate Alliance titles, and the sequel gets the nod for being able to team up with the bad guys. Since Apocalypse is too tough for either side to handle alone, bad mutants team up with good to save the day.

The fun top-down action style of gameplay seems to be the successor to the beat ‘em up games that are so prevalent on this list. It’s probably because running around using each hero’s power to dismantle hordes of thugs works well with comic book crusaders.

Legends is a fun co-op adventure to be shared with mutants and non-mutants alike, X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse grabs the fifth spot in the top ten comic book games of all time – got a problem with that, bub?

Batman Returns looks like just another superhero sidescroller, but it’s so much more. It makes number nine and ten on this list look like child’s play, and to this day is still a ton of fun to play through.

Batman Returns is a testament to the fact that a movie game can not only be good, but it can also become a legendary title with replay ability that transcends through the years.

What’s more fun than playing as the Dark Knight and having plenty of unique villains to take care of? Fighting all sorts of different enemies and bosses, from Scarecrow and his stilts to giant overweight clowns or the Penguin’s big duck, as well as using batarangs, smoke bombs, cape sweeps and the trusty grappling hook, that’s what! Players have the full arsenal of the big bad bat at their fingertips, and that is just awesome.

Mixing up the action with pretty good cut scenes (at the time) and Batmobile levels is the icing on the cake in one of the best comic book video games out there.

I know what you’re thinking: “The Ninja Turtles?” Aside from being totally radical, the turtles did have a comic book. If the X-men count as superheroes, our genetically mutated turtle buddies and their rat mentor are definitely in the category of superhero.

Now that that’s settled, on to one of the best games around for the Super Nintendo, or any console, Turtles in Time. Beat ‘em ups were the best venue for our heroic fictional pals to translate to video games pre-3D graphics, probably because superheroes did a lot of, well…beating up.

To do a side-scrolling, button-mashing adventure that captured the style of the totally tubular turtles was a thing of beauty. Turtles in Time had more options than most games at the time, like versus mode and a time trial mode. Finally you could prove that Leo was way better than Raphael by taking your friends on mano y mano (prove me wrong, people).

The turtles are snacking on pizza and watching the news when the Statue of Liberty is stolen. Leo calls shredder a “bloated bean bag” and then our heroes in a half shell are off to save the day. Many unique enemies and boss fights with classic turtle villians like Bebop and Rocksteady vary the gameplay, and with four buddies kicking the snot out of the foot clan has never been so satisfying.

Each turtle plays differently depending on his weapon of choice. Toss around foes with Donatello’s bow staff, or get in their faces with Michaelangelo’s nunchucks. Either way, Turtles in Time took an old-school game style and made it timeless. Also, nobody can resist the midi version of that rockin’ theme song. Heroes in a half shell, Turtle Power!

Spider Man 2 gets the number two spot for not only being a great adaptation of a tricky hero to make into a video game, but also for being a licensed movie game. Pick up the Thor and Green Lantern titles that just came out and you’ll see the reason this web-slinging Playstation 2 title came as such a surprise.

Spiderman 2, to this day, is the best Spiderman game out there. Sure you’ve got Shattered Dimensions and newer titles with better graphics, but the recreation of New York that players can swing through with fun and functional swing controls is priceless, and the reason this game still sits in my game shelf. Spidey’s world was huge at the time, and there are plenty of civilians to save and side quests to complete in a GTA/Spiderman hybrid style of gameplay that every fan has been dreaming of since the first Spiderman Game (#8).

Unlocking different moves for Spiderman to unleash on no good thugs keeps combat interesting, and visits from well-known villains like Rhino, Mysterio and the Shocker are always fun times.

If you needed one more reason to put Spiderman 2 at number 2: well, it lets you do whatever a spider can, and at the end of the day, isn’t that what we all want?

That’s right, Arkham Asylum takes the cake as the best video game adaptation of a comic book hero to date. No game has captured what it means to be the Dark Knight like Arkham Asylum. From being a detective to sneakily snatching up foes into the darkness, Arkham Asylum captures everything it means to be the Batman and wraps it up in an enticing story, with beautiful visuals and fantastic voice acting.

As soon as the Joker pops onto the screen, the visual brilliance of this game is evident. Mixing a cartoon style with realism, detailed graphics capture the feel of a living, breathing comic book adventure.

Many villains of the Bat make appearances including Croc, Poison Ivy, Bain, and of course the Joker. Just to push this game over the top, the voices are those loveable voice actors from one of the most beloved Saturday morning cartoons: Batman: The Animated Series. Kevin Conroy is the best Batman voice ever, and everyone’s favorite Skywalker, Mark Hamill, returns to reprise his role with the most iconic joker laugh ever.

Hidden tapes, Riddler challenges and enough goodies to satisfy even the stingiest of Batman fans flesh out this epic title. Batman gets the number one spot for taking the best parts of a beloved character and creating a fun game around it. With Arkham City on the way there may just be a new number one in the works, but as it stands now, Arkham Asylum is the best video game experience based on a comic book hero ever.

from: gamersgaia.com