The era of band-based video games was a unique time in the gaming industry, where musicians and bands were given the opportunity to star in their own interactive experiences. From arcade games to CD-ROM adventures, these games offered fans a chance to interact with their favorite artists in a whole new way. While the sub-genre of musician-led games has dwindled in recent years, the legacy of these games lives on in the memories of those who played them.
One of the most memorable band-based video games was Journey, released in 1983 by Bally Midway. Based on the popular rock band of the same name, the game tasked players with guiding each band member back to their stolen instruments across five galaxies. With its use of digitized graphics and iconic music, Journey set the stage for future musician-led games to come.
Another notable game was Mötley Crüe’s Crüe Ball, a pinball game for Sega Genesis featuring the music of the heavy metal band. While the game may not have been a critical success, it showcased the willingness of bands to experiment with different forms of media to engage with their fans.
Aerosmith’s Revolution X took a different approach, casting the band as freedom fighters in a dystopian future where music is outlawed. Players had to shoot their way through hordes of enemies to rescue the kidnapped band members, all while rocking out to Aerosmith’s classic tunes.
Kiss also got in on the action with Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child, a first-person shooter released in 2000 for PC and Sega Dreamcast. Players took on the role of members of a band named Wicked Jester, who must defeat the Nightmare King with the help of Kiss-inspired powers and armor.
Devo Presents Adventures of the Smart Patrol was another unique entry in the band-based video game genre, offering players a surrealistic adventure through a Blade-Runner-on-steroids urban wasteland. While the game may have been criticized for its lack of plot and dated graphics, it showcased the band’s quirky aesthetic in a new light.
Queen: The Eye took players on a futuristic dystopian adventure through five CDs worth of gameplay, featuring remixed and remastered Queen songs. Players assumed the role of a secret agent tasked with uncovering the truth behind a banned form of creative expression.
Iron Maiden’s Ed Hunter and Metallica’s canceled game, Metallica: The Game, both offered fans a chance to experience the music of these iconic bands in a new interactive way. While Ed Hunter was a lightgun-esque shooter, Metallica: The Game promised an open-world experience inspired by popular video game franchises.
Finally, Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style transformed a controversial arena fighter into a Wu-Tang Clan-blessed fighting game, allowing players to control all nine members of the rap collective in brutal combat. The game received mixed reviews but left a lasting impact on fans with its unique gameplay and Wu-Tang branded PlayStation controller.
While the era of band-based video games may be over, the legacy of these games lives on in the hearts of fans who remember the excitement of playing as their favorite musicians in virtual worlds. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, who knows what the future holds for musician-led games.