Superhero based media is all the rage right now with companies like Marvel and DC vying for the attention of movie goers. In the streaming space, there are even more competitors with Netflix's The Umbrella Academy and the countless shows that the two major comic book companies are throwing out. The craze has also made its way to the video game industry with so many upcoming games adapting these various heroes, like Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and Gotham Knights. While a lot of these properties are often accused of feeling too similar to each other, there is one superhero show that does the unthinkable and shakes up the formula, and this comes in the form of Amazon Prime's The Boys.
The Boys is unlike any other superhero media on the market right now. Instead of propping superheroes up as heroes and saviors of the world, the show paints them as spoiled children with little to no oversight. What ensues is loads of graphic violence and content that is not suitable for children. It has just kicked off its third season and has continued to amaze audiences with just how far it will go. However, the series has not made its way to the video game landscape, and it really should.
The Boys is a Superhero Show Like No Other
The Boys takes place in a world where superheroes exist and are seen as celebrities. They all work for a company known as Vought International that is in charge of marketing and monetizing them. The company has made these heroes celebrities and even kick-started a cinematic franchise with them; it is like if DC had Superman or Aquaman on staff and made a cinematic universe around them.
Behind the scenes, most of these heroes act like selfish humans with immense powers. Vought International has created a superhero group known as The Seven, which is like The Justice League. The members include Homelander, Queen Maeve, the Deep, Black Noir, A-Train, and Starlight. The majority of these heroes share similarities to Justice League members but with a very different twist.
Working against the Seven is The Boys, a group of vigilantes who want to bring down Vought and its band of heroes. They are led by Billy Butcher, a man who despises all superpowered people. Alongside him are Mother's Milk and Frenchie, and Hughie Campbell joins them later after A-Train accidentally runs through his girlfriend. At some point, they also recruit the superpowered Kimiko.
The show itself is filled with over the top gore, violence, and adult themes. It is not for the feint of heart, and definitely not for children. Characters are blown up in very gruesome ways, as the show does not shy away from graphic violence. Turning the superheroes into spoiled brats and filling the show with mature content makes The Boys feel wholly unique from any other superhero media. The series has not made its way to the video game landscape yet, but it could make for a really fun M-rated game.
The Boys Could Be a Wild Game
The Boys presents viewers with a show that shows what it could really be like if superheroes did walk amongst them. The potential for a game set in the same universe is immense. Amazon has been expanding its video game portfolio with various games like New World, and it is responsible for bringing The Boys to the screen. If it wanted to enter the superhero genre and offer a title like no other, then a game based on The Boys would be the perfect choice.
The Boys video game would of course have to be rated M just for the sheer amount of graphic violence that would be present in it. The gameplay could take cues from other superhero games like the Arkham series, but the story could take many forms. It could be a direct adaptation of the events that are presented in the show and put players in control of either The Boys or The Seven. It could also tell a different story in the universe and serve as a way to build out the world more. There could be a game following Soldier Boy during his hero days, a title showing the early days of The Seven, or even a game following the Deep's flawed ocean conservation attempts.
Whatever form a game based on The Boys takes, it could be a great departure from the superhero genre's tropes. The game could do for video games what the series has done for superhero media, and genre fans may flock to it. While fans of The Boys have the third season to enjoy, Amazon should consider further expanding the world through a video game.