Superman Returns: The Videogame

Reconstructing a Paper and Print Legend

Gray said the team is drawing from the DC universe and using the film's main plot elements as an essential thread for gameplay. Characters from the DC universe like Bizarro, Metallo, and Parasite all appear in the game. Their activities connect to what Lex Luthor is doing in the movie.

"The fiction's there for the taking," said Gray. "I don't want to see the movie twice in a game format. From the opening of the game, which is different than the film, we throw out enough curveballs to make this a unique experience."

Directly tying it into the feature film, the game will feature the voice and likeness of Brandon Routh (Superman/Clark Kent) as well as the voices of Kevin Spacey (Lex Luthor), Kate Bosworth (Lois Lane), Parker Posey (Kitty Kowalski) and Sam Huntington (Jimmy Olsen). The game uses a stylized rendition of the characters, so the likenesses will not be photorealistic.

"Using Hollywood actors in games brings good acting," said Hall. "People don't buy videogames because actors are in them. The real benefit, beyond the extra marketing attention, is that you have someone who's good at acting delivering the performance. It comes down to the talent in the game."

Super Challenges

Gray said that the team had extra challenges with the game, because they had to build every virtual inch of Metropolis, which spans 80 square miles and features skyscrapers that reach high into the sky. Superman can fly anywhere from the start of the game, and he has all of his Super powers. Faster than a speeding bullet, Superman can fly from one end of the city to the other in two minutes. He can also fly to the top of the hyper sector and see the entire city. And everything you can see in the game can be explored.

"Building a better game product around a film is only possible today if you understand why people are playing games in the first placeand that's to have fun," said Hall. "Game makers are learning how compelling narrative can be in a game. The gameplay mechanic alone is not compelling. Marrying these two things successfully is the key."

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