Summary
Though there have been many outstanding blockbusters over the years, some of cinema’s most cherished films began their lives as B-movies.Night Of The Living Dead(1968),Evil Dead(1981), andBig Trouble In Little China(1986) - some of the most celebrated cult classics are B-movies.
These films are usually, but not always, exploitative in nature, with easy commercial appeal, usually falling into a strict genre, originally made to play alongside an “A” movie and now more loosely defined asa low-budget picture. Because of their limitations and low pressure to perform, B-movies, while frequently formulaic, tend to bring with them a certain charm. Camp dialogue, over-the-top action, and slapstick humor aren’t uncommon, and video games have paid loving homage to all the aspects that make B-movies so fun.
Harnessing the massive scale of old-schoolalien invasion films, theEarth Defense Forceseries is commonly celebrated for its B-movie atmosphere. In the game, players fight off a diverse ensemble of alien creatures as one of four distinct character classes.
Earth Defense Force 5can be played alone, but the game also supports online and local co-op, allowing players to enjoy the B-movie chaos together. This game’s greatest strengths are its large scale and frenetic action. However, like many B-movies themselves, it’s not the most visually impressive title out there.
With ashiny new remakebeing made available on Steam back in 2020, there’s never been a better time to jump into the hysterically camp, B-movie world ofDestroy All Humans. This title channels the energy of old-school alien invasion flicks with its tongue firmly in its cheek, more than a little similar to Tim Burton’sMars Attacksin 1996.
Gameplay-wise,Destroy All Humansis an action sandbox replete with opportunities for a variety of antics. Giving players control of a maniacal alien antagonist on 1950s Earth results in an experience that’s unhinged, nostalgic, and appropriately silly.Destroy All Humansis old-school fun, featuring third-person action that’s supported by the game’s sandbox environments, a diverse arsenal of quirky weapons, and a unique power fantasy.
Thisretro-style indie gamefeatures an old-school run-and-gun gameplay loop, with plenty of gun-fighting action and 2D platforming.Huntdownoffers a tight and addictive design, spread across a variety of levels for players to chew through, but the game’s immediately apparent B-movie styling is arguably what makes it such a charming experience.
John Carpenter’sEscape From New Yorkand the Corman-producedDeath Race 2000(1975) are clear inspirations forHuntdown’sworld, as well as the over-the-top nature of 80s action cinema as a whole. The gritty, tongue-in-cheek characters, extravagant bosses, thematic enemies, andevocative sci-fi environmentsmake for a thrilling homage overall. Furthermore,Huntdown’s retro run-and-gun gameplay is complete with an immersive cover system that adds a tactical layer to the experience and further allows this nostalgic title to stand out on its own.
4Chop Goblins
A Micro Boomer Shooter Inspired By Gremlins
Channeling the energy of low-budgetaction-horror flickssuch asGremlins,Chop GoblinsseesDUSKdeveloper David Szymanski offering players a short but sweet first-person shooter that’s intentionally designed to be beaten in a single session of play. Despite its short length,Chop Goblinspropels players through all manner of environments, using time travel as its core narrative device.
The high-pitched squeals and unhinged personalities of the titularChop Goblins, the game’s antagonists, are what makes this low-budget title so special, mixing horror and comedy in perfect measure. The story, despite being told in short blocks of text between missions, is also full of whimsy, giving players a little context to the first-person action, but the old-school FPS gameplay and commitment to brevity is one ofChop Goblins' greatest strengths.
5Maximum Action
A B-Movie Action Sandbox
Fans ofMax Payne,FEAR, and the freneticaction cinema of John Wooare more than likely to enjoy the fast-paced action sandbox ofMaximum Action. This first-person shooter allows players to blast through a variety of missions inspired by classic shootouts from 80s and 90s action films, utilizing a wide variety of weighty weapons and slow-motion, bullet-time mechanics along the way.
Players can expect veritable storms of bullets whizzing to and fro, plenty of stylish action, and chunky low-poly visuals.Maximum Actionis a straightforward experience, with essentially no narrative or meaning behind it, but it makes up for this in spades with its sandbox gameplay, encouraging players to run through each of its missions with as much style as they can muster.
Assuming they haven’t played it already, given the game’s immense popularity, fans of B-movie zombie films such asNight Of The Living Deadare more than likely to enjoyLeft 4 Dead 2. Everything from the group of charismatic, archetypal characters and exaggerated violence, to the way the game represents each campaign with an old-school movie poster, the presentation ofLeft 4 Dead 2takes clear inspiration from the realm of B-movies.
Despite its increasing age,Left 4 Dead 2is practically timeless. The combination of a superb AI “director,” a variety of unique campaigns, and chaotic first-person gameplay still holds up today, and the way the game encourages teamwork through its variety of special enemies makes it a great co-op experience.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eateris a tongue-in-cheek homage to bombastic action cinema and old-school espionage films such asJames Bond, offering a non-stop B-movie narrative that’s packed with ridiculous moments, characters, and action, highlighted by an exaggerated tone. The game’s blend of immersive stealth and intentional action results in a diverse gameplay loop that can be a little tough to get to grips with, especially in the modern era, but it can be an immersive experience once acclimated.
Players expecting a self-serious narrative or constant action will quickly be disappointed byMetal Gear Solid 3, however, as it’s a consistently extravagant experience that frequently intersperses its gameplay with lengthy cutscenes and character dialogue. However, patient players who enjoy stealth-focused gameplay and exaggerated B-movie narratives are sure to get a kick out of this classic title.
There are arguably better horror games in theResident Evilfranchise.Resident Evil 4changed the formula a great deal, removing much about what made the original games so special while improving other aspects of the gameplay, shifting the series in an entirely different direction. However, there’s no denying thatResident Evil 4also breathed new life into the franchise, innovating in the process. While some adoreResident Evil 4for its patented blend of action and horror, one of its key selling points is its B-movie charm.
The camp style and exaggerated tone ofResident Evil 4perfectly captures the energy of B-movies, though this starkly contrasts the tone of its influences, such as 1973’sThe Wicker Manand the wholly unsettlingTexas Chainsaw Massacre(1974). Fans of camp, low-budget horror movies such asThe Evil Deadand over-the-shoulder action will certainly get a kick out ofResident Evil 4, both the original and its celebrated remake.
