Summary
Tronis a unique Disney franchise that is making a return to theaters withthe release of Tron: Ares. While it may not be as expansive as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it is both ambitious and innovative. Tron was one of the first films to depict a digital world and was also the first to heavily utilize CGI. At the time of its release, this groundbreaking approach led to a box office disappointment, as audiences found the technological aspects niche.
Despite this initial setback, Tron became a cult classic, thanks in part to its strong video game ties. Over the years, it has inspired numerous video games and an official sequel, Tron: Legacy, released in 2010. From first-person shooters to arcade classics, the world of Tron has been reimagined in various formats, allowing players to explore the Grid in exciting new ways.
6Tron
The Arcade Game Was More Successful Than The Movie
In an ironic twist,the movie was a box-office bomb, but theTrongame based on the game inside the movie would outgross the film, making over $30,000,000 across 10,000 cabinets by 1983. It can be argued that the game saved theTronfranchise from going extinct because it would have continued to thrive only as a video game series until 2010’sTron: Legacy.
TheTronarcade is centered around four sequences seen in the original movie, with the most famous one being theSnakeclone featuring light cycles. The four games are on constant repeat with no real end, like most arcade games, but avid fans of the films will likely enjoy seeing the movie replicated in digital form.
5Discs Of Tron
Quasi-3D Visuals Made For A Strong Disc Wars Sequel
The immediate sequel to theTronarcade game wasDiscs Of Tron, which focuses on the one aspect of the movie that the first game strangely ignored: the disc battles. With only one kind of gameplay to focus on with even better visuals than before,Discs Of Tronoffers a more simplistic yet polished experience to try to get the most points, whichresults in an ’80s video gameahead of its time.
One innovative feature inDiscs Of Tronis its use of angles to ricochet discs off the walls to hit opponents, emulating the 3D visuals seen in theTronmovie. With the joystick, the player can aim where the disc will hit the wall, forcing the player to pay attention to their aim while also avoiding attacks from the enemy opponent.
On the one hand,endless runner video gamesare a dime a dozen thanks to mobile devices like phones and tablets, with many playing similarly. On the other hand,Tron: RUN/rstill executes that concept with finesse and grace, with all the neon cyberpunk visuals and sounds based onTron: Legacy.
Both on foot and a light cycle,Tron: RUN/rfeatures a program of the player’s choice running through the Grid, completing goals to get the best score. In a way, it can be seen as a successor to the arcade games that can keep a person entertained daily, especially since the game has been brought to PC and consoles.
Tron: Identityis not what many would expect from the action-packed universe, but it still delivers an engaging plot due to being a fusion of a visual noveland detective investigation game. It is the first Tron project to tackle the aftermath of Tron: Legacy, with a mysterious explosion causing a program named Query to journey down a rabbit hole involving the ISOs from the film.
BeforeTron: Ares, it seemed like any hope for a continuation seemed slim toTron: Identitywas a healthy dose of the Grid that fans needed, especially since there is a lot of replay value. Each playthrough can be completed in a couple of hours, but the choices the player makes can drastically change the story, with several branching paths to explore.
2Tron: Evolution
An Action-Packed Prequel To The Second Movie
To coincide withTron: Legacy,Tron: Evolutionis a direct prequel to the film that shows the events leading up to Clu’s rise to power from the perspective of a program called Anon. Not only does it fit the darker visual style of the second film, but the combat is designed to fit how characters move in that, with acrobatic free-running and martial arts free-flow combat utilizing Identity Discs.
As far asmovie tie-in video gamesgo,Tron: Evolutionis a strong attempt despite its flaws. It is far too short, and the online modes no longer function, which was the only way to play light cycle battles. However, the story still provides a proper, action-packed, and vibrant delve into the Grid.
BeforeTron: Legacy, the only way to get what felt like a sequel to the original film was withTron 2.0, which is exactly the game’s intent, with Bruce Boxleitner returning as Alan Bradley. The game focuses on Alan’s son, Jet, who is transported onto the Grid to save it from an evil program that is spreading like a virus.
It features many signature aspects of the original movie, from the light cycle battles to the neon visuals, but is updated with new concepts and gameplay elements to create a first-person shooter.The now defunct Monolith Productionsexcelled at crafting a sequel toTronthat evenTron: Legacywould have similarities toTron 2.0.
