Summary
- The initial box office failure of Tron led to it thriving as a video game franchise.
- The Tron arcade games are based on sequences from the film, offering endless gameplay.
- Video games like Tron: Identity and Tron: Evolution innovatively expand the franchise.
Tron is a unique Disney franchise that is making a return to theaters with the 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.
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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.
6 Tron
The Arcade Game Was More Successful Than The Movie
- Developer: Midway Games
- Release Date: August 1982
- Publisher: Disney Interactive Studios
- Systems: Arcade
In an ironic twist, the movie was a box-office bomb, but the Tron game 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 the Tron franchise from going extinct because it would have continued to thrive only as a video game series until 2010’s Tron: Legacy.
The Tron arcade is centered around four sequences seen in the original movie, with the most famous one being the Snake clone 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.
5 Discs Of Tron
Quasi-3D Visuals Made For A Strong Disc Wars Sequel
- Developer: Midway Games
- Release Date: 1983
- Publisher: Disney Interactive Studios, Midway Games, Bally Technologies
- Systems: Arcade, Commodore 64, Xbox 360
The immediate sequel to the Tron arcade game was Discs 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 Tron offers a more simplistic yet polished experience to try to get the most points, which results in an '80s video game ahead of its time.
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One innovative feature in Discs Of Tron is its use of angles to ricochet discs off the walls to hit opponents, emulating the 3D visuals seen in the Tron movie. 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.
4 Tron: RUN/r
Running Through The Grid Can Be Addicting
Tron RUN/r
- Released
- February 16, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Action, Racing, Science Fiction
On the one hand, endless runner video games are a dime a dozen thanks to mobile devices like phones and tablets, with many playing similarly. On the other hand, Tron: RUN/r still executes that concept with finesse and grace, with all the neon cyberpunk visuals and sounds based on Tron: Legacy.
Both on foot and a light cycle, Tron: RUN/r features 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.
3 Tron: Identity
The Aftermath Of Tron: Legacy Makes For A Detective Thriller
Tron Identity
- Released
- April 11, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Bithell Games
- Genre(s)
- Visual Novel
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
Tron: Identity is 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 novel and 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.
Before Tron: Ares, it seemed like any hope for a continuation seemed slim to Tron: Identity was 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.
2 Tron: Evolution
An Action-Packed Prequel To The Second Movie
- Developer: Propaganda Games, SuperVillain Studios
- Release Date: November 26, 2010
- Publisher: Disney Interactive Studios
- Systems: Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, PC
To coincide with Tron: Legacy, Tron: Evolution is 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.
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As far as movie tie-in video games go, Tron: Evolution is 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.
1 Tron 2.0
The Unofficial Sequel Turned Into A Memorable First-Person Shooter
Tron 2.0
- Released
- August 26, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Monolith Productions
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox (Original)
Before Tron: Legacy, the only way to get what felt like a sequel to the original film was with Tron 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 Productions excelled at crafting a sequel to Tron that even Tron: Legacy would have similarities to Tron 2.0.
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