Summary
- With the success of the films, now is the perfect time to bring back Mission: Impossible video games.
- IO Interactive's Hitman trilogy could serve as an ideal template for Mission: Impossible games, with its dynamic sandbox levels and mechanics that align with the franchise's format.
- A Mission: Impossible gaming franchhise could embrace innovative multiplayer features and original stories, with the special skills of each IMF agent being taken advantage of.
Given that the Mission: Impossible franchise has excelled at the box office, it might finally be time for the series to return to gaming after so many years, especially with the industry having proven it could do the IMF justice. Aside from the occasional tie-in games like the mobile app for Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation or the Lego Dimensions level pack, there hasn't been a Mission: Impossible game in over two decades. Given the success of the modern films, that should absolutely change.
One challenge Mission: Impossible games might face is successfully adapting the films' unique approach to the video game format. Though the Mission: Impossible movies have centered around main character Ethan Hunt, the original premise behind the series was to have a rotating cast of characters whose skills would be vital for completing each particular mission. So while the later games also adopted Ethan as a sole protagonist, they did initially try to reflect the franchise's roster of IMF specialists. Recent video success stories could help Mission: Impossible revive its own games and that original vision.
Mission: Impossible Deserves A Gaming Comeback
While it might not have been the right time for Mission: Impossible to seamlessly transition to video games when it was first attempted, the latest films have reclaimed the reputation the franchise once had. Comparable to the likes of James Bond in both age and style, Mission: Impossible has capitalized on its popularity culminating with the recent release of Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning as the first of two films and another member of Hollywood's two-part trend. But with Tom Cruise possibly looking to retire from his lead role one day - despite recently saying he would keep making the movies for as long as he can - the future of Mission: Impossible is uncertain from 2024 onwards.
As a result, this could be where gaming can carry the torch for Mission: Impossible, as in the absence of more films, there could instead be new games. Emphasized by the recent train wreck comparisons between Dead Reckoning and Uncharted 2, the franchise's films already boast a game-like vibe, so a traditional single-player approach would likely succeed. But with the improvements of online games, multiplayer, and more, Mission: Impossible might also be able to return to its original premise with games that boast multiple characters to control either alone or with friends.
The Style of IO Interactive's Hitman Trilogy Would Suit Mission: Impossible
The recent Hitman trilogy from IO Interactive could actually be the ideal template from which to lead the revival of Mission: Impossible games. From its dynamic sandbox levels to game mechanics like disguises and gadgets, the core design behind Hitman is similar if not identical to the Mission: Impossible format. It's also perhaps no coincidence, then, that following its Hitman trilogy, IO Interactive is working on Project 007, an as-of-yet unnamed James Bond game that is capitalizing on the shared values and ideas that it, Mission: Impossible, and Hitman all have.
But if it were to lead a Mission: Impossible revival, IO Interactive could take the brand further than Hitman or James Bond, as both are limited to a primarily single-player approach. While IO Interactive could do the same for Mission: Impossible, a more innovative concept could see a cast of several playable characters used within each level who can be coordinated by one or more players. Where Hitman may have been limited to just Agent 47, Mission: Impossible offers multiple IMF agents that could be selected during mission planning based on their specialties, gear, and more. IO Interactive could even create its own stories just as it will for Project 007, with the new games becoming another part of the burgeoning Mission: Impossible multimedia franchise.