The common belief for a long time was that video games based on movie properties almost always ended up badly. There have been many blockbuster films that tried to incorporate video game releases into their marketing push for their theatrical release. And while the movies may have been good or went on to become iconic, the games that were based on them weren't always the best. Sometimes, they were so terrible that it became a joke among gamers to say a bad movie tie-in game was the standard for major film releases. But people tend to forget that in the sea of bad releases, some games based on blockbuster films were actually a lot of fun to play.

These kinds of games, at times, become cult hits that find success years after their release, even if they were great to begin with. However, the stigma of the bad quality of movie-based games still lingers, regardless of how many games have broken this mold over the decades. Here are five movie-based games that people forget were actually good. You can actually enjoy both the film and the game with these releases.

5 Batman Begins

You must become fear

The reboot of the Batman franchise on film was very much needed after the disaster that was Batman and Robin in theaters. The Dark Knight just needed a fresh shot of adrenaline to regain his standing in the public eye, which came in the form of director Christopher Nolan. However, while Batman Begins was well-received in movie theaters, the game based on the film also generated chatter among gamers. Batman Begins was released on the PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox in 2005, on the same day the movie came out. The events of the game coincide with the events of the film, with many sections being inspired by specific scenes within the movie. Stealth and brawling are core parts of the game, two things that are fundamental to a Batman experience, but the game manages to add a few extra layers to make it feel unique.

During stealth sections, Batman can do various things to increase his reputation among criminals, making them scared and careless enough for him to take them down. Besides controlling Batman/Bruce Wayne, the game also included sections that featured the Tumbler, the Nolan universe version of the Batmobile. These were driving sequences that were very similar to the Burnout series, where the Tumbler could knock down cars as Batman pursued thugs on the streets of Gotham City. There was a planned port of the game for the PlayStation Portable, but it was canceled before it could be completed. Another game based on The Dark Knight movie was also planned for the release of the film, but that was also canceled before it could be finished.

4 X2: Wolverine's Revenge

It was good, bub

Wolverine has been featured in many video games, whether it was an X-Men game or a solo adventure based on Weapon X himself. However, one game that took everyone by surprise was the release of X2: Wolverine's Revenge for multiple consoles. The movie X2: X-Men United is the sequel to Bryan Singer's original X-Men film, and the game was loosely based on the film with its own original story. Wolverine has 48 hours to find an antidote to a deadly virus within his bloodstream, which can only be found in the Weapon X facility from his past that gave him his trademark adamantium claws. The game has a lot of action, letting players control Wolverine as they slash their way through enemies and traverse areas using stealth. Some areas allow Wolverine to use his various senses to find key points and characters throughout the story, as well as his infamous rage that builds up during combat.

Although some talent from the movie reprised their roles for the game, most characters are voiced by different voice actors. Patrick Stewart returns as Professor X, while Mark Hamill provides the voice of Wolverine himself. Other characters who didn't appear in the movie also appear during boss fights, such as Juggernaut and Wendigo. However, the game also manages to include characters from the film, like Magneto and Lady Deathstrike, in different capacities. There's also a collection of unlockables that players can earn based on various comic book appearances of Wolverine, including an original design by famed artist Alex Ross.

3 Scarface: The World is Yours

Getting revenge and power back

Anyone who loves crime thrillers and classic 80s action films knows of Tony Montana from Al Pacino's classic, Scarface. It's a remake of an older film of the same name, but the Al Pacino film was part of the zeitgeist in the 80s and 90s. And while the film ended in iconic fashion, the video game based on it changes things up a bit for a twisted sequel that is very fun to play. Scarface: The World is Yours is set right after the events of the movie with one small change: Tony Montana lives and escapes the iconic mansion raid. The game follows Tony as he recovers and seeks revenge against the drug lord Frank Lopez, while rebuilding his power in Miami. While Al Pacino himself doesn't provide the voice of Tony, other actors from the original film return to lend their voices to the characters they played.

The game plays very similarly to other open-world games of the time, being specifically inspired by Grand Theft Auto. Tony can travel through Miami and undertake different missions, taking out rival gangs and other enemies. Unlike Grand Theft Auto, however, Scarface: The World is Yours goes to great lengths to keep within the confines of the character of Tony Montana, preventing him from going on rampages like in the GTA series. Tony refuses to kill innocent bystanders or non-aggressive NPCs while roaming around, and instead makes a remark if the player tries to do so. The game also implements a Reputation system, which unlocks new items and opens up missions depending on Tony's reputation level. The higher it is, the more he can do throughout the four areas of Miami that he tries to take over. For any fan of the original movie, Scarface: The World is Yours takes some of its best aspects and tries to make a spiritual sequel that has great respect for the legacy of the film.

2 Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith (GBA)

The force was strong with this one

The final film of the Star Wars prequel trilogy had a massive reception worldwide, and it recently celebrated its 20th anniversary in theaters. At the time, Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith also had a video game tie-in that many Star Wars fans still enjoy to this day. However, the game on PlayStation 2 and the original Xbox weren't the only ones that tied in with the movie. The Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance also had their own Revenge of the Sith game, but it was a little different. The game was a 2D side-scrolling brawler that followed the events of the movie, allowing players to control Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi as they face many challenges during the end of The Clone Wars.

While the console game had mostly dark visuals, the version on handheld devices was brighter with its presentation, almost going for an animated rendition of the film. The action was no less impactful, however, with Anakin and Obi-Wan engaging in battles against groups of battle droids, as well as lightsaber duels. Gaining experience and spending stat points on various upgrades is similar to the console version, which can open up a variety of attacks for each character. The story and dialogue of the game are pulled straight from the film, but rendered in pixel art for the GBA and Nintendo DS. Both versions on the handhelds were identical, with the Nintendo DS having a few exclusive space battle sections to mix things up. Players could also link up for three cooperative missions that are based on the 2003 Clone Wars micro series that was released before the movie hit theaters. If you've only played the console version of Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith, you're in for something interesting with the handheld version that is impressive, most impressive.

1 Jurassic Park (Sega Genesis)

Life finding a way

Jurassic Park is one of the most legendary blockbuster movies of all time. It was a pioneer in computer special effects and film adaptations of literary material, but the movie inspired many different kinds of video games with varying degrees of quality. Most Jurassic Park games are long and confusing, while others feel like an educational experience in disguise. However, the Sega Genesis release of Jurassic Park put a heavy focus on the action and atmosphere of the film, putting players in the shoes of Dr. Grant or the infamous Velociraptor in an action platformer. The game was released in 1993, a few months following the theatrical run of the film, and was different from the games on the Super Nintendo and NES systems. Those games were top-down action titles, while the Sega Genesis version was more of a 2D side-scrolling action game. Players could be Dr. Grant and utilize a number of weapons to repel dinosaurs that were rampaging on the island, including the infamous Tyrannosaurus rex that would appear occasionally.

While the main part of the game is focused on Dr. Grant escaping Jurassic Park, the other part of the game is what made the Sega Genesis version stand out. Controlling the Velociraptor fulfilled the need of fans to become one of the dinosaurs from the film, and it was fun despite being a bit difficult to control. At the same time, the story of the Velociraptor was about pursuing Dr. Grant as he made his way off the island, adding almost a parallel element to the story of the game. The events of the movie inspired levels of the game, but also included some portions of the Jurassic Park novel that were cut from the film, including the river section that had survivors trying to evade attacks by a Tyrannosaurus rex. Both Dr. Grant's and the Velociraptor's stories end at the iconic Jurassic Park Visitor Center, but have different endings for each one. The game is a great take on Jurassic Park that feels more action-packed than many other titles that were inspired by the movie.

From film to games

There are many other movie-based video games that are legitimately good, with some going on to become cult hits among gamers over the years. This makes the common belief about them feel very misguided. There are so many examples of games to point to that are fun to play and do justice to the films that inspired them. Some games related to different films are still bad, but they aren't the majority of titles that ended up coming out. And while the age of frequent movie-based game releases seems to have passed on, we can look back with better hindsight about the great ones we got.