He-Man should have his own RPG, he needs a comeback in gaming

He-Man is a legend for nay different reasons, some good, some hilarious, some not so good. But isn't it time he got his own action adventure RPG?

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He-Man is likely one of the most iconic action heroes of our time. Not just historically, but even currently. The most powerful man in the universe has survived extinction since 1976, appealing to the imagination of multiple generations by being both generic and providing a true sense of wonder. That's why He-Man, and of course She-Ra, should have their own modern open-world RPG.

He-Man should have his own RPG, he needs a comeback in gaming 1

Prince Adam of Eternia, son of King Randor and Queen Marlena, is a symbol of strength, integrity and of purposeful action. Underneath that gorgeous blonde bowl-cut is a complex and admirable individual that we can all relate to. Though we ourselves may not have the powah like he does. The character himself, He-Man the Master of the Universe, is a very well constructed character, with a rich back-story and surprisingly elaborate relationships with the other characters. He would be perfect for a protagonist in his own open-world fantasy RPG.

He-Man has been revived twice already, evolving and becoming an even more iconic character for both children and adults alike. Us in the older generations that remember the original cartoon might still find enjoyment in the silly yet stimulating narratives. Stopping Skeletor and hearing his hilarious one-liners were always a highlight of my childhood. Remember how silly yet elaborate flamboyant Cringer was/is?

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When DC Comics took on the monumental task of bring back He-Man for the third time, they decided on a much darker and more adult demeanor. It brings back the other-worldly adventure and intrigue that originally drew us to the series. And the underlying vitality that DC Comics and Keith Griffen bring to He-Man and the Masters of the Universe sets the stage for one hell of a story. Even the older series from the 1980's has a more elaborate and interesting allegory than a lot of games out there.

There is already a tremendous amount of lore and backstory to pull from. The darker tone set by the new comics would be the perfect starting point to add even more to the mythology.

Even with the simplistic, yet classic, story of good versus evil, there are also deeply meaningful character interactions that would translate well into an RPG. The amusing exchanges between Duncan and Orko were more than they seemed, as they developed a sort of unusual friendship throughout the original series.

One could even see the dichotomy between Prince Adam and the alter Ego of He-Man being an interesting element to include, where some situations require a bit more diplomacy as the veritable Prince while others need the stronger, and more direct, result from He-Man. Even better would be the interpretation of his less violent nature. What options could one have instead of the usual gruesome moments of violence.

He-Man could have amazing potential as the protagonist in a video game. He's more than iconic and He-Man has survived the cruel descent into irrelevancy, being revived as a modern hero. The trick is always in translating the fundamental essence of an already established character in other media to that medium. But with the right touch, it could be a fantastic experience.

Jeff grew up in the Pacific Northwest where he fell in love with gaming and building his own PC’s. He's a huge fan of any genre of gaming from RTS to FPS, but especially favors space-sims. Now he's stepped into the adult world by becoming a professional student looking to break into the IT Security world. When he’s not deep in his studies, he’s deep in a new game, revisiting an old game, or testing the extreme limits of his own PC. He's now a news contributor for TweakTown, looking to bring a unique view on technology and gaming.

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