Skip to main content

Finally, Manos: The Hands Of Fate gets a game adaptation

Image used with permission by copyright holder

What happens when you make a video game based on a quality, action-packed blockbuster film? Statistically speaking, it’s going to be terrible. There’s a dozen different reasons for this, but the end result is always the same: games based on movies are almost universally terrible. But what if you were to make a game based on a film that isn’t exactly as wonderful as the one mentioned above? A film so utterly terrible that its only real claim to fame was that one time it was endlessly mocked by a fictional spaceman and his posse of sarcastic robot puppets? A movie widely considered the worst film of all time?

If the work of Freak Zone Games is any indication, it might just be an awesome slice of retro gaming reminiscent of the top titles of the era.

At the bottom of this piece you will find a nearly three minute long trailer for Manos: The Hands Of Fate, an iOS game due for release on July 26 and based on the utterly abysmal, amateurish 1966 movie of the same name. Those of you who’ve seen Manos — presumably on Mystery Science Theater 3000, because there’s not one of you who caught this thing in theaters — are likely wondering how the group managed to create an entertaining gaming experience from the barely coherent film. Apparently the key ingredient is “throw out everything but the characters and the aesthetic and build a game similar to the NES’ DuckTales or the first Castlevania.”

The game seems pretty straightforward. You play as Michael, walking through improved recreations of areas seen in the film, and shooting anything that moves. There are the requisite weapon power-ups, boss fights and stupid flying eyeballs that travel in a wave pattern just like Castlevania’s Medusa Heads. The plot is somewhat simplified from the film, but it still manages to tell the same story:

Lost on their vacation, Mike and his family have wandered the desert trying to find a place to stay, only to wind up in the haunted Valley Lodge. Maintained by Torgo, an unusual man/satyr who “takes care of the place while The Master is away”, the hotel is swimming with paranormal activity which Mike has to brave through to find his now missing family. Who is The Master, and what does he want with Mike’s family? Armed with his trusty revolver, Mike will have to wander the haunted halls, venture out into the desert, uncover a dark temple and battle the forces of darkness to find out!

Sounds like pretty typical NES shooter stuff when you put it that way, no?

For those of you suddenly interested by this game, have a look at the FreakZone Games official Tumblr. It’s kind of a mess, but it includes an interesting question and answer session with the game’s creators, as well as word that Manos: The Hands Of Fate will hit the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch on July 26. There’s no set price for the game as far as we can tell, so it seems that we’ll have to wait until Thursday to discover how much this thing will set us back.

Earnest Cavalli
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Earnest Cavalli has been writing about games, tech and digital culture since 2005 for outlets including Wired, Joystiq…
Mecha Break’s robot customization shakes up the battle royale formula
Mecha Break robot head with glowing blue eyes

Mecha Break isn't the kind of multiplayer game you can master right away.

You might equip a lance that you barely know how to use because it seemed like a good idea, and spend the rest of a round attempting to bash yourself into enemies to help your teammates. It incorporates action that's more similar to that of Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon than it is to the shooter-focused gameplay in Gundam Evolution, Bandai Namco's multiplayer mecha shooter that shut down last year. Overwatch does come to mind, but in a way where mechs are still the focus rather than the pilots within them.

Read more
Visions of Mana paints a promising picture of the RPG series’ return
Red-haired girl with horns and dragon wing in Visions of Mana

The vibrant settings and character designs in Visions of Mana instantly alerted me that I'd be knee-deep into fantasy, riding on the back of a giant black wolf into the grassy plains of Fallow Steppe. A lush landscape welcomed me as I chatted with my teammates on top of my mount and tussled with little woodland monsters.

I had this experience at this year's PAX East, where I went hands-on with a demo of the upcoming RPG. I never played previous Mana games, but I have enough experience with RPGs and real-time combat to name it one of the most gorgeous, action-packed games I played at the show. The shiny open-world and slick combat I experienced point to a strong comeback for the Mana series coming later this summer.

Read more
Sega lays off 240 workers and sells Company of Heroes 3 studio
sega lets relic entertainment go independent company of heroes 3 girl

Sega Europe is going through some major restructuring, and as a result, it is laying off about 240 developers and letting Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War and Company of Heroes developer Relic Entertainment spin off as an independent company.

Although Sega's Japanese developers are known for their platformers, action games, and RPGs, its European output is more strategy game-focused. A key component of that was Relic Entertainment, which has made games like Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III, Age of Empires IV, and Company of Heroes 3 over the past decade. With the help of investment company Emona Capital, Relic is buying itself back from Sega and going independent for an undisclosed amount. Relic addressed going independent on X (formerly Twitter) with a message.

Read more