Great Video Game Crossovers That Make No Sense! | MojoPlays
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VOICE OVER: Dave Thibault
WRITTEN BY: Garrett Alden
Welcome to MojoPlays! Today we'll be going over some of the video game crossovers that make absolutely no sense. Wether it's The Witcher's Geralt of Rivia showing up in Monster Hunter or Mario and the Rabbits teaming up, these are crossovers we appreciate, but can't figure out the logic behind.
Welcome to MojoPlays! Today we’ll be going over some of the video game crossovers that make absolutely no sense.
Mario & Raving Rabbids
“Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle” (2017)
One one had we have Rabbids: a spin-off franchise of “Rayman” and essentially the video game equivalent of “Minions.” On the other ... well it’s Mario. Nintendo’s flagship franchise and one of the most recognizable video game characters in the world. So fans of both series were understandably confused when the decision was made to put both these disparate, yet popular franchises into one game. What’s even more bizarre was the fact that the resulting crossover was an “X-Com” style, turn based shooter. Throw in a score composed by Grant Kirkhope of Banjo-Kazooie fame, and you’ve got a recipe for one of the strangest, yet fun games on our list.
Various
“Poker Night 2” (2013)
Telltale Games are known for taking existing properties like television shows and turning them into narrative focused games. But some of the company’s lesser known titles are the “Poker Night” games. The second installment, like the first, sees a mashup of diverse and unusual characters pitted against one another playing poker. The contrast between the realistic players and the more cartoony ones is fantastic, and where else can you play cards against Claptrap from “Borderlands,” Brock Samson from “The Venture Bros,” or Ash from “Evil Dead?” Oh and have GLaDOS jump in as the dealer.
Disney & Square Enix
“Kingdom Hearts” series (2002-)
Disney doesn’t like sharing their toys – the company basically invented copyright infringement. Therefore, it was quite the surprise when they agreed to allow Square Enix; develop a crossover between the worlds and casts of their many Disney films and Square’s “Final Fantasy” characters. “What’s next?” we wondered, “Dreamworks and ‘Dragon Quest?’” But, despite having long waits between releases and a plot that makes less sense the more you think about it, the “Kingdom Hearts” series has been a smash hit with casual and hardcore fans alike. While the Final Fantasy elements were sadly downplayed in titles after Kingdom Hearts 2, the series still left a lasting legacy.
“Mortal Kombat” & DC Comics
“Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe” (2008)
“Mortal Kombat” is one of the most violent fighting game franchises ever made and almost singlehandedly led to the creation of video game ratings. Meanwhile, DC Comics are famous for heroes who are paragons of truth and justice. Mixing the two doesn’t make much sense on paper…at least until you remember that both of their primary competitors, “Street Fighter” and Marvel, also teamed up to make a fighting game series. “Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe” did not go on to the same success as their nemeses’ crossover though. We did get the “Injustice” games though, so all’s well that ends well right?
“Pokémon” & “Nobunaga’s Ambition”
“Pokémon Conquest” (2012)
“Pokémon” is an absolute giant in the video game industry, with tie-ins in virtually every other medium, and it has a very notable presence within Smash Bros. Yet in an announcement that came out of left field; it crossed over with “Nobunaga’s Ambition.” A long-running, turn based strategy series that is very popular in Japan, but rather unheard of in the west. “Pokémon Conquest” may be a surprisingly good tactical RPG, but that doesn’t make it any less of a strange mashup to see Pocket Monsters alongside samurai warlords…real ones, at least, not like that weirdo with a bug catcher’s net in Viridian Forest.
“Monster Hunter” & EVERYTHING
Various (2004-)
If you were to name a video game or an anime off the top of your head right now, there’s a very good chance that whatever you said would have some kind of crossover with “Monster Hunter.” Obviously Monster Hunter being a Capcom title means that we’d get an abundance of Capcom representation. Highlighted by Ryu, Leon & Claire, and one of the most bizarre depictions of Mr. X. But then you have the likes of Geralt of Rivia from “The Witcher” making a spoken appearance, Armor sets based on Aloy and the machines from “Horizon Zero Dawn” even some of monsters from the series appear in the “Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker”. When do these crossovers end?
Mario & Raving Rabbids
“Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle” (2017)
One one had we have Rabbids: a spin-off franchise of “Rayman” and essentially the video game equivalent of “Minions.” On the other ... well it’s Mario. Nintendo’s flagship franchise and one of the most recognizable video game characters in the world. So fans of both series were understandably confused when the decision was made to put both these disparate, yet popular franchises into one game. What’s even more bizarre was the fact that the resulting crossover was an “X-Com” style, turn based shooter. Throw in a score composed by Grant Kirkhope of Banjo-Kazooie fame, and you’ve got a recipe for one of the strangest, yet fun games on our list.
Various
“Poker Night 2” (2013)
Telltale Games are known for taking existing properties like television shows and turning them into narrative focused games. But some of the company’s lesser known titles are the “Poker Night” games. The second installment, like the first, sees a mashup of diverse and unusual characters pitted against one another playing poker. The contrast between the realistic players and the more cartoony ones is fantastic, and where else can you play cards against Claptrap from “Borderlands,” Brock Samson from “The Venture Bros,” or Ash from “Evil Dead?” Oh and have GLaDOS jump in as the dealer.
Disney & Square Enix
“Kingdom Hearts” series (2002-)
Disney doesn’t like sharing their toys – the company basically invented copyright infringement. Therefore, it was quite the surprise when they agreed to allow Square Enix; develop a crossover between the worlds and casts of their many Disney films and Square’s “Final Fantasy” characters. “What’s next?” we wondered, “Dreamworks and ‘Dragon Quest?’” But, despite having long waits between releases and a plot that makes less sense the more you think about it, the “Kingdom Hearts” series has been a smash hit with casual and hardcore fans alike. While the Final Fantasy elements were sadly downplayed in titles after Kingdom Hearts 2, the series still left a lasting legacy.
“Mortal Kombat” & DC Comics
“Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe” (2008)
“Mortal Kombat” is one of the most violent fighting game franchises ever made and almost singlehandedly led to the creation of video game ratings. Meanwhile, DC Comics are famous for heroes who are paragons of truth and justice. Mixing the two doesn’t make much sense on paper…at least until you remember that both of their primary competitors, “Street Fighter” and Marvel, also teamed up to make a fighting game series. “Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe” did not go on to the same success as their nemeses’ crossover though. We did get the “Injustice” games though, so all’s well that ends well right?
“Pokémon” & “Nobunaga’s Ambition”
“Pokémon Conquest” (2012)
“Pokémon” is an absolute giant in the video game industry, with tie-ins in virtually every other medium, and it has a very notable presence within Smash Bros. Yet in an announcement that came out of left field; it crossed over with “Nobunaga’s Ambition.” A long-running, turn based strategy series that is very popular in Japan, but rather unheard of in the west. “Pokémon Conquest” may be a surprisingly good tactical RPG, but that doesn’t make it any less of a strange mashup to see Pocket Monsters alongside samurai warlords…real ones, at least, not like that weirdo with a bug catcher’s net in Viridian Forest.
“Monster Hunter” & EVERYTHING
Various (2004-)
If you were to name a video game or an anime off the top of your head right now, there’s a very good chance that whatever you said would have some kind of crossover with “Monster Hunter.” Obviously Monster Hunter being a Capcom title means that we’d get an abundance of Capcom representation. Highlighted by Ryu, Leon & Claire, and one of the most bizarre depictions of Mr. X. But then you have the likes of Geralt of Rivia from “The Witcher” making a spoken appearance, Armor sets based on Aloy and the machines from “Horizon Zero Dawn” even some of monsters from the series appear in the “Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker”. When do these crossovers end?
