First impressions count. They plant the initial seed in your mind that forms your expectations. So when it comes to video game marketing, a good trailer can make all the difference. While trailers that show off the actual gameplay are absolutely essential to gain an audience’s trust, sometimes the footage simply isn’t in a presentable state. At that point, you have two options; fake the hell out of it, or go all-out with something cinematic and captivating – selling your gameplay concept in an awe-inspiring way. While such trailers are most commonly – and expected – to be created with CG, some games go above and beyond, using live action to bring the idea even more to life.
Metroid Prime
While most of the trailers on this list are from the last 10-15 years, I couldn’t help but throw in a shout-out to this. Directed by Alex Proyas (The Crow, I Robot), this trailer brings the Metroid world to life in captivating fashion. While a little dated now, it was an awesome peek at how a live-action movie or series could have looked. An impressive full practical costume, blended in neatly with CG and gameplay footage. I almost wish Nintendo could’ve remade this alongside the recent remaster of the first Metroid Prime.
Some people have levelled minor critique, like using a male narrator voice in spite of Samus being a woman. While it’s certainly not directly implied that Samus is the one talking, using a female narrator may have added a more personal touch to the trailer. Proyas also directed a live action commercial for Metroid Fusion around the same time; while visually impressive, it borders more on cheesy than atmospheric. As such, it’s the Prime live-action videogame trailer that earns this spot.
Doom
Doom has had not one, but two ill-fated live action movie projects as of the time of writing. Firstly, Doom (2005) was a messy travesty that’s infamous in it’s ridiculousness. Much later, Doom Annihilation came out of nowhere and managed to inspire nothing in its intended audience. It might surprise you to know there’s a third live-action Doom project – and in spite of being a mere trailer, it’s easily the best depiction of the iconic shooter series yet. “Fight Like Hell” is the name, and I can think of no three finer words.
Directed by Joseph Kosinski (Tron: Legacy, Top Gun Maverick), the trailer features a fantastically realised Doomguy doing what he does best. That is to say, running down corridors and taking down demons in brutal fashion. While the demons themselves are rendered entirely in CG – very understandable – the music and action do their job perfectly. This trailer gets Doom, in a way neither movie could get right. Here’s hoping the marketing campaign for future Doom games go just as hard. Oh, and here’s hoping it’s a game that all platforms get to enjoy.
Halo Reach
Halo basically wrote the book on how to do videogame trailers, and even now remains at the pinnacle. A particularly mesmerising example would be 2010’s “Deliver Hope”. It presents a war-torn battlefield, with explosions left and right and hordes of marines, fighting for their lives. The cinematography is impeccable, and director Noam Murro (300: Rise of an Empire, Watership Down) doesn’t waste a precious second.
Serving as a prequel of sorts to the game, it answers one notable question. Specifically – what became of the previous Noble Six? “Deliver Hope” shows Noble Team member Kat hurrying to deliver a bomb to a covenant vessel, only to be knocked down by a blast. Another Spartan then arrives to take over, jetpacking up to the ship and delivering the payload. Alas, the blast goes off too soon and Six’s life is lost in the blast. Even divorced from this context, however, the trailer remains both spectacular and powerful.
Destiny
It makes sense that when Bungie left Halo for Destiny, the art of amazing live action trailers followed them there. However, rather than something atmospheric and emotional, “Become Legend” is far more about fun. Joseph Kosinski (from the aforementioned Doom ad) puts more of a Guardians of the Galaxy spin on things here. The costumes are great, and the dialogue really helps sell the social elements of the game.
Looking back on it now, it’s no wonder all eyes were on Destiny ahead of launch. It had the scope of an MMO with the stylings of Halo, and this trailer showed off a little bit of everything. Perhaps a little bittersweet to look back on now, though, given the current state of the series. We can only hope that Destiny 2: The Final Shape can claw back any goodwill. For those still keeping up, though, check out this guide to get the most out of the Guardian Games.
Sleeping Dogs
Another trailer that put the gameplay loop front-and-center was the reveal for cult hit Sleeping Dogs. Developed and directed by Kody Sabourin and Paul Furminger, it’s every bit as brutal as the game it’s advertising. Non-stop ultraviolence fills the runtime, showcasing jaw-dropping choreography throughout. Just be aware; the content warning is there for a reason.
One of the biggest unsung heroes of its time, Sleeping Dogs was as much of a blast as the trailer promised. While the cancellation of the sequel has long been lamented, it may not be the last we see of Wei Shen. As if this trailer wasn’t enough, Donnie Yen (Ip Man, Rogue One) is set to direct and star in a movie adaptation. Here’s hoping it can make up for the trailer’s unfortunate lack of pork buns…
Titanfall 2
Another game that suffered the fate of being overlooked would be one of the gems of Respawn’s library. Titanfall 2 upped the ante over the original with more mechs, and more mobility. Not to mention, one of the most celebrated single-player campaigns in FPS history. To demonstrate, EA produced a stunning live-action trailer, “Become One“. In just under 2 minutes, it truly sells the scale of the action you’ll come to expect of the game.
Directed by Dave Wilson and his team at Blur Studio (Halo 2 Anniversary, the Sonic movies), the effects work is almost movie-tier. A blend of excellent CGI and a practical suit for protagonist Jack Cooper effectively communicate the game’s beloved mobility mechanics. And of course, all this action synced perfectly to a Titanfall-themed cover of Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down). We can only hope that one day, a Titanfall movie or series may pave the way for Titanfall 3. Until then, the Titanfall 2 servers are still alive and kicking – though you may need to tweak some things first.
Metro: Last Light
While a lot of these trailers have been action-orientated, this one is more emotional. The subject matter of the Metro series is grim; set in post-apocalyptic Russia with supernatural elements. This tone is made abundantly clear with the chilling “Enter The Metro” trailer. While it doesn’t communicate the gameplay of Last Light, it really doesn’t need to.
“Enter the Metro” is directed by Jim Weedon, a prolific figure in commercial direction – and it shows. It swiftly establishes the immediate panic of nuclear catastrophe, almost smothering in its hopelessness. The muted colours and worn-down settings add to this – the apartment complex evocative of the beginning of Half-Life 2 (Fitting, given it’s cited as an inspiration for the games). All this, for a glimmer of hope at the end, as a single baby is singled out of the desperate masses to be sheltered. With marketing like this, it’s no wonder that Metro: Last Light sold far in excess of its predecessor.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
One of the games that you just can’t hide from, Bethesda’s fifth Elder Scrolls title was everywhere. Heck, with all the various ports and new editions, it still is. Few RPGs permeate the boundary between niche and mainstream gaming, but Skyrim made that jump with ease. While there are many reasons for this, the marketing was surely one of them.
There’s no doubt in my mind that seeing Tamriel brought to life in such vivid detail brought a tear to the eyes of fans. I also don’t doubt that this live action trailer sold a ton of copies on its own. Director Alexei Tylevich (visual effects designer on Ant-Man and the Wasp) essentially created an excerpt from a non-existent Netflix series, and it’s fantastic. Now, I wonder – will graphics be this good by the time we finally see The Elder Scrolls VI?
Conclusion
Well-made live-action trailers are a rarity, but make a deep impression when done right. It’s a great way to bring video games to life, without the baggage that comes with a feature-length movie. CG trailers have come a very long way, but there’s a certain magic to making the world and characters feel tangible. So, here’s to the art of live-action trailers, and all the directors, designers, and actors who make them happen. Yes, even that Super Smash Bros. one from the 90s.
