Yearning for some heavy metal/video game hybrids to play? We’ve got you covered!
Heavy metal doesn’t get represented in mainstream culture enough, and that’s a shame. The genre’s impact on millions of fans worldwide is plain to see, yet, it doesn’t get the same attention as many other genres do. Put it down to its oftentimes abrasive musical style, or its misrepresentation in the media over the years – either way, it doesn’t feature in the broader entertainment spectrum as much as us metalheads would probably like it to.
However, one bastion of entertainment doesn’t subscribe to a metal-free environment: video games. For decades now, developers have been incorporating heavy metal into their video games in various ways, whether it be featuring a heavy track or, in some cases, actually featuring physical representations of the artists themselves. Looking for some of the best examples of metal acts popping up in video games? Look no further. Here are 10 video games that feature iconic metal artists.
10. Lordi The Game (Lordi) 0 Video Games That Feature Iconic Metal Artists" width="1280" height="720" /> via: youtube.com
They shocked the world when they scooped up the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006 with their track “Hard Rock Hallelujah,” and their distinctive look is instantly recognizable to any metalhead. Yes, it’s Finland’s own Lordi – a band who certainly see the funnier side of heavy metal. Weirdly enough, they even had their own iOS video game in 2010. Unimaginatively titled Lordi The Game, it tasked players with striking down their zombie foes in time with the music. We’re not sure if this one is still downloadable, because currently, it seems it was more of a first come, first serve title. Shame too because who doesn’t like the sound of Lordi sending the dead back underground using an ungodly axe!
9. SmackDown! Just Bring It/Fight Club (Fred Durst) 0 Video Games That Feature Iconic Metal Artists" width="1280" height="720" /> via: coub.com
When Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst isn’t spitting rhymes onstage, he’s appearing in video games. Durst hasn’t just appeared in one either, but rather, two fighting titles. He was an unlockable character in the video game adaptation of Fight Club, and he could also be unlocked in the stellar wrestling romp SmackDown! Just Bring It. He can be used in the former by beating the game’s story mode, and unlocked in the latter by defeating 15 opponents in the slobberknocker mode using The Undertaker. Needless to say, you’ll be breaking plenty of stuff with this hidden character (I know, I know, that was lame).
8. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD (James Hetfield) 0 Video Games That Feature Iconic Metal Artists" width="1280" height="720" /> via: tonyhawkgames.wikia.com
Prefer your video game/heavy metal hybrids to be a little thrashier than our previous entries? Look no further than the HD remake of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. Because while he couldn’t be used in the original release, incredibly, Metallica linchpin James Hetfield is available for use in the remaster. However, there is a slight catch – you have to purchase and download the Revert DLC. If you do though, you’ll not only get access to Hetfield, but also, bassist Robert Trujillo. As an added bonus, you’ll even get the song “All Nightmare Long” from Death Magnetic to grind the rails to. Not a bad little deal!
7. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (Avenged Sevenfold) 0 Video Games That Feature Iconic Metal Artists" width="1280" height="720" /> via: youtube.com
If you’re a fan of the heavy metal five-piece Avenged Sevenfold, you certainly had cause for celebration when Call of Duty: Blacks Ops 2 was released. Why? Because they can be seen performing the song “Carry On” during the epilogue to the game, fully rendered with their own in-game models. It’s not the first time that the band has been associated with the franchise, in fact, they’ve been very close to it over the years. They contributed tracks to both the first Black Ops game, as well as the third. Should there be a fourth, you can probably rest assure Avenged Sevenfold will be called upon once again.
6. Infected (Slipknot) 0 Video Games That Feature Iconic Metal Artists" width="1280" height="720" /> via: youtube.com
Talk about a natural fit. Masked madmen Slipknot’s appearance in the 2011 PSP shooter Infected was simply a match made in heaven (or hell). The game tasks the player with wiping out zombies in New York City using a plethora of badass weaponry, so naturally, Slipknot were the perfect choice for inclusion. Yes, you can choose from all nine members of the band, and even rock out to some of their biggest hits such as “Eyeless” and “Everything Ends” while you slay the undead. Chimaira frontman Mark Hunter is also available in the game – just in case things weren’t metal enough already!
More cameos on the next page…
