Now Is The Perfect Time For A Moon Knight Game
There's a long "knight" ahead for Oscar Isaac, with the Star Wars favourite joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Moon Knight. We're only a couple of episodes in to Jeremy Slater's series, but already, video game fans are calling for their own Moon Knight video game.
Disney is powering ahead with what's being dubbed Phase Zero - picking up after the events of Avengers: Endgame and starting from scratch. A new crop of heroes and villains have introduced the likes of Shang-Chi and the Eternals to the world's highest-grossing franchise, but more than the rest, one complicated hero fits the idea of their video game more than the rest. When playing as Moon Knight in Destiny 2 doesn't cut it, we've got you covered.
Although Insomniac Games is yet to fully lean into the idea it's building a Marvel Gaming Universe (let's call it the MGU), the potential is there. Miles Morales might've been a spin-off from Spider-Man, but there's already talk about a Venom standalone. Away from this, the developer is making a *snik* noise with the upcoming Wolverine and we know Spider-Man 2 is coming. So, what comes after?
Why We Need A Moon Knight Game
Click to enlargeThe big gamble of any superhero game is that enough fans know who they are. Staples like Batman and Spider-Man are easy sells, while more obscure supes risk the gamble of underselling. Even though Moon Knight has been around in Marvel Comics since his debut in Werewolf by Night #32 in 1975, you can tell you've really made it when you're inducted into the MCU.
Moon Knight is currently gathering its own legion of fans on Disney+, as we get to grips with the Fist of Khonshu, Steven Grant, Marc Spector, Mr. Knight, and all the rest. While Isaac makes his first steps in the MCU, there's talk about the character's future and whether we could be setting up a Midnight Sons team that might include MK, Blade, Black Knight, and even Ghost Rider. We know there's Fireaxis' Midnight Suns game, but if a Moon Knight standalone works, there's every chance a whole host of anti-heroes could join the MGU.
Now that more casual Marvel fans are getting to know Moon Knight through the MCU, developers would be wise to strike while the iron is hot and embrace a darker side of Marvel games. It's true that not everything has to be LEGO Marvel Super Heroes. Moon Knight has repeatedly been described as what Batman would be if he had Disassociative Identity Disorder, which we think, would make for an amazing concept for a game that could take more than a few cues from the Caped Crusader's console CV.
What Would A Moon Knight Game Be Like?
Click to enlargeThe crux of the Moon Knight comics have usually seen mercenary Marc Spector dealing with his DID and battling his internal demons of personalities including billionaire businessman Steven Grant, taxi driver Jake Lockley, and the suited Mr. Knight. His powers come from the Egyptian god Khonshu, who uses Spector as his avatar. When suited up as Mr. Knight, it's easy to imagine a combat style similar to Rocksteady's Arkham games, but that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Insomniac has made no secret about being influenced by the Arkham games, and yet, Marvel's Spider-Man felt like a completely different beast. Not just because Peter Parker's New York has a different aesthetic to the rain-soaked Gotham City. A Moon Knight game could have you pick up assignments as Mark, living out your Bruce Wayne fantasy as Steven, and kicking ass as Mr. Knight. Even if driving a taxi as Jake might not sound the most appealing, remember how much fun we used to have in Crazy Taxi? Marvel's Spider-Man let you play as Peter, MJ, and Miles, so imagine this if all of them were in the same body.
Picture the scene where you complete a level as Grant, then have to go back and finish it multiple times as different personalities. It might sound long-winded, but it can unlock different aspects of the story and progress them, while also allowing each persona to have a unique style of gameplay. Visually, a Moon Knight game can really lean into some of Marvel's most out-there arcs. Jeff Lemire's 2016 Moon Knight runs featured Marc locked up in an asylum, with no powers, and doctors claiming he's been here his entire life. Some of Arkham's best sequences were when the Dark Knight was hit by Scarecrow's fear gas, so we say let a Moon Knight game go wild with a similar concept.
Building The MGU
Click to enlargeMoon Knight's travels have taken him all over the globe, and if we're going to make the most of his archaeological chasing, you'd be wise to look at Naughty Dog's Uncharted games or Crystal Dynamics' more recent takes on Tomb Raider. Finally, think of the infamous suit as being similar to Akrham's Detective Mode, as the personalities transform into Mr. Knight. Basically, the opportunities are endless, with us imagining a non-linear story connecting to Grant as the "hub" of the game.
Slater's series has already showcased some impressive fight scenes, while an expansive world of Egyptian gods and side characters has been built in just a handful of episodes. Better than this, Moon Knight has struck out on its own with only a scattering of references to the wider MCU. This proves that a Moon Knight game could easily occupy its own corner like Spider-Man did, although also having the potential to join a wider circle of games.
Looking at the controversy surrounding Marvel's Avengers, we're wary about building the MGU too quickly. Then again, that game just threw Earth's Mightiest Heroes together as an established team. It would've been better to introduce them one by one and culminate in a crossover. It just so happens Spider-Man and Moon Knight have fought side by side to take on Kingpin, while other team affiliations with Doctor Strange and Daredevil can be worked into their various Easter eggs in Marvel's Spider-Man.
Of course, all of this is hypothetical - and a lot of it relies on Insomniac overseeing a Moon Knight game. It's perfectly possible for any other developer to take Moon Knight under its wing. Even if a mix between Marvel's Spider-Man and Arkham sounds like the perfect storm for a Moon Knight game, it's easier said than done. Remember we've heard about games for everyone from Daredevil to Iron Man, Fantastic Four to X-Men, meaning Moon Knight might still be a little niche for some. Still, the gaming community definitely seems ready for a very different dark knight.