The 5 Best & 5 Worst Celebrity Cameos In Video Games | Game Rant
Everybody loves a good cameo. Nothing excites a gamer more than seeing a beloved celebrity pop up unexpectedly in a video game. Of course, sometimes they turn out disastrously, destroying the title in one way or the other. The following list will look at both sides of the spectrum as it details the five best and worst celebrity cameos in gaming.
The latter half aren't necessarily lackluster because of the famous person, but because their usage was poor or the role given to them was incongruous to their talents. This list isn't meant to throw undo shade at stars who worked hard to bring joy into people's lives.
10 Best: David Bowie In Omikron: The Nomad Soul
David Bowie has been gone from this earth for five years, but his music is as popular as ever and will live on for countless generations to come. In addition to acting in films like Labyrinth and Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, Bowie also provided the music for Omikron: The Nomad Soul by Quantic Dreams and appears in it as two characters.
The first one is Boz, a mystical being with a small but important role in the plot, and the second is the singer of a band in the game performing the songs he composed for the soundtrack. The tunes also makeup the album Hours.
9 Worst: Avenged Sevenfold In Black Ops II
It is not important whether or not one likes popular metal band. Their use in the game is painfully awkward. Players just completed the game, let the finale sink in, and then all of a sudden the lead singer shows up, berates the antagonist Menendez and the two go in stage with Frank Woods to play the song the band wrote for the game.
Imagine if Apocalypse Now ended with Martin Sheen and Marlon Brando backed up the Doors on a rendition of "The End." Black Ops II is generally regarded as a highlight of the celebrated series, but this moment is a blight on its reputation.
8 Best: Roddy Piper In Saint's Row IV
Keith David's role in Saint's Row IV is a real treat. The icing on the cake is the eventual appearance of Roddy Piper, famous wrestler and star of the cult classic John Carpenter film They Live.
Piper and David both appeared together in the aforementioned film, which takes place in a modern dystopia where aliens have secretly invaded earth and a pair of sunglasses allows the hero to distinguish between humans and enemies. Anybody familiar with the movie was in for a real treat when the wrestler showed up.
7 Worst: Aerosmith In Revolution X
The arcade version of Revolution X received solid reviews, but the console ports really dropped the ball. The whole concept of an on-rails shooter where the main objective is saving the legendary rock band is bizarre in many ways.
The band members make appearances, so at least it feels slightly more legitimate than just animating them without voices. The band would take a swing in the video game space once again over a decade later with Guitar Hero: Aerosmith.
6 Best: Elijah Wood In God Of War III
Elijah Wood is no stranger to fantasy settings, but Kratos' adventures are more brutal than whatever goes on in Middle Earth. The actor made a small contribution in God of War III voicing the main character's brother for a quick few moments.
Though the part is brief, the voice is undeniably Elijah Wood's, and he gets a thank you in the credits for his work. No role in the most recent game, however, though maybe the sequel can give him another cameo or perhaps something beefier.
5 Worst: Jesse James In Tony Hawk's Underground 2
Some cameos didn't age well, but Jesse James' inclusion felt weird even back in 2004. It doesn't help that he later tarnished his reputation with a publicized divorce from Sandra Bullock due to his infidelities.
Regardless of his personal life, his parts in series' sixth entry are boring mini games, one of the many which bog down Tony Hawk's Underground 2. When the skating is so fun and pure, no one cares to engage in side activities.
4 Best: Phil Collins In Grand Theft Auto Vice City Stories
Given that "In the Air Tonight'" is one of the most iconic songs of the '80s, it only makes sense for Phil Collins to make an appearance in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.
The rocker is at the center of a couple of missions where the player is tasked with protecting him. As a reward for a job well done, a small virtual concert plays out for Vic Vance to enjoy. It may be a small PSP screen, but it is a treat to behold none the less. Rockstar is done using celebrities for voice roles, but stars still come in to DJ a radio station, so maybe Phil can come back sometime in the future.
3 Worst: Lance Bass In Kingdom Hearts
Kingdom Hearts represents the first time many iconic Final Fantasy characters received voices, some of which were done by celebrities. Mandy Moore did a great job as Aerith, but the same cannot be said about Lance Bass's take on Sephiroth.
He only has a few lines as the hidden boss fight, but his voice doesn't fit the villain's chilling nature. Later voice actors would deliver more compelling renditions of the iconic antagonist.
2 Best: Keith David In Mortal Kombat 11
Keith David voiced Spawn in the highly-regarded animated series, Todd McFarlane's, Spawn on HBO.
When the character was announced as a guest character for Mortal Kombat 11, it came as an added treat to learn Keith David was once again providing the voice. It is difficult to imagine anyone else giving the iconic comic book character life, and David's rich voice is so recognizable, copying it would have proved futile.
1 Worst: Kurt Cobain In Guitar Hero 5
Kurt Cobain isn't around to tell anyone how he would feel about his inclusion in Guitar Hero 5, and far it be it from us to speak for him, but the problems with his inclusion in the rhythm game are apparent when playing.
Cobain was particularly anti-corporation and rarely licensed his songs out, so it is hard to imagine him giving the okay for his image's usage in the game. Plenty of other cameos work well, like Shirley Manson and Carlos Santana. The ability to use the avatar for other songs makes is a particularly odd feature, bordering on disrespectful.
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