During the peak of slasher film boom in the late ’80s and early ’90s, Freddy Krueger was literally everywhere. From toasters to children’s toys, there was almost nothing you could buy that didn’t have Springwood Slasher’s face on it. Since Wes Craven had introduced him into the world with 1984’s A Nightmare on Elm Street, Freddy had clearly become the king of pop culture.
Nintendo was not oblivious to the success of the horror franchise, and brought Freddy Krueger to the NES with an official game in 1990. Developed by LJN, the game lets players attempt to destroy Freddy using various dream powers, reminiscent of Dream Warriors. As one of very few NES titles to feature 4-player functionality, the game was actually ahead of its time. Although it’s been criticized by certain irritable game reviewers, the NES version of A Nightmare on Elm Street is seen as a cult favorite for many fans.
Oddly enough, however, Freddy Krueger would never again be given his own video game. However, the character has since made guest appearances in other titles. In 2011, a two-gloved version of Freddy joined Mortal Kombat as a playable fighter, and in 2017, the dream demon was added to the roster of Dead by Daylight. Both of these versions physically resemble Jackie Earle Haley’s remake Freddy more than Robert Englund’s original.
Now, it seems that the timing is right for there to be a new, official video game based on A Nightmare on Elm Street. Nostalgia is more popular than ever, as we’re seeing with the tremendous anticipation from fans for the new Halloween film. The popularity of Friday the 13th: The Game also proves that there’s plenty of interest for classic horror in the gaming world. If another movie with Robert Englund isn’t going to happen, why not bring Freddy into a new video game?
Soon, we will be seeing Englund reprise the role of Freddy Krueger once more for the Halloween special of The Goldbergs. However, the actor has previously made it clear he’ll never play Freddy in a movie again, as his body just couldn’t handle it. This is why something like a video game would be perfect. Englund could lend his voice to the role, giving him a chance for another hurrah as the character without having to spend hours and hours each day in the makeup chair.
How exactly would a new game play? I’ll leave that to the creative minds in gaming, as I don’t know a thing about programming. It’d be amazing to see a multiplayer mode, at the least, maintaining the spirit of the NES classic. But whether we’re dealing with an asymmetrical, multiplayer game, or a single-player survival horror, just tell me that Robert Englund is doing the voice, and I’d prepay for it right now.
#TheGoldbergs Halloween episode this year is going to be a NIGHTMARE! @RobertBEnglund will guest star as the one and only Freddy Krueger! pic.twitter.com/JduaQYqeiP
— The Goldbergs (@TheGoldbergsABC) September 21, 2018
Watch for Englund’s episode of The Goldbergs to air sometime next month. Whether it’s a horror film, video game, or guest appearance on a comedy series, it’s always amazing to see Robert Englund as Freddy!
I’ve been thinking this forever. If only there was a good classic horror franchise turned into a game like Nightmare on Elm Street. Imagine an RPG style story on Elm Street, the school, the boiler room, and all the other places in the franchise.. As well as a multiplayer mode similar to Friday the 13th that you could play, i would buy in a heartbeat!!! Friday the 13th really had a great idea and should’ve started gamings biggest trend with classic horror games!!! Maybe one day… P.S. Developers feel free to steal my idea 😉
I TOTALLY AGREE.!! I’ve been hoping for a Nightmare on Elm street game for the longest time.! I’m not talking about 1 of those old school cheesey games either, even though I’ve played the past ones! There’s SOooooo many possibilities they could come up with for a NMOES game.! I was thinking along the lines of playing as Freddy, maybe “having capabilities of controlling teens on elm streets dreams”, and the more “souls” you take, the more capabilities you get, or “different gloves”.!! Like have a “talent” board were you can learn certain abilities as you progress in the game.! That would be AWESOME.! Shoot, if I knew how to make a game, I’d try to make a good one myself if developers aren’t going too.! Lol