I recently posted a feature where I showed how classic video-game characters have evolved from simple pixels to complex polygons. The difference is drastic, and it made people wonder how much further developers can push visuals as technology keeps advancing.

While we wait, I thought it would be cool to see how some popular retro games might look like with real-world environments and objects. The results are pretty interesting....

Contra

The cover art for the NES version of Contra basically depicted the main heroes as Dutch (Predator) and Rambo (First Blood), so adding Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone to this remake was a no-brainer. It is unclear if the Konami code works in this version.

Donkey Kong Country

The Kremlings wouldn't steal Donkey Kong’s banana hoard if he looked like this. I mean, look at his face! Is he happy, pissed off, or constipated? Diddy looks adorable in his little red cap, though.

Ninja Gaiden

During the early days, video games rarely had deep storylines and even fewer of them featured cutscenes. Ninja Gaiden’s intro sequence, with the two ninjas clashing in the air, always stuck in my head. If the 8-bit classic gets made into a movie, the director must recreate this scene!

Super Metroid

The last metroid is in captivity, but the galaxy is not at peace. Scientists should know better than to mess with the most dangerous life form in the known universe. Some of the objects in this picture include drain pipes, old computer monitors, a spark plug, an electric motor, a glass jar, and a truck grill.

Final Fantasy 6

Everyone who played this wonderful RPG fell in love with Ultros, but his real-life-octopus form is not nearly as charming. Banon, Terra, and the rest of the heroes look better in sprite form. We wouldn’t want Ultros to be upstaged.

Would you like to see any particular games given the real-world treatment? Let me know in the comments section!