Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official ... on Xbox (2005)

Brief synopsis of Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie

Some might say that theres only one Kong in videogames, and we all know who that is: Donkey Kong, Marios first opponent. Games lore has it that Shigeru Miyamoto gave his ape villain his first name because he wanted to convey a sense of stubbornness. More whimsical observers have quipped that it was a spelling mistake, and those crazy Japanese fellows wanted him to be called Monkey Kong. Whatever the truth is, nobody has any doubt regarding the origins of the second name of the abducting ape.

Now the original king-sized primate might have something to say, as the world braces itself for what must be the third or fourth remake of King Kong, directed this time by Brain Dead hobbit Peter Jackson. As we often remark, not many blockbuster films get away without being re-made as a videogame tie-in. Its worth saying though that Peter Jackson - very outspoken regarding the lack of involvement he was permitted with EAs LOTR games - had a lot of input with Ubisoft during the development of this Kong franchise.

We havent seen the film at the time of writing, but weve high hopes for it Oscar winner Jackson is well-known for attention to detail and the spectacular, and we note with approval after seeing the trailers that he's not drawn the line at a huge CGI ape there are flipping dinosaurs in it too. Bonanza!

The storyline for the new movie takes a self-referential twist. In the past, the Americans exploring the mysterious forgotten island have been painted variously as explorers and oil prospectors. This time around they are a party led by a film director, who needs a blockbuster to boost his flagging career. Also in the group are a screenwriter charged with penning the comeback, an actress to star in it, and the crew of the ship that got them there from Great Depression-era New York.

You get to play as every member of the group even as Kong himself as you play through the game, from the beginning on Skull Island, when Ann the actress is kidnapped by a local tribe, to the showdown where...well, we don't want to give anything away!

Bananas and flying barrels are in short supply in this most cinematic of games, but as for solving puzzles and smashing things? You have to admit it sounds promising.