6 video games you probably didn't know were based on books by Tim Mulkerin on Aug 24, 2016, 9:46 AM Advertisement
 Video games often have a reputation for being juvenile, thoughtless entertainment for children. Well, much like any other entertainment medium, there are a wide variety of video games; some are indeed brainless entertainment, but others use literature as a jumping off point to explore deeply complicated political ideas. From Ayn Rand to the Ming dynasty, here are six video games you probably didn't realize were based on books. SEE ALSO: The 11 best games that aren't about killing stuff "The Witcher" series  "The Witcher 3" is one of the most celebrated open-world action games in the last decade, but not many people know it's actually based on a series of fantasy novels by the same name. "The Witcher" series, by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, focuses on Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter who uses a variety of supernatural abilities to stalk his prey. Unlike the books, however, the video game series allows players to make decisions on behalf of Geralt, shaping the world witch each choice they make. The series is such a point of national pride for Poland as a whole that its former prime minister gave a copy of "The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings" to President Obama as a gift back in 2011.
"Enslaved: Odyssey to the West"  16th century Chinese literature might not strike you as the best jumping off point for a post-apocalyptic action video game, but 2010's "Enslaved: Odyssey to the West," available for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, is actually a modern re-interpretation of "Journey to the West." "Journey to the West," a Chinese novel that dates back to the Ming dynasty, centers around Xuanzang (sometimes called "Tripitaka" in English translations), a relatively helpless monk who enlists the help of others to help him on his journey. One such person is the Monkey King, a mischievous but highly capable warrior. In "Enslaved: Odyssey to the West," Tripitaka becomes Trip, a young woman who forces the game's main playable hero, Monkey, to help her travel across the ruins of what was once New York City. How does a young woman force a giant, burly warrior to help her, you may ask? She places a mechanical slave headband on Monkey, which causes him pain if he doesn't abide by Trip's orders, and will instantly kill him if Trip is harmed. That's based on a similar headband that the Monkey King character in "Journey to the West" wears, which can be tightened if anyone chants a specific mantra to keep his mischievous behavior in check. "Journey to the West," however, doesn't have the voice talents of Andy Serkis or that weird, existential sci-fi twist at the end.
"Assassin's Creed"  One of the main lines at the heart of the Slovenian novel "Alamut" published in 1938 is, "Nothing is an absolute reality, all is permitted." Players of the "Assassin's Creed" series might recognize that as being nearly identical to a line that pops up throughout the franchise: "Nothing is true, everything is permitted." Though not a direct adaptation of "Alamut," the first "Assassin's Creed" contains many similar themes, including criticisms of the way fascistic leaders of radicalized groups manipulate people into their ranks. If you're looking to dig into the relationship between "Alamut" and "Assassin's Creed" more, Michelle Ehrhardt's article on Kill Screen is an excellent read.
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