John Carpenter’s The Thing is one of the greatest sci-fi horror films of all time, right up there with Ridley Scott’s Alien. It’s a remake of the 1951 movie, both of which are based on the original novella Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell. It’s also seen a video game adaptation, which has now itself been remade into The Thing: Remastered.
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If you’re curious to know just what this cult classic game has in store and whether it’s even worth playing to begin with if it’s not canon, you’ll find out shortly below. You can definitely trust the answer you see… or can you?
Is The Thing Video Game Directly Connected To The John Carpenter Movie?
Though it was not written or directed by John Carpenter, The Thing video game by Computer Artworks is largely acknowledged to be canon to the 1982 horror film.
The 2002 game is meant to be a tie-in sequel to the original storyline, and John Carpenter is a big proponent of the video game, even giving it his own seal of approval in an interview with Syfy Wire. He commented, “It’s a lot of fun, and I’m happy to have my visage in it.”
And indeed, Carpenter received a cameo in the video game, with his likeness used for the medic character Dr. Shaun Faraday, who can become a part of your squad.
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He also went on to endorse it with a quote on the original packaging, writing “This is one intense action/horror game. It is faithful to my 1982 movie and includes an incredibly cool and handsome character in Dr. Faraday. You gotta play this one, man – it’ll blast you against the wall.”
While you can’t definitively refer to it as the ‘official sequel,’ if John Carpenter is a major fan and believes it to be faithful to his movie, you can certainly consider it as a canon entry in our book.
What Is The Story Of The Thing (2002)?
The Thing video game follows a team of U.S. Special Forces operatives led by Captain J.F. Blake, the main protagonist, as they are tasked with investigating Antarctic research Outpost 31, as well as the Norwegian base.
You learn very quickly what you’re dealing with and what happened to the American scientists at Outpost 31, where destroying the base with C4 becomes the top priority and the sci-fi creature combat ensues shortly thereafter.
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You also get a glimpse as to what became of the Norwegian Thule Station, since Blake will be sent there to search for Alpha Team. You find out that there’s a new research base established by a company called Gen-Inc to study the alien being, which is where Carpenter’s character, Dr. Faraday, comes into play.
The developers showed great attention to detail in recreating the environments of the Antarctic outposts as well as revealing the fates of the characters from the original film. The way the game adapts the paranoia around trust, which is a key element of the movie, is one of its most defining mechanics that gets only further improved in Nightdive’s remaster.
Where Does The 2011 Movie Fit Into The Thing Timeline?
Despite its movie title also being ‘The Thing,’ the 2011 version is not a remake of John Carpenter’s beloved sci-fi horror classic but rather serves as a prequel to the events of the 1982 film.
The Thing (2011) follows the scientists at the Norwegian station and gets to the root of how everything unfolded on the Antarctic ice with the alien creature.
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You get to see the spacecraft in all its glory, how the team transports the large block of ice with the alien to Thule Station, and the aftermath of what those scientists go through with all the gory shapeshifting body horror shenanigans.
The ending leads perfectly into the beginning of John Carpenter’s movie, so if you’re a true fan of The Thing, you’d watch the 2011 movie, John Carpenter’s The Thing, and then play The Thing: Remastered to continue the story.
The Thing: Remastered
Horror
Third-Person Shooter
Action
- Released
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December 5, 2024
- Engine
-
KEX Engine
- ESRB
-
M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Violence
- Steam Deck Compatibility
-
Verified
- OpenCritic Rating
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Fair