It may or may not come as a surprise that Guillermo del Toro, the creator and director of groundbreaking films such asPan’s Labyrinthand theHellboyfranchise, is a huge fan of theBioShockfranchise. He hasn’t exactly kept his love for video games a secret over the years, and in recent years, he even played the major role of Deadman inDeath Stranding. Del Toro has expressed great appreciation for video games as a narrative art form for years, and he boasts an eclectic taste in games from a range of genres.
Guillermo del Toro’s favorites range from shooters such asLeft 4 DeadandHalotoUncharted 2,which he lauds as a prime example of cinematic excellence in gaming.The director has even tried his hand at creating video games himself, though unfortunately, nearly all of his projects have not seen the light of day. One thing is clear, however: Guillermo del Toro has a deep appreciation for video games as an art form.
Guillermo del Toro Loves Video Games
From Half-Life To L4D To Gears Of War, del Toro Has Played It All
Guillermo del Toro has mentioned his love for video games on a number of occasions, but during a 2010 Q&A on a book tour, available courtesy of YouTube userbrittyn,del Toro gave a candid account of his relationship with video games. When asked about his appreciation for video games, del Toro listed off a number of popular titles he’d enjoyed over the years, including bothLeft 4 Deadgames,Red Dead Redemption,the legendaryIco, which he called a"masterpiece,“Half-Life, Gadget,and more.
Del Toro’s fascination with video games runs deep, acknowledgingHalf-Lifeas a revolutionary piece of media. He has even tried his hand at many of his own unfinished or canceled projects over the years. Infamously, he worked with Kojima on the2014Silent Hillsproject, which had a demo release under the nameP.T.(literally standing for"playable teaser”). Despite having the potential to be a standout horror experience,Silent Hillswas eventually canned, andP.T.was removed from the PlayStation store.
Guillermo del Toro Views Games Through A Filmmaker’s Lens
He Uses BioShock As An Example Of What’s Possible In The Medium
Guillermo del Toro’s appreciation for video games as an art form is rooted in his love for cinema and storytelling. He enjoys games that bring the player into the world and keep them hooked, stating that"if it doesn’t engage me, I leave it. I do not do homework with my life.“He notes a few of his favorite games, which includeShadow of the ColossusandIco, as well as an esoteric game from the"age of the CD-ROM"calledGadget: Invention, Travel, & Adventure.
However,BioShockwas a standout example, and he touted it as being one of the best pieces of media “in theaudio-visual form, period,“describing it as"one of the most fully realized world creations in any medium.“He feltBioShockwas an example ofa completely original idea that had never been done before,and was an example of what he aspired toward as a filmmaker and (at the time) a hopeful video game creator. Ultimately, del Toro believes films and video games share the same purpose: to immerse an audience in otherwise impossible worlds.
Guillermo del Toro & Death Stranding Creator Hideo Kojima Are Good Friends
The Pan’s Labyrinth & Metal Gear Creators Share Similar Philosophies On Visual Art
Guillermo del Toro’s interest and respect for video games hasn’t dwindled over the years, and more recently, aTIFF Originalsinterview, available on YouTube, covered his appreciation and friendship withDeath StrandingandMetal Gear Solidcreator, Hideo Kojima. The two share a mutual respect for one another primarily founded in a love for cinema and storytelling as an art form. Both of these legends are undeniably leaders in their respective mediums, andit’s clear that they share a similar philosophy when it comes to creating immersive and original worlds.
Guillermo del Toro’s likeness was even included in the originalDeath Strandingfor the character Deadman.
WithDeath Stranding 2on the way, it’s worth noting just how inseparable cinema and video games have become over the years, and a friendship between these like-minded artists should come as no surprise. With technology becoming more and more advanced, the possibilities in both mediums areonly limited by an artist’s imagination.While Guillermo del Toro won’t be hanging up his filmmaker hat anytime soon, he has stated sinceP.T.‘scancellation that he considers himself"the albatross of video games,"(as stated toPlayboyand covered byShacknews), and it’s unlikely he’ll attempt to make one again anytime soon.
Guillermo del Toro’s deep appreciation for video games stems from his love for film and storytelling, and he truly believes in the medium as a serious narrative and cinematic art form. From simple classics such asIcoto first-person shooters likeLeft 4 DeadandHaloto the fully realized original worlds ofBioShockandDeath Stranding, Guillermo del Toro’s taste in video games is expansive and commendable, and it’s encouraging to see an artist so enthusiastic about video games as a medium.
