10 Underrated TV Shows Based On Video Games

In recent years, television adaptations of video games have received mixed reviews. While there have been some weak attempts, such as the Netflix live-action Resident Evil series or Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm, there are several underrated TV shows based on video games that deserve more recognition.

One such show is The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, which aired in 1989. While the show primarily focused on the adventures of Mario and Luigi, it also included a recurring segment based on the Legend of Zelda. This segment followed the adventures of Link and Princess Zelda in the medieval fantasy realm of Hyrule, battling the recurring villain Ganon and his schemes to conquer the kingdom and obtain the Triforce.

Another underrated adaptation is Kirby: Right Back at Ya!, a 2001 anime series. The show follows the adventures of the balloon boy Kirby as he crash-lands on the planet Popstar and battles various monsters and enemies. Kirby can temporarily gain the abilities of things and enemies he consumes, and he uses these abilities to free the cosmos from the tyrannical King Dedede and the fearsome Nightmare. The show is as cutesy as early Pokémon episodes and features a memorable supporting cast.

Bomberman Jetters, released in 2002, is another underrated adaptation of a Nintendo property. The show follows a peacekeeping force known as the Bomberman Jetters, led by protagonist White Bomber after his older brother's disappearance. The show initially begins with a case-of-the-week setup before transitioning to longer-form storytelling across its 52-episode run, incorporating other Bombermen and keeping true to the bizarre nature of the franchise.

F-Zero: GP Legend, a 2003 anime series, is another noteworthy adaptation. While not as well-known in the United States, the show ran for 51 episodes before ending in 2004. The series follows police detective Ryu Suzaku, revived from stasis in the 23rd century, as he becomes involved in the high-stakes galactic race known as F-Zero.

Ryu serves as the point-of-view character, experiencing the strange world of F-Zero in a way the games could not. The show also features Captain Falcon, delivering a cosmic punch through a galaxy.