Entertainment buffs know that not every source material can be perfectly adapted into live-action projects, especially those that have ruled fans’ hearts since their origination. In this category come video games too, many of which have failed at attempts of true adaptations, except for a few like Fallout (2024), Prime’s most recent live-action version of the video game series of the same name.
In fact, this post-apocalyptic-America set story has been delivered so strongly among fans that some are even crediting it as being the “best video game adaptation” of all time. But while making this comparison, these fans are forgetting that one other novel + video game-based live-action project has been stealing hearts lately with an even more unforgettable experience: Shōgun (2024).
Fans Calling Fallout Best Need to be Reminded of Shōgun
The recently released game-based series on Prime, Fallout is winning a lot of hearts. And by “a lot,” we mean almost everyone’s. Adapted from the video game of the same name, the show is garnering massive fan approval, with the critic score being even more than the audience’s.
According to the stats from Rotten Tomatoes, the series has scored a whopping 94% average rating from critics on the Tomatometer as compared to the 87% average numbers given by the audience. Then there are the fans on X too, who are having a great time praising the series:
I just finished it. what a beautiful tribute to the series as a whole. what a fantastic piece of fiction #FalloutOnPrime is. anyone that was wondering about what is and is not canon needs to watch the show again. I'm speechless on what magic they have created.
— Atomic Radio Hour Podcast (@AtomicRadioHour) April 14, 2024
For the absolute disaster Fallout games have been after 4, #FalloutOnPrime brings it back to its amazing story telling glory.
SO GOOD!
Now a fallout pun: “A neutron walks into a bar. 'How much for a drink here, anyway?' To which the bartender responds, 'For you, no charge.'” https://t.co/mQNDWl9XLH
— David Ortiz (@DavidDOrtizCO) April 14, 2024
The new #FalloutOnPrime show is awesome ☢️
— Loucid Skinz (@LoucidSkinz) April 14, 2024
I don't remember being aesthetically drawn to a videogame based series as much as I did with @falloutonprime. A well-struck balance of novelty and nostalgia. Glad to see a coveted adaptation doing so well. #FalloutOnPrime
— Naif Alsaber (@NaifAlsaber) April 14, 2024
Finished Fallout. Really enjoyed it. Fave show of the year so far #FalloutOnPrime pic.twitter.com/3DfbD1qjDx
— Fernando Pinto! (@NandoPintoArt) April 14, 2024
Finished #FalloutOnPrime and it was FANTASTIC. For me, better than TLOU. It takes a lot of dedication to not simply copy a game but take the world and elements that make it great and create something new. Bravo. After that cliff hanger I can’t WAIT for Season 2
— Leon Kennedy bimbo, PA-S (@Emmast_John) April 14, 2024
In fact, one fan (@WesleyW626 on X) even went so far while commending this series that they even claimed it is “the best video game adaptation I’ve ever seen” in every aspect — from production to design to acting to action — after comparing it to The Last of Us.
#FalloutOnPrime is not only the best TV show of the year but it's the best video game adaptation I've ever seen. The Last of Us set a high bar but this managed to surpass it in every way. Production design, acting, action are top notch. Ella and Walton give career best… pic.twitter.com/C8kRkrYtdF
— Wesley (@WesleyW626) April 13, 2024
But that said, fans are forgetting that one other series ranks even higher when it comes to the true “best video game adaptation of all time.” This “other” show is none other than Hiroyuki Sanada’s most recent and sheerly brilliant masterpiece, Shōgun.
Shōgun Surpasses Even Fallout‘s Excellence
While it is indeed true that the Prime series has truly redeemed the video game franchise and done justice to its source material, Shōgun has crossed even that level. If anything, the utter excellence dripping from Sanada’s masterpiece is incomparable, even to Ella Purnell‘s show.
This stands true after looking at the near-perfect scores this saga has earned from worldwide critics and general viewers. As per the numbers on Rotten Tomatoes, Sanada’s series is 99% critics-approved and 92% audience-approved — which is truly more than its current rival.
For the record, we do acknowledge that this series is not primarily based on its superhit fan-favorite video games, but rather, on the novel of the same name by James Clavell from 1975. Regardless, the storylines coincide, and it wouldn’t be wrong to call it a video game adaptation as well.
At the same time, it is also necessary to acknowledge that both of these shows had a truly star-studded cast with the most perfect makeup, costume designs, and acting skills that just killed it. In that aspect, there’s absolutely no comparison, for both were truly top-notch.
That being said, nonetheless, the ultimate victory in all other aspects of this competition inevitably goes to the saga holding Hiroyuki Sanada in its lead, for the series has surpassed all of fans’ expectations to bring to the table something even more glorious than what was expected of it.
You can stream Fallout on Prime Video and Shōgun on FX on Hulu.
