[Hated Trope] Crossovers that fundamentally don’t understand the source material

[u/Calvinball08]

When a crossover basically does the exact opposite of what the source material clearly lays out because the creators clearly just don’t care about the source material at all.

Emil - Dead by Daylight

The one that inspired this post. Emil as a character is the most hopeful, optimistic, and kind character in the entire NieR series, maybe in all of Yoko Taro’s games (maybe aside from Yonah). His goal is to help as many people as he possibly can and even when he goes through immense suffering he always comes out the other side ready to keep on helping people.

Then Dead by Daylight adds him as a killer skin, because “he looks creepy.” You know, the aspect of the character that’s his biggest struggle, that causes him to be scared of how people will judge him, and that makes him hate himself. That’s what we’ll base our entire concept on. Genius idea.

Iron Giant - Ready Player One

Technically you could argue that it’s not an example because it’s just a part of the game and Wade is the one misunderstanding the source material. To that I raise you that this is actually an in universe example of the trope, with the game including the Iron Giant as a crossover where you can use him as a weapon, thereby misunderstanding the source material.

Also it’s probably the filmmakers completely misunderstanding the source material/not caring as well.

[u/MatTheScarecrow]

I thought the book was better.

Probably because I read it first before watching the movie.

But I'll readily admit it's a low-calorie book; fun stuff, I like Rush, oh nice; teenagers beating the system through nostalgia and the media they love. Great.

And then it leaves no lasting impression beyond having enjoyed it. Like watching a 6/10 PG-13 action movie.

[u/throwaway112658 → u/MatTheScarecrow]

Yeah I like the book. Outside of the weird romance shit which I skip whenever I reread it, it's a nice little power fantasy book that's a fun read. It's not particularly impressive literature but it's a fun thing to read every once in a while then forget about. I honestly don't hate the movie either, but you really have to avoid thinking too hard or really at all about most things because it comes apart if you do. But still a fun little way to kill a couple hours

[u/RenTroutGaming → u/MatTheScarecrow]

Sort of like Dungeon Crawler Carl, its a fun book with cute nods towards nerd culture. Is it great literature? No way. Is it a fun way to spend a couple hours? Absolutely.