‘Les Misérables: The Video Game’?

Will Perkins
·Blogger

You probably knew that director Tom Hooper’s Oscar nominated “Les Misérables” was based on a popular stage musical from the 1980s. You may also know that the Tony-winning musical was in turn based on Victor Hugo’s 19th century novel of the same name.

See more: Watch ‘Mamma Mia!’ star as Linda Lovelace

But did you know that there have been a few unexpected adaptations of Hugo’s famed story of redemption, love, and rebellion since the play's debut? Inexplicable adaptations like a Japanese fighting video game "Arm Joe," which pitted characters like Jean Valjean, Cosette, Javert, and Marius against one another in a “Street Fighter”-style 2D melee.

Don’t believe it? Have a look at "Arm Joe" for yourself below.

Yes, more than a decade before Hugo’s “Les Mis” characters featured Hooper’s dignified Best Picture nominated film, they were beating each other up in the 1998 2D fighting game “Arm Joe." The game's name is derived from a Japanese title of the novel and musical - "Ah, Mujou" (translated "Oh, Cruelty").

See more: Stars parade around at the Sundance Film Festival

Players can choose to fight as almost any of the major "Les Misérables" characters or as a number of bonus characters, including Cosette's stuffed bunny toy "Ponpon" and a robotic version of Valjean called "RoboJean." All the game's characters also have hilarious special attacks which supposedly relate to their backstory in the novel. Play as the villainous Inspector Javert and rain down meteors on your opponents (for some reason), or fight as the rebellious Enjolras and drop a massive barricade on the other player.

See more: Five film facts about 'Les Miserables'

There really is no way to explain the existence of something like "Arm Joe." "Les Misérables" is extremely popular in Japan, and a number of animated and comic book adaptations of the story have been produced over the years. Nobody ever expected the tale to make good fodder for a video game though. That said, we would pay good money to see an updated version featuring the likenesses and voice talents of Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, and Anne Hathaway. Make it happen, Internet!

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • FTSE 100 LIVE: European stocks rise as traders digest US tech earnings and Bank of Japan decision

    The Bank of Japan (BoJ) kept its monetary policy unchanged at the conclusion of its two-day meeting.

  • Bruins visit the Maple Leafs with 2-1 series lead

    Boston Bruins (47-20-15, second in the Atlantic Division) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (46-26-10, third in the Atlantic Division)Toronto; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDTBETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Maple Leafs -114, Bruins -106; over/under is 6NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Bruins lead series 2-1BOTTOM LINE: The Boston Bruins visit the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the NHL Playoffs with a 2-1 lead in the series. The teams meet Wednesday for the eighth time this season. The Bruins won 4-2 in the previous match

  • Panthers bring 3-0 lead into game 4 against the Lightning

    Florida Panthers (52-24-6, first in the Atlantic Division) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (45-29-8, fourth in the Atlantic Division)Tampa, Florida; Saturday, 5 p.m. EDTBETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Panthers -122, Lightning +102; over/under is 6NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Panthers lead series 3-0BOTTOM LINE: The Florida Panthers visit the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the NHL Playoffs with a 3-0 lead in the series. The teams meet Thursday for the seventh time this season. The Panthers won 5-3 in the

  • Hurricanes bring 3-0 lead into game 4 against the Islanders

    Carolina Hurricanes (52-23-7, second in the Metropolitan Division) vs. New York Islanders (39-27-16, third in the Metropolitan Division)Elmont, New York; Saturday, 2 p.m. EDTBETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Hurricanes -184, Islanders +153; over/under is 5.5NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Hurricanes lead series 3-0BOTTOM LINE: The Carolina Hurricanes visit the New York Islanders in the first round of the NHL Playoffs with a 3-0 lead in the series. The teams meet Thursday for the eighth time this season. The Hur

  • UK cybersecurity firm Darktrace to be bought by US private equity firm

    Thoma Bravo has agreed a cash deal worth more than £4 billion for the Cambridge-based company.

  • Vegas hosts Dallas with 2-0 series lead

    Dallas Stars (52-21-9, first in the Central Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (45-29-8, fourth in the Pacific Division)Paradise, Nevada; Saturday, 10:30 p.m. EDTBETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Golden Knights -119, Stars -101; over/under is 5.5NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Golden Knights lead series 2-0BOTTOM LINE: The Vegas Golden Knights host the Dallas Stars in the first round of the NHL Playoffs with a 2-0 lead in the series. The teams meet Wednesday for the sixth time this season. The Golden Knights wo

  • London travel news LIVE: Tube stations shut amid new strike as two lines delayed after 'casualty on tracks'

    Several London Underground stations are closed due to workers striking while two Tube lines were halted because of a casualty on the track. Transport for London marked 10 stations on the network at 9am on Friday due to the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association action. The union said the action was likely to cause Tube stations to close at the last minute, including into Saturday morning, but Transport for London said there will not be significant disruption.

  • California college cancels graduation ceremony as protests after Israel's war in Gaza continue

    Protests against the Gaza war grip dozens of campuses across America, with hundreds of arrests.

  • Q1 2024 National Bank Holdings Corp Earnings Call

    Q1 2024 National Bank Holdings Corp Earnings Call

  • Son Heung-min eager for ‘inexperienced’ Spurs to test themselves against Arsenal

    Spurs enter this pivotal north London derby on the back of a 4-0 defeat at Newcastle two weeks ago.

  • Darktrace to be bought by Thoma Bravo for $5.3 billion

    Cybersecurity firm Darktrace today became the latest business to quit the London Stock Exchange after it unveiled a $5.3 billion deal to be acquired by US private equity firm Thoma Bravo. The offer of 620p per share represents a 20% premium on yesterday’s closing share price and marks a rekindling of the firm’s relations with Thoma Bravo with whom it had entered into informal takeover talks in 2022 before discussions were abandoned. Cambridge-based Darktrace, which first listed on the LSE in 2021, today lashed out at the sorry state of the London public markets, complaining that its financial achievements “had not been reflected commensurately in its valuation” with its shares being consistently undervalued relative to US peers.

  • Two men charged with immigration offences after five migrants die in Channel tragedy

    Three men, a woman and a girl reportedly died after a dinghy carrying more than 100 people got into difficulty

  • Trump's Supreme Court immunity arguments make me wish Americans were immune to con artists

    Donald Trump's desire for absolute immunity stems from the fact that he has nearly twice as many criminal indictments as the American flag has stars.

  • Colby Covington is ‘single-handedly ruining’ UFC 303, says Ian Machado Garry

    Garry is eyeing a clash with the former interim champion, before McGregor and Chandler meet in the main event

  • Emma Stone urges fans to call her by he real name

    ‘Poor Things’ said it would be ‘so nice’ if fans started referring to her by her given name

  • Arbor Day: How a Nebraska editor and Richard Nixon, separated by a century, gave trees a day

    When is Arbor Day? President Richard Nixon established the day on the last Friday in April but that was nearly 100 years after the movement began.

  • Pet Shop Boys: 'We should call our next tour Farewell'

    The pop group look back on 40 years of chart success, and discuss their 15th album, Nonetheless.

  • Newcastle keen on Crystal Palace's Dougie Freedman to replace Manchester United-bound Dan Ashworth

    Paul Mitchell, formerly of Tottenham, and Brentford’s Phil Giles is also of interest

  • Rwanda Bill is causing migrants to pour into Ireland, says foreign minister

    ‘I believe the Rwanda effect is impacting on Ireland and that didn't happen today or yesterday’- Micheal Martin

  • Huawei's smart car tech offers automakers route to China sales

    It's taken Huawei just four years to become a force in smart car technology, navigating the devastation of trade sanctions on its smartphones business while simultaneously developing a driver assistance system that is the darling of the Beijing auto show. Huawei Technologies has two huge booths at this week's event, and there are at least seven Chinese automakers touting its Qiankun installed in their cars as the most sophisticated advanced driving assistance system (ADAS) to date. Even Germany's Volkswagen will equip its China-made, China-bound Audi Q6L e-tron with Qiankun upon the car's 2025 launch, in Huawei's first deal with a foreign automaker, two people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.