While presidential candidates may not be actively courting the gamer vote, that doesn’t mean some fun can’t be had with presidential and video games. Below each candidate has been matched up with the video game that best represents them. Disagree with a selection? Comment below with your own choice.

Barack Obama – VII

final_fantasy7.jpgIn 1997 Square released the seventh installment of its acclaimed RPG series and it became a worldwide sensation. Contrary to all past experience, American gamers ate up a Japanese-style RPG en masse. Its slick graphics and presentation have led many to accuse it of being more style than substance. In fact, while VII is often cited as one of the best games ever made, you are likely to find just as many who decry it as the most over hyped ever. These vocal gamers often note that while VII got all the headlines, much better RPGs were being released on the PlayStation-such as Suikoden.

Hillary Clinton – 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble!

donkey_kong_country3.pngNo, this title selection is nothing as defamatory as labeling Hillary Clinton a monkey. The series of games were huge blockbusters at the time of their releases. In fact, many viewed them as the best games ever with their slick pre-rendered graphics and not-too-extreme patforming gameplay. Still, as the series progressed gamers grew weary of the titles. By the third title’s release gamers were no longer sure they wanted more . Worse still, hindsight had caught up with the first two titles and they no longer seemed quite so perfect or revolutionary. By the third title’s release gamers were seeking change, and some mild gameplay gimmicks were not enough. Still, many consider it the best of the series.

Mike Huckabee – Bible Adventures

bible_adventures.pngYes, Mike Huckabee is a former Baptist minister. Yes, Bible Adventures is one of the most famous (perhaps infamous) religious themed games ever made. However, that connection alone isn’t the only link between these two. Huckabee, like Bible Adventures publisher Wisdom Tree, is a fighter. Wisdom Tree was one of those rare companies to release unlicensed titles for the original NES (another, Tengen, was more the Ralph Nader of games). Wisdom Tree was really born out of the ashes of Color Dreams (the religious right movement?) and was successful in large part due to the rise of Christian book stores. The actual game may not impress you much upon first play, but there is a certain fun, winning charm to its weirdness. Again, much like Mike Huckabee.

John McCain – Desert Bus: Penn & Teller’s Smoke and Mirrors

desert_bus.gifWhile John McCain and illusionists Penn & Teller might not normally mingle in your mind’s eye, they do in video game land. Penn & Teller’s Smoke and Mirrors is a game of legend. A collection of weird minigames that never fully got released, the highlight was certainly Desert Bus. A bus driving simulator, Desert Bus tasked you with driving a bus from Tucson, Arizona to Las Vegas, Nevada in eight hours of real time. The game could not be paused, and the bus occasionally would veer to the right. So, like the Arizona senator you set out on a grueling long journey (to your party’s nomination) and occasionally veer off to the right (frightening potential independent voters). Uncanny.


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