So, I've been playing the first My Little Pony: Make Your Mark video game (A Maritime Bay Adventure). Don't get me wrong, its as easy as it can be. All fun simply comes from playing as characters you like and the overall charm. That being said, completing tasks, despite everything you need know about being handed to you, is fun and can be rewarding. Such licensed games was once a norm. New Pixar movie? New Disney movie? New Dreamworks movie? Popular cartoon? When does the action-adventure, shooter, and/or platformer come out? And more often than not, they were cash grabs with some diamonds in the rough. I always loved Kung Fu Panda, and even though Futurama isn't a kids' show, there was a platformer/beat em' up/shooter game which came out in the early 2000's during the show's first run, and it makes the most basic choices...yet the ingredients are all infused with thoughtfulness. If you're a fan of Futurama, you'll love the game. It's always nice to strive for more than that. In my opinion, the Attack on Titan games on console hold up if you haven't watched the show because playing the first game got me into the show! I digress.

I get we have the Gameloft Friendship is Magic city builder, but I would genuinely give anything for an action-adventure FIM based video game. The aforementioned licensed cash grabs are relics of the past. Now, when licensed games come out, there's an assumption some level of unique craft and concept regardless of whether it works out. For example, Friendship is Magic city builder!...and I hate city builders! I play the game because of the FIM charm, and I get to interact with characters and locations I love, but I don't have the drive to devote too much time to getting those big bits and gems. I'd just assume watch an episode.

I'm not saying there's no experimental route an FIM game could take, but I would honestly love a casual game in the spirit of those 2000's licensed games, but upper-tier, preferably. Only a bore if you're a gamer and you don't like My Little Pony. I want some platforming, some casual enemies (Changelings would be a great stock character if you base your story around a Changeling conflict). And, there would often be contrived reasons in these 2000's games where a character who would never fight in the source material is given the ability to fight based on a character trait because they're too important not to include as a playable character. To me, Twilight, Rainbow, and Applejack would have obvious abilities. Twilight's an alicorn. You've got pegasus, unicorn, and earth pony abilities to play around with. Rainbow? An actual hot-headed athlete and pegasus. She could be the go-to for battles in the air or time-sensitive or spatially-sensitive (gauntlet type stuff) missions. Applejack? The go-to Earth pony ground fighter as well as capable of fashioning items to help. Head-butting, kicking, lunging, different brawler-type fighting. I mean, she's not an athlete, but she's a classic manual laborer, so she's going to be stronger.

To me, Pinkie Pie would be a little more of a stretch, but still easily doable. Party gags are her weapons! The go-to (or only) shooter, even, with water balloons! And then, of course, the party cannon and other gags can be used to fight. Not to mention, her character could be capable of performing distractions to convene other character's missions or pull enemies away from overwhelming another characters.

Fluttershy? More difficult...which sucks because she's easily my favorite! I would say assistance from and ability to speak with animals would obviously come in to play during a battle. It might be the most unconventional (for the time) gameplay where you command animals to attack or defend, and maybe she just has a kick she can use if absolutely need be. I would say sneaking missions make sense for her. Not only is she quiet and light on her feet, but she could use animals to help. Mission for Fluttershy includes obtaining item which turns out to be in a space she can't fit, so she gets Angel to crawl in and it turns into a 2.5D platformer? I think this could work.

I would love to hear your thoughts! Rather you relish in just the basic idea, have some creative thoughts on how else it could work, a different modern perspective (like, "We can achieve what you're looking for with modern game designs"), or any amalgamation! Also, I obviously skipped Rarity because I have no idea where to start, and in your comments, I would be open to any suggestions. I got nothin'

Photo source: https://www.equestriadaily.com/2012/05/i-heard-you-guys-liked-video-games.html