Top Six Games For Tony "Iron Man" Stark

Iron Man 2 comes out tonight, so I've got Iron on the mind. Specifically, I'm thinking about Tony Stark. The reason the first movie was so good wasn't really the special effects and bang-up action sequences, it was Robert Downey Jr.'s portayal of Stark.

But would Stark be a gamer? I think so. He is portrayed as a man of wealth and taste, and, although he's never shown gaming, he would have refinement when it came to which titles he played. I doubt Tony Stark would be caught dead playing the movie tie-in Iron Man game, for instance. I think Stark would enjoy the following games for the following reasons:

Shadow of the Colossus -- The key to the character of Tony Stark is his heart. Stark is forced to construct a special magnetic chest-cage and suit of metal armor to protect his vulnerable, physical heart, and his lifestyle of excess, booze and sloots is metaphorical armor he wears to protect his emotional heart. He's a softie, and would be deeply moved by Shadow's quiet lyrical quality and tale of Wander's all-consuming love for Mono.

Tapper -- Stark would love this old-school arcade game because he's a damn drunk.

Marvel Vs. Capcom 2: Imagine a yuppie looking, older gentleman in an expensive suit walking into your local pizza joint, parting the sea of stoners  and putting his a quarter down on the Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 machine you're playing. You wouldn't be worried, right? But if that dude was Tony Stark, and he played as Iron Man, he'd he tear you to pieces and look much cooler than you while he was doing it.

Now, imagine Tony Stark playing Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 while wearing the Iron Man suit! Iron Man would be controlling Iron Man! Now imagine a bigger Iron Man controlling that Iron Man! (I just blew my own mind.)

Steel Battalion -- This little-played Xbox One game was a simulation of mech-combat. Stark would relate to the clomping metal suits, and his nature as an engineer and scientist would be put to the test by the game's unique controller that features three joysticks, over 40 buttons and a trio of foot pedals. Plus, Tony is a billionaire, and thus one of the few people who wouldn't balk at the game's $200 price tag.

Leisure Suit Larry In the Land of the Lounge Lizards -- This suggestion was provided by comic book expert Blair Butler, who thinks Stark would relate to the louche lifestyle of the titular character. Tony Stark and the Iron Man movies never take themselves too seriously, so the game's tongue-in-cheek vibe fits... no human being on earth, however, would willingly play Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust.

Chess: Tony Stark, were he real, would be among the most intelligent men who ever lived, so I doubt he'd be challenged by many video games, but Chess will challenge anyone. It is the best multiplayer strategy game ever invented (although story mode is lame).  I think Stark would either play chess with his robotic butler Jarvis or play online at The Internet Chess Club, a site that offers the chance to match wits with actual grandmasters in ranked matches... if you're that good. Tony Stark would be that good.