Constantine (2005) with Merrilee O'Neil (Fear Coded)

Constantine (2005) with Merrilee O'Neil (Fear Coded)

From Play Comics by Chris Osborne

March 15, 2026 · 41 min

About this episode

Chris Osborne and guest Merrilee O'Neil discuss the 2005 video game adaptation of Constantine, exploring its design and thematic elements.

Read transcript Some licensed games take you to fantastical worlds filled with wonder and adventure. This is not one of those games. This time on Play Comics we’re trudging through the smoke-filled, demon-splattered streets of Constantine (2005), the tie-in that asked, “What if we took Keanu Reeves, a theological horror film, and the PS2’s most dramatic lighting engine, and just… saw what happened?” Somehow it’s a third-person action game, a movie adaptation, and a vaguely spiritual experience about regretting your rental choices all at the same time. Chris isn’t wandering this half-lit hellscape alone though. Merrilee O’Neil from Fear Coded jumps into the exorcism circle to help figure out where this game lands on the spectrum from “surprisingly solid” to “should’ve stayed in development hell.” Together they’re digging into how much of the comic DNA and film mood actually survived the trip through Bits Studios and THQ, and how often it just turns into early-2000s “shoot the demon, ask theology questions later” energy. So grab your PS2 or Xbox controller, light a metaphorical cigarette (or maybe don’t, your lungs will thank you), and step into a world where holy relics share…

People in this episode

Host: Chris Osborne

Guest: Merrilee O'Neil

Topics covered

  • video game adaptation
  • theological horror
  • game design
  • licensed games
  • action games

Keywords

  • Constantine
  • Keanu Reeves
  • PS2
  • THQ
  • Bits Studios
  • video game
  • demon
  • exorcism
  • theology

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Fear Coded, Bits Studios, THQ

Products: PS2, Xbox

Books & works: Constantine

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