Les Miserables: the game of the book is the first time that the story of Les Miserables has been adapted into a game. Notice the careful wording. It's the first time the story has been adapted, not the first Les Miserables game.

Purists of a nervous disposition may wish to stop reading now.

Les Miserables is popular in Japan, and computer based fighting games are also popular in Japan, so it was inevitable that one day they would meet. So "Arm Joe" was born: a fighting game that uses characters and costumes based on the musical. Are you ready for this?

A man called Takase made the game in the late 1990s. It features all the main characters from Les Miserables, plus a Robot replica of Valjean, a personification of divine judgment, and an animated stuffed rabbit who drives a Mini.

Above: Javert versus Thenardier... I think. Javert is about to hurl fire bolts from his fingers. Did you know he could do that? I didn't either. It probably only shows up in the original French translation.

Above: a good way to win a fight is to drop a barricade on someone. You can also use guns, fists, and other nineteenth century weapons. Notice that the costumes are straight from the musical.  Don't blame the book, it's all the musical's fault.

Why the name "arm Joe?" Because in Japan, Les Misérables is called Ah, Mujou (”ah, cruelty” or "no mercy") which sounds like "arm Joe." There is a popular fighting game called Viewtiful Joe (totally unconnected with this one) in case you are interested. 

The descendants of Victor Hugo once tried to ban a novel based on Les Miserables because it was not sufficiently respectful. What would they make of this? Hopefully they have a sense of humor. click here to download the whole game

The 'other' Les Miserables game

Other Parodies

Other comedy versions of Les Miserables, usually inspired by the musical, include:

Les Miseranimals

Animaniacs episode 11 contains an eleven minute tribute to Les Miserables, including twelve different songs! "Les Miseranimals" is on Disc 3 of the DVD set. (Information from Kelson Vibber's Les Mis fan site.)

Forbidden Broadway

On Amazon you can buy several CDs of Broadway spoofs called "Forbidden Broadway." Volume two contains several parodies of Les Mis songs.

Les Miserables II

"The Harvard Noteables" produced a spoof sequel. Good for fans.

The Desert Star Playhouse spoof

This one played to mixed reviews, but Marius was apparently excellent.

Les Bizzarables

I don't know what to make of this one. (You need to click "next" at the bottom of each page.)

YouTube

There is at least one Les Mis parody over on YouTube.

Beverly Hills 24601

I haven't been able to find a working link to this one. Can anyone help?

Lesmissy

A great site full of Les Mis fun - though some of the links are dead.

The 1991 Disney comic version

This one is an affectionate parody starring Scrooge McDuck as Javert.

And so it goes on!