Finn Wolfhard, widely recognized for his role as Mike Wheeler in Netflix's "Stranger Things," is now shifting his focus to a music career. However, this transition has allowed him to engage in unique projects, including acting out Lego Pokémon battles with Terry Crews to promote new Lego Pokémon sets. In a recent interview, Wolfhard delved into his personal history with video games, his enduring affection for Pokémon and Lego, and how video game music influences his own creative work.
Wolfhard's introduction to the Pokémon franchise began with "Pokémon Pearl" on the Nintendo DS. He recalls playing the game extensively around second or third grade, often sharing the experience with his brother, who is an even more dedicated fan. He later revisited the series by playing "Pokémon FireRed" with castmates from "Stranger Things" during downtime on set. For "Pokémon Pearl," his starter was Turtwig, while his "FireRed" playthrough featured Venusaur as his starter. He expressed a strong preference for Grass-type Pokémon, mentioning Venusaur and Ivysaur among his favorites, alongside others like Mewtwo, Pichu, Geodude, and Machamp.
Beyond Pokémon, Wolfhard's connection to Lego is deeply rooted in his childhood. He described growing up with Lego scattered throughout his house, particularly recalling a fondness for Star Wars-themed sets, including small TIE Fighters and a Darth Maul figure. The opportunity to participate in a commercial involving both Lego and Pokémon felt like a natural fit, combining two significant elements from his past.
His foray into video games began with titles like "Final Fantasy X" and "Jak II" on the PlayStation 2. Wolfhard particularly enjoyed the hoverboard mechanics in "Jak II," admitting that his brother often stepped in when the game became too challenging. His early gaming experiences also included collecting retro consoles, such as the NES, where he played "Super Mario Bros. 3," and the Super Nintendo, on which he played "Street Fighter II."
While he enjoys modern games, Wolfhard gravitates towards titles from the GameCube and PS2 eras. Recently, he has been playing "Meccha Chameleon" and has revisited "Call of Duty: Black Ops II" on PS5, a game he was particularly fond of during its initial release, even maintaining a clan and excelling as a sniper. He shared that he and his bandmates still play "Call of Duty: Black Ops II Zombies" together on their tour bus.
Video game music plays a significant role in Wolfhard's musical inspiration. He cites "Super Mario Galaxy" and all the "Final Fantasy" scores as exceptionally influential, appreciating their melodies and arrangements, particularly any use of strings. While his recent album does not feature direct video game lyrical references, he noted that composers from games like "Chrono Trigger" and "EarthBound" are brilliant, and their work, alongside film scores, often inspires his own compositions. He mentioned that despite his admiration for these soundtracks, he has never learned to play them due to their complexity, often relying on friends with musical training to perform them.