Back to the Past: A Review of The Angry Video Game Nerd I and II Deluxe
James Rolfe aka AVGN
What do you do when a video game is bad? For years, I believed that there were no bad games, only that I wasn’t playing them right. It took me a long time to recognize when a video game’s quality was at fault, rather than my own skill or lack thereof. One of the people that helped me realize that games can be poorly made was James Rolfe, AKA The Angry Video Game Nerd (AVGN). He’s made an entire career yelling and swearing at games that made his blood boil. Now, things have come full circle, with the AVGN starring in a game collection of his very own. I’ve been a fan of his content since the beginning, so it was a real treat to receive a copy of the game to review thanks to our friends at Screenwave Media.
The Angry Video Game Nerd I & II Deluxe is a remastered set of two games initially released on Nintendo 3DS. With upgraded graphics, sound and new content, the PC and Nintendo Switch releases are functionally entirely different games. For clarity, I’m reviewing the PC version.
The first game in the collection, The Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures, is a fairly simple outing, with the AVGN being sucked into a terrible game, the player going through nine different worlds, each a crass parody of various other game worlds, like “Thy Farts Consumed”, a play on the Ultimate DOOM level “Thy Flesh Consumed”. The game is a tough as nails platformer with enough gore and bodily fluids in it to be reminiscent of something like Super Meat Boy. I, myself, have never been too skilled at platformers, so I cleared the game on normal difficulty. I refused to go full Games Journalist and dumb things down to Easy. Fans of the Angry Video Game Nerd will get a kick out of all the references to episodes of his shows throughout the game, and there are unlockable characters to discover, each of which you can cycle through to play as. While I only found one in my time with the game (Guitar Guy), he played significantly different and created an entirely new experience.
Old School Version: A clean walkthrough through F****** IMPOSSIBLE difficulty, getting all cartridges and upgrades.
The Angry Video Game Nerd II: ASSimilation is where the concept of a game based on the Angry Video Game Nerd really hits its stride. Instead of the nine long levels of the first game, you’re placed into an overworld with five different worlds to choose from, each with short yet challenging levels that lead to a boss. The Nerd chimes in more during gameplay, allowing for more moments of humor to balance out the often controller-tossing level of difficulty on display. However, for as difficult as the game is, it never feels as though any death is cheap. Everything in the game is carefully designed to push your platforming skills to the limit, especially the later levels. While you can only play as the Nerd this time, the game balances that out with an upgrade system – you can find items in certain levels that will permanently give the Nerd new abilities, such as sliding on walls or punching through breakable walls. With collectibles, comes multiple endings, allowing for greater replay value.
AVGN: 8 Bit Form
However, the game is not without its own issues. The difficulty can spike in particular levels, but be far easier in others. This intense level of difficulty could be off-putting for people who simply want a funny platforming experience with AVGN. However, there are multiple difficulty settings so this may not apply to everyone’s time with the game. My most major issue with the game is that there is no mouse support for it on PC. I understand that these games started life as a handheld game, but to have a PC game that strictly uses the keyboard feels very awkward to control – as such I was playing on a gamepad for the majority of my time spent with the titles. Hopefully, mouse support is patched in at a later date, to support people who don’t own a gaming controller for their PCs.
With that said, I still highly recommend The Angry Video Game Nerd I & II Deluxe for fans of platformers, and the Nerd himself. The game may get you upset enough to string together a few sets of expletives, but considering what you’re playing, that’s really just an extra layer of immersion.
-Score-
Gameplay: 5/5
The game is immaculately designed, with tests of precision and timing that will strain even the most seasoned player of platformers. Frustrating, but in a way that makes you want to keep coming back to beat it.
Graphics: 5/5
Taking full advantage of the games it’s mocking, The Angry Video Game Nerd I & II Deluxe has a distinct pixel-art style that serves as a fun contrast between the game and the filthy, furious character stuck inside it.
Difficulty: 4/5
This game is exceptionally difficult, but never in a way that feels unfair. There is always a way forward, so long as you keep trying. That being said, remember to take breaks – before you break your controller in half.
Replayability: 3/5
The Angry Video Game Nerd I & II Deluxe has a plethora of collectibles for you to grab in every level of the game, some of which can take many tries to get. The Angry Video Game Nerd II: ASSimilation has multiple endings, which will get you to invest more time in the game. Beyond that, the game is an enjoyable if brief experience.
