The Angry Video Game Nerd is an adult web television series of comedic retrogaming video reviews created by and starring James Rolfe. The show's format revolves around his commentary and review of older, but unsuccessful video games which are deemed to be of particularly low-quality, unfair difficulty or poor design.
The series began as a feature on YouTube and later became a program on ScrewAttack Entertainment before moving to GameTrailers exclusively. The show was renamed The Angry Video Game Nerd to prevent any trademark issues with Nintendo and due to the fact he started reviewing games from non-Nintendo consoles such as those made by Atari and Sega.
Rolfe's character, "The Nerd" is a short-tempered and foul-mouthed video game fanatic. He derives comic appeal from excessive and inventive use of anger, profanity, and habitual consumption of alcohol while reviewing video games.
Production Companies
Cinemassacre
GameTrailers.com
ScrewAttack
Episodes
Cast
Season 1
1. Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (NES)
9min
25th May 2004
The Nerd makes his first ever game review, and tries to tackle Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest for the NES, revealing the many flaws and issues that came with it. This is Angry Video Game Nerd Episode 1.
2. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (NES)
6min
28th May 2004
The Nerd takes on reviewing the extremely difficult Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde for the NES, in which even the first level is almost impossible to complete.
3. The Karate Kid (NES)
4min
8th Apr 2006
The Nerd tries out his best moves, as he sees if The Karate Kid for the NES is as any good as the movie it is based on.
4. Who Framed Roger Rabbit (NES)
4min
28th Apr 2006
The Nerd wonders if someone framed him to tackle a bad video game, as he takes on the NES game based on Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
5. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES)
7min
21st Jun 2006
The Nerd prepares to go all "cowabunga" and ninja, as he reviews the game Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for the NES.
6. Back to the Future (NES)
7min
21st Jul 2006
The Nerd certainly travels back in time, as he takes a look at two bad NES games based on the Back to the Future series.
7. McKids (NES)
7min
30th Aug 2006
There is nothing he can love about bad video games, as the Nerd reviews M.C. Kids for the NES – a video game based on a popular fast food chain.
8. Wally Bear and the NO! Gang (NES)
5min
1st Sep 2006
The Nerd finds out what is bad about Wally Bear and the NO! Gang for the NES, a game aimed at teaching kids to not take drugs.
9. Master Chu and the Drunkard Hu (NES)
4min
8th Sep 2006
The Nerd takes a look at the poor quality behind the game Master Chu and the Drunkard Hu for the NES. First appearance of “guest reviewer” Shit Pickle, a cartoon pickle with feces as hair.
10. Top Gun (NES)
8min
15th Sep 2006
The Nerd tackles two more bad NES games based on another film – Top Gun – and finds out how some elements of their gameplay are just impossible to do.
11. Double Dragon III (NES)
4min
22nd Sep 2006
The Nerd finds out what was bad in the third entry in the Double Dragon video game series – Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones for the NES.
12. Friday the 13th (NES)
11min
13th Oct 2006
The Nerd prepares for Halloween by taking a look at why the NES game based on Friday the 13th is more frustrating than scary.
13. A Nightmare on Elm Street (NES)
13min
31st Oct 2006
It’s Halloween, and the Nerd isn’t really that scared when he reviews the NES game based on the movie A Nightmare on Elm Street.
14. The Power Glove (NES)
12min
15th Nov 2006
The Nerd finds out how good (or bad) Nintendo’s Power Glove is, by using it to play a variety of games on the NES.
15. Chronologically Confused About Bad Movie and Video Game Sequel Titles
11min
28th Nov 2006
The Nerd discusses the naming of sequels for various movie and video game franchises he has seen or played.
16. Rocky (SMS)
7min
14th Dec 2006
The Nerd pumps himself up for a fight, to prepare himself for reviewing the Sega Master System video game based on Rocky.
17. Bible Games (NES & SNES)
21min
23rd Dec 2006
It’s Christmas, so the Nerd sees how bad a number of unlicensed religious-themed games were on both the NES and SNES, including Super 3D Noah’s Ark – a game built on the same game engine as Wolfenstein 3D.