When did AVGN fall off so hard?

FortuneCookie posted...

His anger was exaggerated, but he was channeling his actual childhood frustrations with games like Dick Tracy or Castlevania 2. With videos like Drake and the 99 Dragons, he's an older gamer looking for games to find fault with.

It was funny to see a twenty-something become outraged over an old game, but it was also relatable because we had experiences like that. I don't know what I expected, but I thought Three Stooges on NES would be fun. I thought Super WrestleMania on SNES would be fun. That game is the definition of the word unfinished . And we all asked "Who's that?" when fighting enemies in games based off of our favorite movies or cartoon shows.

I like the show at face value. But I understand there's more substance when it has that shared experience quality to it. And, I know I've mentioned this already, but there's a shelf life for that character. A forty-something getting upset rings differently. The anger doesn't feel genuine and, if it did, it would be more sad and pathetic than funny.

yes
perfectly said

I give James a ton of credit for likely being the first online video creator to hit 20 years of relevance - that's a huge accomplishment. It's not a surprise that his reviews have lost their humor as we've grown older, but one thing I wish he'd do more is just evolve the character.

He's perfectly capable of doing that. For example, his Earthbound video is arguably his best ever, and it's one where he reviews a good game he genuinely likes, and the AVGN character doesn't suffer a single shit-flinging tantrum. I think his fanbase would prefer seeing more videos like that as well, but the problem is... they take a ton of effort. You can tell James really poured his heart into the Earthbound video, taking time to analyze the game's themes and communicate them in an emotionally resonant way. But ss a father in his mid-40s, he'd probably much rather make low-quality content for the steady income.

chaos_knight posted...

The Bugs Bunny episodes were awesome. No idea what some of you are smoking.

k1zzl3_82 posted...

yes
perfectly said

Thank you.

He's still funny, idk

I guess the more I think about it with that new review, I do think he did a good job playing off it. It's just the game is so ridiculous and creepy in ways I feel like it's just something I don't need to see again. I know Hong Kong '97 was fucked up and I feel like he went off on too much of a tangent in the back half, that review does make me laugh a lot though about the insanity of it and his reactions.

Anyhow the Earthbound review I do remember being good, but I do feel like the feces humor he should toned down a lot more by now. I never found excessive amounts of it ever very funny originally. I do still watch every new review he still does at least once I think he is generally on a more upward trajectory now.

archizzy posted...

To be honest the skits and the the production value stuff isn't why I like his videos. I'm not even overly enamored with the "nerd" character. I actually think he is at his best when he's just being himself and giving background information about the game/developer or whatever and is just talking in a normal speaking voice.

I like these part the best too tbh

That and the bits where he seems genuinely puzzled and confused with a poor design decision in the game he's playing. I know it's all scripted and sometimes in the script itprobably says "get mad at a thing now" since the angry guy tone needs to be maintained, but the bits where you can tell he added a complaint about a gameplay decision that genuinely baffled him can be hilarious.

I started watching his goonies 2 video. it started out well. his review of goonies 1 and the first part of his goonies 2 review are great. he lost me when he began that overly-long skit about the 3D rooms. I tried to get through it, but couldn't get myself to keep watching.

pojr posted...

I started watching his goonies 2 video. it started out well. his review of goonies 1 and the first part of his goonies 2 review are great. he lost me when he began that overly-long skit about the 3D rooms. I tried to get through it, but couldn't get myself to keep watching.

I got real tired of his Goonies 2 movie comment (and how it didn't exist) tbh. So I do only like parts of that review but I'd still probably try watching it again in full. I don't really find the repeat a comment and beat it into the ground until it's funny works for me when the comment was never even funny to begin with.

Still though overall I'd say that video was fine.

KanWan posted...

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/7/75d7c2c6.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/c/c0339dea.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/0/0fde11f7.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/1/13b5f8a9.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/8/87131975.jpg

Ok I dont care what anyone says it was a fun episode, and silly looking game.

He lost interest in the character ages ago and just wanted to become a filmmaker. That endeavour didn't turn out how he hoped. So now he just does the AVGN stuff and whatever else to bring the money in and support the family.

He lost interest in the character ages ago and just wanted to become a filmmaker. That endeavour didn't turn out how he hoped. So now he just does the AVGN stuff and whatever else to bring the money in and support the family.

CRON posted...

It's bizarre since he's stuck with the brand but for someone who's made filmmaking his life's passion he knows absolutely nothing about it other than liking practical effects and his tech literacy/video editing skills are stuck in the late 90s.

Yeah this is what's baffling. And the AVGN movie just wasn't very good with all the time and hype behind it. Even when trying to view it as just an AVGN film. Hell, even looking at it from the perspective of a low budget cornball movie it still was pretty lame.