Netflix highscore review – IGN

Netflix’s new six-part documentary series High Score offers a broad but captivating look at the origins of 1970s video games as well as the various booms and technological milestones of the 80s and 90s. For AP gamers, it isn’t. There might not be enough surgical precision to attract and trap, but High Score’s presentation and true love for the product and its story give a happy and beaming look at an emerging medium and its growth into a form of interactive art. We could blame High Score for sometimes feeling all over the place, each episode still touching on a specific era and / or theme. It kicks things off with Space Invaders, Arcades, and Atari 2600. We then quickly move on to dominance of the NES, the “cool factor” of Sega Genesis, the controversy surrounding Mortal Kombat (and Night Trap), and the innovation of Condemn. Along the way, there’s a pit stop for the RPG, which has gone from tabletop adventures to text-based adventures to early Mystery House graphics.

Narrated by Mario himself, Charles Martinet, High Score tells the story of dreamers, dropouts, developers, designers, CEOs and even the first eSports champions in their mission to provide a holistic look at the world. ‘industry. He’s never too focused on one aspect or corner of the game / player’s story, using interviews and (sometimes animated) reenactments to bounce back and forth between the stories of Nolan Bushnell of Atari, the sound designer of Nintendo. Hirokazu Tanaka, Nintendo Power’s Gail Tilden, EA’s Trip Hawkins (and his effort to create John Madden Football), John Romero and the formation of id Software, and countless other fascinating bibs and bobs from history video game.

One of the most rewarding elements of High Score is its occasional look at fans from marginalized communities who found solace and safe spaces in games that allowed them to participate in worlds that were otherwise denied to them or whose access was limited. Game designer Rebecca Heineman is the first to be introduced as her love for Space Invaders grew out of her ability to use play, as a child, to play as a woman in her mind during a time when she was AMAB . This ultimate affection led her to become the very first National Video Game Tournament Champion.

Gordon Bellamy, a black, queer man who also fell in love with Madden games (seeing them as a way to play sports in a welcoming environment), ultimately helped the franchise to include black players on the cover. and in-game. There is also the story of Ryan Best’s LGBTQ RPG, GayBlade, of which Best, years ago, lost all copies (including the source code) due to an incident of shipping.

It was these stories, mixed with sons like Richard Garriott of Ultima, who had to incorporate morality into Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar because the players were shit heels, the work of Yoshitaka Amano that helped create the world of Final Fantasy and Akira. Nishitani’s global journey to create Street Fighter II, which makes High Score a great watch.

At times, High Score feels like it’s addressing viewers who may not be too familiar with the video game world, but overall it’s a very small part of the process. Just the fact that a few seconds can be spent explaining what role-playing is all about doesn’t take away from the great stories that come with the genre’s legacy. This love letter-style docu-binge is a cool and entertaining watch for any walk.