To play the shitty games that suck ass
He'd rather have a buffalo take a diarrhea dump in his ear
He'd rather eat the rotten asshole of a roadkilled skunk and down it with beer
He's the angriest gamer you've ever heard.
He's the Angry Nintendo Nerd
He's the Angry Atari Sega Nerd
He's the Angry Video Game Nerd
James Duncan Rolfe created, writes and plays the Angry Video Game Nerd
note , a chronically ill-tempered and foul-mouthed gaming geek with a huge collection of bad video games, and a predilection for Rolling Rock beer.
He plays weird, old, and, more often than not, Nintendo Hard games, some of them with the worst Fake Difficulty imaginable. We're talking truly terrible here. The Nerd holds a specific torch of hate towards licensed games, especially ones published by LJN Toys, which he sees as manipulating hopeful and oblivious kids into buying complete trash. His reviews inevitably spiral downward into a barely coherent rant peppered liberally with Cluster F-Bombs and scatological references, culminating in a violent frothing rage that would make even the Hulk piss his pants. The Nerd also gets frequent unwanted visits from the stars of the games he plays, from Bugs Bunny to Freddy Krueger.
Note, however, that a handful of episodes are not so much about a single shitty game as they are about a certain console or accessory (there are even a few that aren't about video games at all). Aside from giving reviews, the Nerd has also given a bit of video game history, such as a summary of the infamous Console Wars.
The Nerd (and Rolfe by extension) is respected for the impact his videos had on online Video Review Shows for years to come, with the show being seen as a Gateway Series for the medium to transition to the mainstream. He and his AVGN show pioneered the non-professional online review's structures and conventions, to the extent that he's considered the Trope Codifier of the Mid-Review Sketch Show. Many a number of reviewers who have since popped up on the Internet owe much to the Nerd, with his rage, vulgarity and sketch comedy being turned into the bread and butter of countless Caustic Critic personas to come, almost to the extent of forming a subgenre. One could even argue that his show is a precursor for online shows in general; aside from it predating YouTube by nine months, some point to the advent of the Analysis Channel and the video essay as indirect present-day results of the show's ripple effect on online content creation.
The success of the series enabled Rolfe to work on Nerd-related projects in different media than videos. September 2013 saw the release of The Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures, a throwback to Nintendo Hard NES platformers developed by FreakZone Games and published by ScrewAttack. It gained enough of a following for a 2016 sequel, called The Angry Video Game Nerd II: ASSimilation. July 2014 then saw the premiere of Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie, written and directed by Rolfe, with the film's plot involving the Nerd getting caught up in a government conspiracy after trying to disprove the old urban legend of the landfill burial of the infamous E.T. game, a game he had notably never covered at the time.
The Nerd was christened by Doug Walker as the greatest video game critic of all time, and Walker and Rolfe are good friends in real life, with the Nerd appearing in many Channel Awesome projects.
An independent filmmaker when he's not being the Nerd, Rolfe maintains a website at Cinemassacre.com. He does other web-based video shows, including You Know Whats Bullshit, where he rants on daily annoyances (keeping his foul language and a sharp sense of observation) and Board James, where he reviews board games (keeping with the game-reviewing aspect, though milder).
Episodes:
- Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (NES)
- Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde (NES, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde); not an actual review, more of a 5-minute rant with little footage of the game shown.
- The Karate Kid (NES, The Karate Kid)
- Who Framed Roger Rabbit (NES, Who Framed Roger Rabbit)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
- Back to the Future (and Back to the Future Part II & III) (NES)
- Toilet Video (Video made for ScrewAttack's Toilet Tuesday series parodying the Nintendo 64 Kid)
- McKids (NES)
- Wally Bear and the NO! Gang (NES)
- DuckTales (NES, DuckTales) [Technically a Video Game Vault review and not an actual AVGN episode, though he's in character as The Nerd.]
- Master Chu and the Drunkard Hu (NES)
- Top Gun (and Top Gun The Second Mission) (NES, Top Gun)
- Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones (NES)
- Friday the 13th (NES, Friday the 13th)
- A Nightmare on Elm Street (NES, A Nightmare on Elm Street)
- The Power Glove
- Chronologically Confused about Bad Movie and Video Game Sequel Titles
- Rocky (Master System; the first non-NES review)
- Bible Games
- Bible Adventures (NES)
- Bible Buffet (NES)
- Super 3D Noah's Ark (SNES)
- Spiritual Warfare (NES)
- King of Kings: The Early Years (NES)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (Movie Review)
- Atari 5200
- Ghostbusters (1984) (NES)
- Ghostbusters (1984) Follow-Up (NES again, Atari 2600, and Master System)
- Ghostbusters Conclusion
- Ghostbusters II (NES)
- Ghostbusters (1990) (Genesis)
- Spider-Man
- Spider-Man (Atari 2600)
- Spider-Man: Return of the Sinister Six (NES)
- The Amazing Spider-Man (NES)
- Spider-Man 2 (GBA)
- Sega CD
- Sega 32X
- Silver Surfer (1990) (NES)
- Die Hard (NES)
- Independence Day (PS1)
- The Simpsons
- Bugs Bunny's Birthday Blowout (NES)
- Atari Porn(o) (Atari 2600)
- Custer's Revenge
- Beat 'Em & Eat 'Em
- Bachelorette Party
- Bachelor Party
- Gigolo
- Philly Flasher
- Cathouse Blues
- Knight on the Town
- Jungle Fever
- Nintendo Power
- Fester's Quest (NES)
- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Atari 2600)
- Halloween (Atari 2600)
- Dragon's Lair (NES)
- A Christmas Carol Part 1
- A Christmas Carol Part 2
- Shaq Fu (SNES)
- Far Cry Vengeance (Wii)
- Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz (Wii)
- Boogie (Wii)
- Chronologically Confused about The Legend of Zelda Timeline
- Rambo (NES, Master System)
- Virtual Boy
- The Wizard of Oz (SNES)
- Double Vision
- Part 1 - Intellivision
- Part 2 - Colecovision
- The Wizard and Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)
- NES Accessories
- Indiana Jones Trilogy (NES, SNES)
- Star Trek (Vectrex, Atari 2600, NES)
- Superman (Atari 2600, NES)
- Superman 64 (And Superman: Man of Steel on Commodore 64)
- Batman (two parts)
- Deadly Towers (NES)
- Battletoads (NES)
- Dick Tracy (NES)
- Dracula
- Frankenstein
- CDi
- Part 1: Hotel Mario
- Part 2: Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon
- Part 3: Link: The Faces of Evil and Zelda's Adventure
- Bible Games 2
- Exodus: Journey to the Promised Land (NES)
- Noah's Ark (NES)
- Joshua (NES)
- Menace Beach (NES) note
- Sunday Funday (NES)
- Moses the Exodus (CD-i)
- David and Goliath (CD-i)
- The Story of Samson (CD-i)
- Michael Jackson's Moonwalker (Genesis)
- Milon's Secret Castle (NES)
- Atari Jaguar (and the Jaguar CD)
- Metal Gear (NES)
- The Odyssey
- X-Men (NES, Genesis)
- The Terminator (NES)
- Terminator 2 (NES, SNES)
- Transformers (including Transformers: Convoy no Nazo)
- Mario Is Missing!! (and Mario's Time Machine) (NES, SNES)
- Plumbers Don't Wear Ties (3DO)
- Bugs Bunny's Crazy Castle (NES, GB, GBA)
- Super Pitfall (NES)
- Godzilla (NES, SNES)
- Wayne's World (Radical Entertainment) (NES) and Wayne's World (Gray Matter) (SNES)
- Castlevania
- Part 1: Castlevania (NES)
- Part 2: Castlevania II: Simon's Quest and Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (NES)
- Part 3: Super Castlevania IV, Castlevania: Dracula X, and Castlevania 64 (SNES, N64)
- Part 4: Castlevania: Bloodlines and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (Genesis, PS1)
- Little Red Hood (NES)
- Winter Games (NES)
- Street Fighter 2010 (NES)
- Hydlide (NES)
- Ninja Gaiden (NES)
- Swordquest (Atari 2600)
- Pong Consoles (including the Fairchild Channel F and RCA Studio II)
- Action 52 (NES)
- Cheetahmen (NES) and Action 52 (Genesis)
- Game Glitches
- Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES)
- Nintendo Days Re-Revisited + Back to the Future Trilogy (includes re-reviews of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Top Gun, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit) (NES)
- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde re-review (NES)
- Lester the Unlikely (SNES)
- Holiday Memories
- Christmas Special 2010 (How The Nerd Stole Christmas)
- Day Dreamin' Davey (NES)
- Star Wars
- Star Wars: The Arcade Game (Atari 2600)
- Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Atari 2600)
- Return of the Jedi: Death Star Battle (Atari 2600)
- Star Wars: Jedi Arena (Atari 2600)
- Star Wars (Famicom)
- Star Wars (NES)
- Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (NES)
- Super Star Wars (SNES)
- Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (SNES)
- Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (SNES)
- Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (N64)
- R.O.B the Robot (along with Gyromite and Stack-Up, the only two games it could be operated with)
- Spielberg Games (includes reviews of Jaws (NES), Hook (NES), and some Jurassic Park games (NES, SNES, Genesis, Sega CD, 3DO))
- The Making of The Angry Video Game Nerd (includes a review of the video game adaptation of Barbie (NES))
- Ninja Baseball Bat Man (Arcade)
- Kid Kool (NES)
- Nintendo World Championships (NES)
- Dark Castle (Genesis, CD-i)
- Contra Memories
- Bible Games 3
- King James Bible (Game Boy)
- Adam & Eve (Part of Caltron 6, NES)
- Spiritual Warfare on (Genesis)
- Exodus: Journey to the Promised Land (Genesis)
- Joshua on (Genesis)
- Bible Adventures (Genesis)
- Flight to Egypt (Genesis)
- Sonic the Hedgehog Memories
- Double Dragon Memories
- Mortal Kombat Memories
- Schwarzenegger Games
- Total Recall (1990) (NES)
- Last Action Hero (NES)
- Conan (NES)
- Predator (NES)
- Nerd Memories: Killer Instinct
- Ghosts 'n Goblins (NES)
- Atari Sports (Atari 2600)
- Ikari Warriors (NES)
- Toxic Crusaders (NES, Game Boy)
- Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (NES)
- Tiger Electronic Games (including reviews of the Game.com and R-Zone)
- Alien³ (NES)
- AVGN Games!
- Wish List: A Christmas special in several parts where he reviews some of the games that were requested from him.
- Part 1: Skate or Die, Bad Dudes, Karate Champ, Sonic Blast, Sonic Labyrinth, Sonic R, Sonic Shuffle, Shadow the Hedgehog, Where's Waldo? (NES, Game Gear, Sega Saturn, Dreamcast, Nintendo Gamecube)
- Part 2: A Boy and His Blob, The Three Stooges, Home Improvement, Pit-Fighter, Bubsy 3D, Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage (NES, SNES, PS1)
- Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing (PC)
- Desert Bus and Castlevania II: Simon's Quest Redaction note (Sega CD, NES)
- The Adventures of Bayou Billy (NES) and The Punisher (NES)note
- Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movienote
- Beetlejuice (NES)
- The 12 Days of Shitsmas
- Day 1: Tagin' Dragon (NES)
- Day 2: ALF (Sega Master System)
- Day 3: CrazyBus (Sega Genesis)
- Day 4: Ren and Stimpy: Fire Dogs (SNES)
- Day 5: The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends (NES)
- Day 6: Mary-Kate and Ashley: Get a Clue (Game Boy Color)note
- Day 7: V.I.P. with Pamela Anderson (PS1)
- Day 8: Lethal Weapon (NES)
- Day 9: Porkys (Atari 2600)
- Day 10: Mattel Hyperscan
- Day 11: Universal Studios Theme Parks Adventure (Nintendo Gamecube)
- Day 12: LJN Video Art System
- Hong Kong '97 (Super Famicom)
- Darkwing Duck (Interactive Designs) (Turbografx 16)
- Seaman (Sega Dreamcast)
- The Crow: City of Angels (Sega Saturn)
- Bad Game Cover Art
- #1: Pro Wrestling (Sega Master System)
- #2: Mega Man (NES)
- #3: Shatterhand (NES)
- #4: Action Fighter (Sega Master System)
- #5: Shingen the Ruler (NES)
- #6: Phalanx (SNES)
- #7: Snow White and the 7 Clever Boys (PS2)
- #8: Action in New York (NES)
- #9: Rallo Gump (DOS)
- #10: Ghost Lion (NES)
- #11: Eliminator Boat Duel (NES)
- #12: Street Hockey '95 (SNES)
- #13: Irritating Stick (PS1)
- #14: Crackout (NES)
- #15: Cock'in (Commodore 64)
- #16: Treasure Master (NES)
- #17: Karnaaj Rally (GBA)
- #18: Hell Fighter (NES)
- #19: Scrapyard Dog (Atari 7800)
- #20: Rollerblade Racer (NES)
- #21: Killer Kong (ZX Spectrum)
- #22: Hammerin' Harry (NES)
- #23: Super Duper Sumos (GBA)
- #24: The Ultimate Stuntman (NES)
- #25: X-Man (Atari 2600)
- Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero (N64) note
- Mega Man games (DOS, PS1, PS2)
- Paperboy (NES)
- Beavis And Butthead (Sega Genesis, SNES)
- The Berenstein- er, Berenstain Bears (Game Boy Color, Atari 2600, Sega Genesis)
- Sega Genesis Accessories (Activator / Interactor / Menacer)
- Power Rangers games (Famicom, SNES, Genesis, Sega CD, N64, Game Boy)
- Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) (Xbox 360)
- Planet of the Apes (PS1)
- Game Boy Accessories
- Treasure Master (NES)
- Wrestling games (NES, SNES, Genesis)
- Polybius (Arcade)
- RoboCop games (NES)
- Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) Part 2 (Xbox 360)
- Charlie's Angels (GameCube)
- Star Wars: Masters of Teräs Käsi (PS1)
- Lightspan Adventures (PS1)
- EarthBound (SNES)
- Dirty Harry (NES)
- Drake of the 99 Dragons (Xbox)
- Tomb Raider games (PS1, PS2, Nokia NGage)
- Resident Evil Survivor (PS1)
- Super Hydlide and Virtual Hydlide (Genesis, Sega Saturn)
- Amiga CD32
- The Town with No Name (Commodore Amiga CDTV)
- Home Alone (SNES, Game Boy, Genesis, PS2)
- Chronologically Confused about Kingdom Hearts
- Video Game Magazines
- Aladdin Deck Enhancer (NES)
- Pepsiman (PS1)
- Superman 64 Returns!! (N64)
- Life of Black Tiger (PS4)
- Chex Quest (PC)
- Jurassic Park: Trespasser (PC)
- The Immortal (NES)
- Spawn (Game Boy Color, SNES, PS1, Dreamcast, PS2)
- The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (N64)
- Raid 2020 (NES)
- Mortal Kombat (1992) 1 ports (SNES, Genesis, Game Boy, Game Gear, Tiger Handheld)
- Mortal Kombat Rip-Offs (Arcade, Genesis, 3DO)
- Dennis the Menace (SNES)
- The Incredible Crash Dummies (NES)
- Bad Final Fight Games (Sega Saturn, PS2)
- Mission: Impossible (Nintendo 64)
- Ecco the Dolphin (Genesis)
- Countdown Vampires (PS1)
- The Legend of Kage (NES)
- Taito Legends and Taito Legends 2 (PS2)
- The Simpsons: Bartman Meets Radioactive Man (NES)
- Shrek: Fairy Tale Freakdown (Game Boy Color)
- Darkman (NES)
- Fear and Loathing in Vegas Stakes
- Vegas Dream (NES)
- Vegas Stakes (SNES)
- Road Runner's Death Valley Rally (SNES)
- Super Caesars Palace (SNES)
- Pac-Kong (Atari 2600)
- LSD: Dream Emulator (PS1)
- 3DO Interactive Multiplayer
- Corpse Killer (3DO)
- Sega Game Gear VHS Tapes
- Carmageddon 64 (N64)
- Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures (Genesis)
- The Rocketeer (NES, SNES)
- Greendog: The Beached Surfer Dude! (Genesis)
- Commodore 64
- Freddy & Jason (Commodore 64)
- The Angry Video Game Nerd 200th Episode: LJNnote
- Part 1: LJN History & Movie Gamesnote
- Part 2: LJN Sports & Marvel Gamesnote
- Part 3: LJN Wrestling and Other Gamesnote
- The Last Ninja (NES)
- Contra How I Remember It (NES, SNES, Game Boy, Genesis, PS1, DS)
- Purr Pals (Wii)
- Hudson Hawk (NES)
- Doom (PC)
- Garfield (Famicom, Genesis, Game Boy)
- Kid Icarus (1986) (NES)
- Earthworm Jim Trilogy (Genesis, N64)
- Indiana Jones: Crystal Skull + More (PC, N64, GEN, NES)
- A Boy and His Blob (NES)
- Beating Jekyll and Hyde (NES)
- Final Fantasy VI (SNES)
- The Goonies I & II (NES)
- My Horse Prince (iOS, Android)
