Is It Really That Bad? – Charlie’s Angels

Posted by derekalexander on Thursday, September 15, 2011 · 50 Comments

If there is a measure that separates a very good game from a great one, then isn’t there a measure that separates a very bad game from a awful one? Derek Alexander (appearing out of character) plays through Charlie’s Angels, one of the worst games ever made, to see just how bad it really is. Because we know it’s bad, but Derek wants to know is it really THAT bad?

connor_dalton

Gamespot, not Gamestop. Sorry, that just bugged me.

http://twitter.com/derekalexander derekalexander

that’s it? nothing else you liked or disliked?

connor_dalton

When my only problem was something as trivial as that, I’d say you did a great job.

Anonymous

I’m guessing this came out for the PS2 and XBox as well.
Anyways, this was a cool video. I still wouldn’t waste my time with this game, however.

http://twitter.com/derekalexander derekalexander

nope, only game cube in america. PAL region got a ps2 version, which was just as bad.

Anonymous

Oh ok. It has been a long time. I assumed this came out for the other console in the States. I guess this game was so bad they didn’t bother to port it…but I guess the programers didn’t take this game seriously.

camseyeview

i like crouching tiger hidden dragon..

but no there isnt really anything wrong with this video i like it

but is it going to just stick with just negatively reviewed games? like you could talk about games that people love or hate and see which side you take.

like some people like final fantasy 13 and castlevania lords of shadow and some people dont like those games

http://twitter.com/derekalexander derekalexander

I never played Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, I just remember hearing it was bad.

The Happy Nerd started out one thing and eventually grew into another, so we’ll see where this idea takes me. Right now, however, I want to focus on games that have a very negative general consensus. I could make a video about how, for example, Ocarina of Time isn’t that good, but I don’t want to. And I also want to stick to slightly older games too. This show is my response to Negative/Bad game reviewing and Let’s Plays, and something that wont take as long to produce as Happy Nerd or Super Nerdy videos.

camseyeview

oh there was a game for crouching tiger hidden dragon? i meant the film lol

ADDatWork

The series has potential. At first I didn’t like the idea of another “I Play Bad Games” show but this takes a more honest and fair approch to it. I’d say the video’s a bit long, it may be a good idea to show off highlights instead of the entire play-through. I like how you gave them an honest opinion on them. A long start but I’d love to see where this goes
http://www.facebook.com/john.quinteros John Quinteros Jr.

Not bad. I do like the Let’s Play sort of feel, and I don’t mind you doing more of these, but don’t forget about the Super Nerdy videos and the HVGN episodes too!

I do have a game I would like to suggest, “Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly.” That game was shat on by both critics and fans of the series and I think that would make for an interesting episode.
Tristan Kummling

cool cool now make a new hvgn

http://www.facebook.com/john.quinteros John Quinteros Jr.

I’m sure he’s working on one. This is just to keep us full until it’s done!

http://thatgreendude.tumblr.com/ ThatGreenDude

This new show isn’t really THAT bad. I actually kinda love it.

Keep it up, Derek.
Thekodu

and shockingly its still not the worst game on gamecube, that would be universal studios a game rumour to have had many copies taken back by universal and having them suffer the same fate as Atari ET.
http://www.facebook.com/FutureMayorOfCayuga Zack TheMega Weinstein

if you end up doing new ones, try punch time explosion
Garbageface

A problem with the premise of this video is that you’re saying “it’s not that bad” compared to the original reviews, but those reviews were written to guide people who were paying full price for the game, not getting it for free.

Henry

That seems to be exactly the point though. It was bad if you got it for the full 50$ price, but now this is looking back to see if it really is as bad as those reviews said considering the price is insanely low now.

Crono

I liked it overall.

The only complaint I can think of is there’s maybe a few too many areas (mostly toward the beginning) where it felt like there was a little too much down time, more like a lets play when someone is just focused on playing the game.

But even that was pretty rare.

The idea for the show is top notch and it really fits with your style overall, looking at the better side of the trash talkin’.

Good job.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Luis-Michael-Quilez/100000815313096 Luis Michael Quilez

I like the video Derek and I think it would be a cool series to continue on. I also loved the MGS3 reference in it.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Austin-Kelly-Mackert/100000790359124 Austin Kelly Mackert

I like the idea of this and enjoyed this episode. I’d definitely like to see more in the future.

As far as the game, it definitely looks rough around the edges with some extremely strange design choices. It’s certainly no highlight from the generation it’s from, that’s for sure.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZLSYFJYO6LQWVKOLAMDM3QHIRQ Daniel

I’m sorry, how is bad story and bad acting is +? This is not a riff-o-meter or funny-o-meter, this is honest attempt to reconsider the game. So it’s -10 for those, that’s 60. Dancing also wouldn’t get a whole 5 points, if you were giving like 1 through 5 points, it could get like 1, but definitely not 5 points, so that’s 55. Bad camera is bad camera, why would you try to justify is by saying that you can see what’s going on – shouldn’t that be a default granted? So nothing is canceling anything there, it’s -5 for that. 50.
You forgot about a whole bunch of important aspects, like level design, gameplay design etc. All that gets -5. So it’s about 40. Yeah, it’s as bad as they say.

Crono

It’s not a critical response to the game. It’s taking the purchase decision reviews and turning them on their head and saying Is this game really THAT bad without the stipulation of a $50 price tag.

So, enjoying the hammy voice acting and ludicrous plot is a positive thing, because it’s fun and enhances playing the game. Doesn’t make it GOOD, but it helps make it enjoyable. Which is sort of the entire point.
http://twitter.com/derekalexander derekalexander

This is not an honest attempt to reconsider the game, it’s a reevaluation of a game we know is bad. Level and gameplay design, camera, stuff like that is expected to be bad, but they weren’t abhorrent or awful so I didn’t mark the game down. And again, because we already know it’s a bad game, I view it like I would a b-movie. Bad acting and dumb dancing can be really funny. Watch Troll 2 and tell me the bad acting doesn’t help the film.

I know there’s still problems to work out here, this was the first episode. I probably could’ve been a little harder on Charlie’s Angels but I’m still figuring things out. But it sounds like you’ve missed the point.

SCScanlan

Or play the original Resident Evil if you want an example of how bad voice acting helps a video game. I would not have enjoyed it as much without all that cheese. I’d like to see XBlades get another look personally.

milky.mosaic

Yes. Yes. If the original RE didn’t have that so-bad-it’s-good live action intro and voice acting, it probably would have still been a good game, but nowhere near as endearing. Similarly, I have no qualms about the +5 you gave that dance. As soon as I saw it, I had the same reaction. Totally worth the points.

Love this and you other series. Keep up the good work and good luck.

Jobob

Bad story and acting is definitely a positive. Even for a good game. Modern games always try to take themselves way too seriously (which frankly bores me to death), it’s great to occasionally come across a completely stupid game that you just can’t take seriously at all. If the gameplay is good then awesome, that’s double the fun… if it’s bad then you’re gonna at least get SOME enjoyment out of it. I mean, isn’t that the point of games? To have fun and laugh?
Vinicius

You’ve been blessed with perfectly flawless judgement. You should write reviews for retrogames on GameFaqs.
http://www.facebook.com/samgamgi Guilherme Rezende Rehder

Derek is not evaluating the game for an award or such, he’s doing this
for fun…I agree that the game is bad, and he could’ve been harder on
it, but it seemed Derek genuinely had fun with the bad voice acting at
the start, the flying kick and the dumb dancing, so, IN HIS OPINION,
it’s a +5.

KronoS

H o l y c r a p that Earthbound print in the background; where and how did you get that piece of amazing?
Lorddizer

what i do is making money online for games but after that i will go fishing XD
BarbieOnWeed

I almost died when she started dancing. haha
roostertoo

Token block guy, I like that. I liked this video, you should do more.
Jeba

Robocop on the Xbox! The game made by titus who made Superman 64!!!
Chris

Really cool idea for a show Derek! I enjoyed it a lot…can’t wait to see the next episode!
Pocky Bandit

You said GameStop, not GameSpot
http://twitter.com/RememberTheAGES Michael Crone

I think you did a great job Derek. I’m sure you will be able to fine tune this series as you do more. I really like the rating system you have, start with 50 and if it’s high then it isn’t that bad but under and it really was. My highlight moment during the video was the Lucy Lu dance, which was completely random and stupid, but great. I would love to see more of these videos. ~RememberTheAGES
http://twitter.com/VGTO Ben Hall

I wish there was a way for me to be on this show. I think the format is really interesting and we could have lots of fun.
Great Stuff Derek.
http://twitter.com/CMWaters Chris Waters

Good little side show here.

My only dissapointment was that we didn’t see if the other two girls had horrible dancing like the Lucy Liu girl did. But that’s a minor nitpick.
Blank

The use of Snake Eater on that ladder was absolutely brilliant.

Though I like your HVGN and Super-Nerdy stuff more, this is pretty damn entertaining as well.
Ruwen

Playing bad games and being fair with them? That’s pretty interesting.
Nice job Derek, keep it up!

If I may suggest a game, I’d say
[url=http://www.giantbomb.com/demolition-girl/61-22501/]Demolition
Girl[/url]: A playtrough is about one hour, it’s dumb, it’s bad : it
probably qualify for the show.
Anonymous

Does this new project indicate that HVGN is on hold as it’s been ages since we’ve heard anything from the Happy Nerd. You just seem to have stopped. I realise this isn’t your job, it’s just a hobby, but we’ve not seen anything for months now.
Neji

Haha, i had a ton of fun watching this. Flawless from start to finish.
http://twitter.com/YukiViolet Yuki

Great job, Derek! Really enjoyed this one. Definitely start doing more of this series. Keep up the good work x)
Devon Dykes

7:50-7:53 anyone notice her hair is missing? lol…

edit: matter of fact… every time natalie looks toward the camera her hair is gone
Ryan_

This is an interesting premise for a game review. I
liked your review but I had some issues with it. You weren’t consistent with
your +5/-5 idea. You mentioned many things that were bad/not bad that didn’t
get any points. For example, no -5 for climbing the ladder for 30 seconds,
returning to the same place you just were to go to the same computer in order
to move the story forward, or playing the same level twice. I would like to see
score during the whole video. The recap was fine but I want to see a score that
that changes when you add/subtract points. Since you are a retro game reviewer,
I would like to see you make more comparisons to retro games that this game
borrowed from and give it points based on how well it measures up. I was
waiting for a Final Fight comparison with the bad guys with life bars and
different names that match their outfits. Lastly, why didn’t you see if any of
the other girls danced? No Berrymore dance or Diaz dance? If they did dance you
could have added more points for ridiculousness.
DraculaAlucard1

Hey HVGN I have a request for, Is it really THAT bad. Deadly premonition for the Xbox 360. Horrible boring gameplay. Shit graphics, bad voice acting. Its totally THAT bad.