Matt Maiorano's Back-From-The-Grave TV Review: Nick Arcade (1576 hits)
Category: Movies & TVLabels: BFTG
Rating: 1.92 on 19 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Matt Maiorano (View user info) at 2005-02-28 11:48:00 EST
Other BFTG reviews by Matt Maiorano:
Interview With The Vampire - http://www.ubersite.com/m/33901
Goosebumps - http://www.ubersite.com/m/34149
Salute Your Shorts - http://www.ubersite.com/m/34347
Duck Hunt - http://www.ubersite.com/m/34463
Ren & Stimpy - http://www.ubersite.com/m/35103
Gremlins 2 - http://www.ubersite.com/m/35848
Bomberman 2 - http://www.ubersite.com/m/36959
World Class Track Meet - http://www.ubersite.com/m/37590
Willy Wonka - http://www.ubersite.com/m/38127
Final Fantasy VII - http://www.ubersite.com/m/57431
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Nick Arcade was probably the most original game show ever to hit morning television. It was one of those TV shows where you didn't mind waking up at an ungodly hour just to stare at a bunch of kids doing what every child dreams of: winning prizes for playing video games.
OVERVIEW: Two teams of kids compete. The team in control gets to move Mikey on a grid of about 15 squares. The object is to move him up, down, left or right towards a goal. On each square is an event. Phil refers to these as the four P's "points, puzzles, pop quizzes and prizes." If a team hits the monster for the day, they lose control. In the bonus round, the winners enter the "Video Zone" in an attempt to win cash and prizes. In one minute, the team has to conquer a level each individually and face the "Game Wizard" together to win it all. Each level completed is worth $50 and a prize.
I don't know about you, but I would nearly cream myself with excitement when the bonus round started. I would have dreams about being on the game show and taking on that old wizard dude at the end. God knows, I would kick a lot more ass than those inept bastards ever could.
The only thing about the show that sucked was having to watch those kids that REALLY sucked. You know.... the ones where they would run straight through the Game Wizard and die at the very end. What a way to go. Every time I saw that, I would feel nothing but contempt for the fools who thought they could run through the Game Wizard. Everybody knows you can't touch the Game Wizard.
The greatest part about this show, though, was how innovative it was. This show was created in a time when the hottest thing around was Super Nintendo and Mario Paint (possible BFTG review coming soon). The entire idea of not only letting kids play video games, but letting them be IN one was just a stroke of genius on Nickelodeon's part. On top of that, just about any kid could play on the game show and win.
Ever see those fat kids on Double Dare? They never stood a chance. Put that same fat kid on Nick Arcade, and they would kick all kinds of ass. Because, as we all know, fat kids in those days did nothing but eat Cheetos, drink Hi-C's Ecto Cooler, and play video games.
PLOT: N/A
STYLE: 8/10
ORIGINALITY: 10/10
OVERALL: 9/10
Watch it for old-time's sake.
User Reviews
Submitted by monkeyswithguns (user info) at 2007-11-08 20:36:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Gotta love Nick Arcade. Reminds me of Double Dare.
Did you know?
Mark, the host of Double Dare, is obsessive or some shit. No, really, he's got problems, and all the messes from the show nearly drove him insane.
Guy must have stayed Xanaxed out of his head to deal with it all.
Submitted by darko (user info) at 2005-03-04 08:28:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
have a bump, free of charge.
Submitted by B-Nizzo (user info) at 2005-03-02 17:51:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I loved that show. Way to bring back good memories.
Submitted by youarsoghey (user info) at 2005-03-01 22:18:31 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Nice.
Submitted by cnympho247 (user info) at 2005-03-01 22:07:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
:-D
I remember that show...it was awesome
Submitted by Kent_Weirdo (user info) at 2005-03-01 06:17:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Fuck yeah.
Why didn't I see any of these sooner?
Submitted by Banga3386 (user info) at 2005-03-01 02:38:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Speaking of kids playing video games, what was the name of the show where they would have four kids competing through levels of certain games, game trivia, and other assorted what not until the winner got to run through a room full of games, sticking them to himself via velcro suit?
I also drank so much of that damned Ecto-cooler trying to win the contests (because I thought Slimer was real and wanted to meet him, her, it) that I got sick from the shit.
Banga
Submitted by darko (user info) at 2005-03-01 02:23:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
i forgot the title to this till i looked it up just now. fucking great show.
Submitted by darko (user info) at 2005-03-01 02:20:00 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
would you pay 20 bucks spooner? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=28022&item=8174254020&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
Submitted by Spooner (user info) at 2005-02-28 16:32:30 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I still hjaven't even the slightest clue how that last evel worked. I dunno if they had ladders and a series of screens or a projection thing, but damn I so wanted to be a part of it. I'd imagine teh lsing team would always go back stage and cry and beg the propducers just to let them see hoe the final level worked. I know I would.
Submitted by mxc_jwebber (user info) at 2005-02-28 16:17:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Fuck yeah. I would have pwned all over that fucking wizard level. No one ever did any good on that level.
Submitted by stardamage (user info) at 2005-02-28 13:59:06 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh my god. I remember this. Oh, memories. Good ones. +2. Yes.
Submitted by creep_firebombing (user info) at 2005-02-28 13:47:03 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
You're such a fag. -2
I'm a b-boy
Standin in my b-boy stance
Hurry up and give me the microphone before I bust in my pants
The mad author of anguish
My language, Polluted
Onyx is heavyweight (Sonsee: And still undisputed!!)
He took the words right out my mouth and walked a mile in my shoes
I've paid so many dues, I feel used and abused
And I'm.... so confused
umm, excuse me, for example
I'm the inspiration, for a WHOLE generation
And unless you got 10 SSsssticky Fingers
Its straight immitation
A figment, of your imagination
But but but but wait it gets worse!!
I'm not watered down so I'm dyin of thirst
Comin thru wit a scam, a fullproof plan
B-boys make some noise, and just, JUST SLAM!
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2005-02-28 12:41:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Auto +2 without even reading it.
Which is probably a good thing because I have a feeling that if I DID read it, it'd be in the negatives.
Submitted by DonkeyOnTheEdge (user info) at 2005-02-28 12:30:18 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I always wanted to be on that fucking show.
Submitted by Spooner (user info) at 2005-02-28 11:59:37 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
"Do you have GAS? Nick Arcade is on it occasionally.
Remember that hidden temple show? "
I take it back. Legends of the Hidden Temple was easily my favorite show. I would do so much for a Blue Barracuda or Green Monkeys t-shirt, I swear it.
Submitted by russizm (user info) at 2005-02-28 11:51:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Do you have GAS? Nick Arcade is on it occasionally.
Remember that hidden temple show?
Submitted by Spooner (user info) at 2005-02-28 11:51:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Probably my favorite game show from back in the say. I heard peopel trashing it the other day and had to lay into them. Those Lamos.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2005-02-28 11:50:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I was too old to watch most of those shows.