© NetflixConsidering how big the gaming industry has become in the last few decades, there are remarkably few traditional documentaries that discuss the still thriving medium. More recently, YouTube channels such as Noclip and even developers themselves have created the best documentary content, and most recently a Tony Hawk documentary that focused a little more on Skateboarding as a whole than the series of games. Traditional TV rarely broadcasts what then gaming related as the old guard continues to ignore the medium.
Enter everyone’s favorite disruptors, Netflix, who have produced High score, a six-part documentary that tells the proclaimed ‘golden time’ of gaming by no one else Mario himself, Charles Martinet. We know what you’re thinking, and no, it’s his regular, smooth, soothing voice and not that of Nintendo’s iconic plumber that takes us on this journey through gaming history. Even we probably could not stomach that.
© NetflixEach of the six forty-plus-minute episodes has a distinctive theme and theme; For example, the first episode centered on the boom and bust of arcades and the emergence of home consoles in the late ’70s and early’ 80s.
In terms of structure, it’s a mix of an actual timeline of events inter-spliced with more in-depth and personal interviews with the likes of Tomohiro Nishikado, creator of Space Invaders; Toru Iwatani, creator of Pac-Man; John Kirby, the infamous Nintendo lawyer; and SEGA from CEO of America Tom Kalinske to name just a few.
Further episodes focus on the rise of Nintendo and its NES system, the origins of role-playing games, the crushing console war between SEGA and arch-nemesis Nintendo, and finally the rise of PC games such as DOOM and the beginning of the Internet age in the mid-1990s.
If companies were actors, Nintendo would take the lead role in the entire series, appearing in one form or another in almost every episode – which means that if you read this on Nintendo Life, it will probably interest you.
While this should not be considered a definitive history of the period by any stretch, and sure – you will probably already know many of the facts – it is the interviews that are featured in the series that you worth the time, reveal fascinating insights into the people behind many iconic games from the era and their individual approach to game design.
© NetflixAnother thing that shines is the presentation. Beautifully shot in stunning 4K, the series streams style as it blends real-life footage with augmented reality sprites, along with plenty of animated pixel art on the point, a real treat for the eyes and ears.
So, although we can not say that the series is worth it to get a new Netflix subscription, if you already have one (or have access to one), we would highly recommend that the show lasts 5-6 hours from your time is worth it, whether to take a trip to the memory lane or to see where the pun went when all our older gamers were young and impressive.
High Score is available on Netflix today, August 19, 2020.
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