Considering how big the gaming business has become over the last couple of decades, there are remarkably few traditional documentaries that discuss the still booming medium. More recently, it's fan-supported YouTube channels like Noclip and even developers themselves that have been creating 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 anything gaming related as the old guard continue to ignore the medium.
Enter everyone's favourite disruptors, Netflix, who have produced High Score, a six-part docuseries charting the proclaimed 'golden age' of gaming narrated by none other than 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 taking us on this journey through gaming history. Even we probably couldn't stomach that.
Each of the six forty-plus-minute episodes has a distinct theme and topic; for example, the first episode centres 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 mixture of a factual 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 attorney; and SEGA of America CEO Tom Kalinske to name just a few.
Further episodes focus on the rise of Nintendo and its NES system, the origin story of role-playing games, the bruising console war between SEGA and arch-nemesis Nintendo, and finally the rise of PC games such as DOOM and the beginnings of the Internet era in the mid-90s.
If companies were actors, Nintendo takes the lead role across the series, appearing in some form in almost all episodes - which means if you're reading this on Nintendo Life, it's probably going to interest you.
Whilst this shouldn't be considered a definitive history of the period by any stretch, and sure - you'll probably already know a lot of the facts - it's the interviews featured in the series that are truly worth your time, revealing fascinating insights into the people behind many iconic games from the era and their individual approaches to game design.
Another thing that shines is the presentation. Wonderfully shot in beautiful 4K, the series oozes style as it mixes real-life footage with augmented reality sprites along with lots of on-point animated pixel art, a real treat for the eyes as well as the ears.
So, whilst we can't say the series is worth getting a brand new Netflix subscription for, if you already have one (or have access to one) we'd wholeheartedly recommend that the show is worth the 5-6 hours of your time, either to take a trip down memory lane or to see what the fuss was about when all us older gamers were young and impressionable.
High Score is available on Netflix today, 19th August 2020.
Comments 56
Gonna watch ep 1 tomorrow when I visit my parents for the weekend.
wow video games!
i started it this morning and i'm on episode 5 already. It's really fun! I highly recommend it.
I was watching Netflix the other day and literally screamed at the sight of this beauty. I cannot be anymore hyped!
There's loads and loads and loads much more in-depth videos on Youtube covering the subject totally free, so why bother
I'm gonna watch this eventually because I have this thing called procrastinating
I think I’ll try it tomorrow.
It's really great and it's all passive watching so no disagreement over the battle system or whatever.
@shgamer Bother because the article says that it is a very good production. Isn't that enough for you to "BOTHER"?
Very disappointing. It's about 10% video game development / history. The focus is on human interest, side stuff (american championships/competition, old tv adverts, call center training stories), and a bit of compulsory/forced policor (it's netflix so a focus on all the contemporary sjw subjects)
Your better off with youtube and actual content that caters to actual gamer like videogame historian for example
Having read Console Wars and a few other gaming history books recently this looks interesting. Will definitely be tuning in.
Documentary about the golden age? 2017 wasn't that far away... Oh you mean before ocarina of time.
You peeked my interest, I thought it was another reality crap about streaming online gaming when I saw the title and and ignored it completely
Sounds awesome. I've heard really good things about this one. I'll give it a try!
@shgamer maybe because like millions of others we already have a Netflix account and its watch as much as you want including movies and series not on YouTube....Just in case you are not familiar with the concept.
@HotGoomba Same here. Currently procrastinating doing work by replying to your comment.
Gonna give that a watch with my kid. I lived through the golden age, and it fascinates my son to hear about how things used to be.
@Snesionetty Yeah, when they brought up the transgender gamer, no women playing games and a black gamer I turned it off.
I don't really care if a Space Invaders tournament winner is male or female or the color of their skin.
@PrincessAzunyan I just don't care about their race or their gender, it's a gaming documentary.
@PrincessAzunyan You misunderstand, I just don't care about a persons gender or race in a gaming documentary but they make sure to tell you that this person is transgender or black. Why?
"4K" and "beautiful" should never be in the same sentence. 30FPS 4:3 for life!
@Creature Their gender and skin color has nothing to do with winning a Space Invaders tournament. Do I need to know what their favorite food is too?
@Crono1973 The reason it’s relevant is that gamers are typically generalised as white male basement dwellers. For them to be beaten at a tournament by somebody that doesn’t fit that ‘norm’ that’s definitely a big deal. You’re just annoyed because you don’t personally care, which says a lot about you and very little about this series.
Perfect timing! Was just looking thru Netflix last night and nothing caught my interest...
There’s no YouTube and Chill. You best watch this.
@Crono1973 I think for the Space Invader winner, you do need to mention they had a sex change - otherwise it would be a bit confusing when seeing the footage of "him" winning at the tournament.
People still watch Netflix? Lol. I guess in the UK they have the studio ghibli movies. I'm more of a Hulu and Crunchyroll guy
Watch halt and catch fire on Amazon prime, amazing TV around computers and games
@nessisonett Yeah, I am personally not sexist or racist which is why I just don't care about a person race or gender.
Interestingly, the running theme these days is that not caring IS racist and sexist and that we should we be noticing and calling out and talking about everyone's race and gender every opportunity we get. I obviously don't agree with that nonsense.
@Crono1973 If you’ve played any game online, you’ve seen the crap people take who don’t fit a certain mould. For someone to overcome that amount of abuse and show them up through their playing, that is absolutely worthy of inclusion. Being ‘colourblind’ is all well and good but erasing experiences that are uniquely created from somebody’s situation is just as bad. We’re all humans but we’re made up of many different cultures, experiences and backgrounds and those should be celebrated.
@RPGamer Straight white males. The only group whose identity will not be mentioned because in that case, identity suddenly doesn't matter.
I really like video games
Honestly I was pretty unimpressed with the first 2 episodes. The narrative jumps all over the place. Also there's not enough cool information for hardcore gaming fans, and there's not enough background for people new to gaming.
I'll watch the 3rd episode to give it another chance, but I'm not too hopeful.
Although I didn't realize that the Channel F was created by a Black man. There wasn't a lot of representation of Black people in early gaming. But that was the only peace of information I didn't know (that wasn't Nintendo World Championship related).
@nessisonett I felt the relevance was that "Becky" was able to use videogames as an escape from the world which didn't except her for who she was.
I don't think her sexual identity was brought up to say that girls or transgendered people could play too and win. I would never have interpreted it the way you did but either way I don't see the problem with it.
I'm sorry crono1973 doesn't feel their race and sex isn't celebrated in culture. I thought 45 did enough celebrating for the rest of us over the last 4 years.
only watched the first episode so far. i wish this would actually go way deeper (like the people modifying their arcade games) and have less of the fluff meant for the general non-gaming crowd
Nice! I just watched the first episode then came to NL and saw this article. Really enjoying it so far.
@sixrings Oh yeah, in terms of that specific circumstance I can see what you’re saying but for all those people out there who grow up thinking they can’t win because of who they are, these stories are important to nurture and encourage talent and show them that this hobby of ours is for everyone.
@shgamer maybe because I am a grown up with a Netflix account already, and want to watch a professionally produced documentary.... (Besides, I can always watch Nintendrew and the Game Historian on YouTube anytime too)
So far watched two episodes and enjoying it. Was a treat for me at least to put a face to the man behind the infamous K.K. Slider.
Show looks neat. I'll be watching it.
video games never cease to amaze me
I watching two episodes.
Enjoy so far.
But how can the girl who worked at Nintendo miss the year of launching the Famicom?😅
1982?
Up to episode 3... it’s ok. Not the worst but not the best... a little under the quality of Toys that made Us series, which I find incredibly well done. The editing just doesn’t have any style, it’s rather to the point and no humour interjected.
Forgot about this, will definitely get on it when the wife is out and I can watch what I want to watch.
I watched it last night, it was a fun and a silly watch and had all the info only gamers would know (the tiny details) in easy to understand stories.
The guy who worked in the help line for Nintendo in the 80's,
He needs a career in acting or tv or something, he was great, that mullet lol.
HIGHLY recommend! With a glass of wine.
Interested to watch this. I know it's not the same people, but the Toys That Made Us is one of the best docu-series I've ever seen. A lot of the toys I don't care about, but it's still fascinating.
I do think these things are not aimed at fans as hardcore as us though. More the casual gamers that buy 1-2 games a year, and don't visit forums or watch gaming stuff on youtube.
This is actually quite boring.
There's better more in depth video's on YouTube that cover all this stuff and they do it in a lot less time.
I watched the first 2 episodes but I found it a bit long winded for how little their saying.
@RPGamer yeah I use hulu for anine, regular show and movies. I canceled netflix about a year or 2 ago.
@RPGamer Yes they are.
@RPGamer Sorry, I was busy this morning and didn't go into any detail.
Let me ask you something (if you're still here), do you consider it discrimination to put someone at an academic disadvantage based on their race?
@RPGamer That's Affirmative Action. It's systematic discrimination against white people (and asians too).
@RPGamer I am guessing (based on your previous post) that you are not ok with Affirmative Action.
Episodes 2 (about Nintendo) and 4 (about Sega, console wars and EA Sports) are pure gold, especially for interviews with legends like Gail Tilden and Tom Kalinske. I still have to watch episodes 5 and 6, but so far I'm enjoying High Score.
@PaisanoJake
"wow video games!"
"I really like video games"
"video games never cease to amaze me"
(wonders why those messages were posted)
@sixrings
"I thought 45 did enough celebrating for the rest of us over the last 4 years."
What "45"?
@Mario500 nice
I was surprised and saddened to had heard what I had believed to had been a certain word often spelled "crappy" in ones of the narratives for what I had believed to had been the first episode of this "High Score".
Tap here to load 56 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...