Ep 1. Atari Jaguar Part I

The Angry Video Game Nerd is back for its fourth season, starting off with a two-part episode dedicated to the Atari Jaguar, a gaming console released in the mid-90s that many consider a commercial failure. In this episode, appropriately titled "Atari Jaguar Part I," the Nerd takes a deep dive into the history of the Jaguar and its games, trying to uncover why the console failed to make a mark in an industry that was rapidly evolving.

The episode begins with the Nerd giving viewers a brief introduction to the Atari Jaguar and its specifications, highlighting its unique selling points such as its 64-bit processor and ability to handle up to 16.8 million colors. He then proceeds to showcase a few games that were released on the console, starting with Trevor McFur in the Crescent Galaxy, a colorful and visually impressive title that unfortunately falls short in terms of its gameplay.

Next up is Alien vs. Predator, a game that was widely touted as the Jaguar's flagship title and a system-seller. The Nerd plays through a few levels, showing off the game's impressive visuals and atmospheric sound design, but also highlighting its clunky controls and frustrating difficulty. He even goes on to compare it with the Super Nintendo's Doom, which was released around the same time and is widely considered a superior game in terms of gameplay and overall fun factor.

The Nerd then moves on to play a few other titles on the Jaguar, such as Doom, Jaguar XJ220, and Club Drive. While Doom is a decent port of the popular PC game, the other two games fail to impress in any way. Jaguar XJ220 is a poorly optimized racing game that suffers from terrible frame rate issues and bland track designs, while Club Drive is a bizarre, open-world driving game that is confusing and frustrating to play.

Throughout the episode, the Nerd also reflects on the gaming industry as a whole during the mid-90s, when the Atari Jaguar was released. He talks about the rise of 3D graphics, the transition from 2D to 3D gaming, and the increasing popularity of first-person shooters. He also touches upon the fierce competition between gaming consoles such as the Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo, and Sony Playstation, all of which were successful in their own ways and overshadowed the Jaguar.

The Nerd ends the episode by posing a few questions to himself and his viewers, asking why the Atari Jaguar failed to make a mark despite its impressive hardware and unique games. He also wonders whether the console would have fared better if it had been released a few years earlier, before the gaming industry had made such a sharp transition to 3D gaming.

Overall, "Atari Jaguar Part I" is an informative and entertaining episode that gives viewers a glimpse into the history of one of gaming's most obscure consoles. The Nerd's witty commentary and honest opinions about the games are sure to resonate with viewers, whether they grew up during the Atari Jaguar's heyday or are simply passionate about gaming history. The episode sets up the stage for the second part, which promises to be just as interesting and insightful.