Zero Punctuation Season 8 Episode 31 ET The Worst Game Ever

Zero Punctuation is a web series created by Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw that reviews various video games in a humorous and satirical manner. In season 8, episode 31, Yahtzee takes on what he dubs "the worst game ever": ET.

Released for the Atari 2600 in 1982, ET: The Extra Terrestrial was a tie-in game for the hit movie of the same name. However, due to its rushed development and ambitious design, the game was a complete disaster and became infamous for its poor quality.

Yahtzee begins by giving a brief history of the game, including the urban legend that thousands of unsold copies were buried in a landfill. He then dives into the actual gameplay, which he describes as a "headache-inducing" mess. The player controls ET as he wanders around a series of identical looking screens, trying to collect phone pieces to call his spaceship. Along the way, he must avoid falling into pits and being caught by government agents.

The problem, as Yahtzee points out, is that the game is incredibly confusing and poorly designed. It's not clear what you're supposed to do or where you're supposed to go, and the controls are frustratingly imprecise. The game also has a bizarre mechanic where ET can use his neck to stretch up into the sky and see where he's supposed to go, which Yahtzee finds both ridiculous and pointless.

One of the major issues with ET, according to Yahtzee, is that it's simply not fun to play. The repetitive music, dull graphics, and frustrating gameplay make it a chore to get through. He notes that there are plenty of bad games out there, but what sets ET apart is that it's not just bad - it's actively unpleasant to play.

As always, Yahtzee peppers his review with his trademark snark and sarcasm. He takes aim at the game's graphics ("a blurry brown mess"), the government agents ("extra-terrestrial hunting, sponsored by Coors"), and even ET himself ("I'm pretty sure this ET is mentally challenged"). His criticisms are all valid, but his entertaining delivery makes the review enjoyable to watch.

One of the things that's interesting about Yahtzee's review is that he also delves into the cultural significance of ET. He notes that the movie was a massive success and a cultural touchstone for many people, which makes the poor quality of the game all the more disappointing. He also talks about the impact that the game had on the video game industry as a whole, citing it as an example of why licensed games often fail.

Overall, Yahtzee's review of ET is a scathing takedown of a game that deserves all the criticism it gets. While some may argue that the game has historical significance or that it's a product of its time, Yahtzee has no patience for such excuses. As always, his review is insightful, entertaining, and brutally honest.