The AVGN Trials of JSR 2: What Were They Thinking?


1	#	Dates	Game Title (Difficulty if any)	Difficulty	Console	Time to Beat	Graphics	Music	Sound	Control	Design	Fun	Difficulty	Overall	Rank	Comments/Notes

2			Hover over the title for the VOD	(default if blank)			1.00x value to avg.				1.25x value to avg.		(Is it fair?)	(I:K + L:O weighted) /8		Overall Rank is based on a weighted score, putting value on the parts of a game I think matter most.
3	1	7/12/24	Batman: Revenge of the Joker		Genesis	2:58:36	4	7	3	2	5	3	3	3.78	9	Disappointment in a Genesis cartridge. Bad. Awful. Terrible. Lazy. And unfairly difficult. Avoid!
4	2	7/15/24	Terminator 2: Judgment Day		NES	2:49:33	6	7	7	7	6	5	4	5.94	7	LJN almost struck gold with this licensed game, but got lazy when it mattered. Dumbasses.
5	3	7/17/24	Sonic R	Normal	Saturn	1:04:32	6	10	10	1	1	4	7	5.28	8	By the time you adjust to the jank, the game runs out of things to do except hunt for crap.
6	4	7/17/24 - 7/20/24	Hook		NES	3:35:17	7	7	8	5	3	7	9	6.50	5	Jank can be fun, but eventully you should have solid gameplay. Outside of the flying butts.
7	5	7/24/24 - 7/27/24	Ecco: The Tides of Time	Normal	Sega CD	10:10:10	10	8	9	8	3	2	5	6.19	6	The unfair and artificial difficulty seems like an "Ecco" of the first game, but it's a bit less here.
8	6	7/27/24	Big Nose Freaks Out		NES	1:44:02	3	3	6	7	8	10	8	6.66	4	Takes a few tries to get used to the controls, but once you do, this is a speedrunner's dream.
9	7	7/29/24	Super Metroid		SNES	4:22:42	10	10	10	9	10	10	10	9.84	1	A masterpiece, timeless. Defined an entire genre, nearly perfect. Always save the animals ;)
10	8	7/30/24	S.C.A.T.: Special Cybernetic Attack Team		NES	1:22:17	5	7	8	10	5	8	6	7.03	3	Definitely better than its' name implies, but too short and easy for a retail purchase. Shame.
11	9	8/1/24 - 8/3/24	The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD	Hero Mode	Wii U	26:01:27	10	10	10	9	9	10	8	9.38	2	From beginning to end, you feel like a grand adventure awaits you at every turn... epic fun!
12	10	8/6/24	Action Fighter		SMS	7:11:18 +								0.00	10
13	11		Rollerblade Racer		NES									0.00	10
14														0.00	10
15			A Boy and His Blob		NES									0.00	10
16			Action 52		NES									0.00	10	Beat as many as I can in a single stream!
17			Action in New York		NES									0.00	10
18			Addams Family Values		SNES									0.00	10
19			Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood		PC									0.00	10
20			Asteroids		Arcade									0.00	10
21			Attack of the Mutant Penguins		Jaguar									0.00	10
22			AVGN Adventures 2		PC									0.00	10
23			Back to the Future II & III		NES									0.00	10
24			Back to the Future III		Genesis									0.00	10
25			Bad Dudes		NES									0.00	10
26			Batman Forever		SNES									0.00	10
27			Batman Returns		SNES									0.00	10
28			Batman: Return of the Joker		Game Boy									0.00	10
29			Beavis and Butt-Head		SNES									0.00	10
30			Berzerk		Arcade									0.00	10
31			Boogie		Wii									0.00	10
32			Bram Stoker's Dracula		NES									0.00	10
33			Bubsy: Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind		Genesis									0.00	10
34			Campaign '84		Atari 2600									0.00	10
35			Castlevania		NES									0.00	10	(WITH POWER GLOVE)
36			Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse		NES									0.00	10
37			Castlevania X		SNES									0.00	10
38			Castlevania: Bloodlines		Genesis									0.00	10
39			Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance		GBA									0.00	10
40			Castlevania: Lament of Innocence		PS2									0.00	10
41			Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness		N64									0.00	10
42			Choujin Sentai Jetman		Famicom									0.00	10
43			Commando		NES									0.00	10
44			Conan		NES									0.00	10
45			Dark Castle		CD-i									0.00	10
46			Darkwing Duck		NES									0.00	10
47			Doom		PC									0.00	10
48			Double Dragon		NES									0.00	10
49			Double Switch		Sega CD									0.00	10	Might play remaster
50			Dr. Seuss' Fix Up the Mix Up		Atari 2600									0.00	10
51			Drac's Night Out		NES									0.00	10
52			Dragon's Lair		Arcade									0.00	10	Can also play remasters on Steam
53			Eternal Champions		Genesis									0.00	10
54			Evander Holyfield's "Real Deal" Boxing		Genesis									0.00	10
55			Extreme Sports with the Berenstain Bears		GBC									0.00	10
56			Far Cry: Vengeance		Wii									0.00	10
57			Final Fight		SNES									0.00	10
58			Frankenstein's Monster		Atari 2600									0.00	10
59			Frogger		Atari 5200									0.00	10
60			Ghostbusters		Genesis									0.00	10
61			Ghostbusters		SMS									0.00	10
62			Ghostbusters II		NES									0.00	10
63			Godzilla 2: War of the Monsters		NES									0.00	10
64			Haunted House		Atari 2600									0.00	10
65			Hell Fighter		NES									0.00	10
66			Home Alone		SNES									0.00	10
67			Home Alone		Genesis									0.00	10
68			Home Alone 2: Lost in New York		SNES									0.00	10
69			Home Improvement		SNES									0.00	10
70			Ikari Warriors		Arcade									0.00	10
71			Ikari Warriors II: Victory Road		NES									0.00	10
72			Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade		NES									0.00	10	Taito version (Ubisoft version was in the original Trials)
73			Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom		NES									0.00	10
74			Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures		SNES									0.00	10
75			Irritating Stick		PS1									0.00	10
76			Jackie Chan in Fists of Fire		Arcade									0.00	10
77			Jurassic Park		NES									0.00	10
78			Jurassic Park		Genesis									0.00	10
79			K9.5: Live in Airdale		PS1									0.00	10
80			Kaboom!		Atari 5200									0.00	10
81			Karnaaj Rally		GBA									0.00	10
82			Kasumi Ninja		Jaguar									0.00	10
83			Kazmania: Trail of Gems		PS1									0.00	10
84			King of Kings: The Early Years		NES									0.00	10
85			Kingdom Hearts 2		PS2									0.00	10
86			Knuckles Chaotix		Sega 32x									0.00	10
87			Krusty's Fun House		NES									0.00	10
88			Kung Fu		NES									0.00	10
89			Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger		Famicom									0.00	10
90			Lamb Chop's Play Along		CD-i									0.00	10
91			Last Action Hero		NES									0.00	10
92			Link's Crossbow Training		Wii									0.00	10
93			Linus Spacehead's Cosmic Crusade		NES									0.00	10
94			Mario's Time Machine		SNES									0.00	10
95			Mary Shelley's Frankenstein		SNES									0.00	10
96			Masters of the Universe: The Power of He-Man		Atari 2600									0.00	10
97			Mega Man		DOS									0.00	10
98			Mega Man Legends 2		PS1									0.00	10
99			Mega Man X		SNES									0.00	10
100			Metal Gear		MSX									0.00	10
101			Metal Gear Solid		PS1									0.00	10
102			Metroid Prime		GameCube									0.00	10
103			Michael Jackson's Moonwalker		Arcade									0.00	10
104			Micro Machines		NES									0.00	10
105			Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: The Movie		SNES									0.00	10
106			Mortal Kombat		Arcade									0.00	10
107			Mortal Kombat		Game Boy									0.00	10
108			Moses: The Exodus		CD-i									0.00	10
109			Noah's Ark		NES									0.00	10	PAL game (emulator)
110			Paperboy 2		NES									0.00	10
111			Pele's Soccer		Atari 2600									0.00	10
112			Penn & Teller's Smoke & Mirrors		Sega CD									0.00	10	Every game except Desert Bus!
113			Phalanx		SNES									0.00	10
114			Pokémon Red		Game Boy									0.00	10
115			Pole Position		Atari 5200									0.00	10
116			Poly Play		Arcade									0.00	10
117			Power Pad: Super Team Games		NES									0.00	10	Play on the Power Pad!
118			Predator		NES									0.00	10
119			Pro Wrestling		NES									0.00	10
120			Pro Wrestling		SMS									0.00	10
121			Pugsley's Scavenger Hunt		SNES									0.00	10
122			Raiders of the Lost Ark		Atari 2600									0.00	10
123			RBI Baseball 4		Genesis									0.00	10
124			Resident Evil		PS1									0.00	10
125			Resident Evil: Code Veronica		Dreamcast									0.00	10
126			Robocop 2		NES									0.00	10
127			Robocop 3		NES									0.00	10
128			Rocky		PS2									0.00	10
129			Saban's Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue		N64									0.00	10
130			Saturday Night Slam Masters		SNES									0.00	10
131			Shadow of the Ninja		NES									0.00	10
132			Shadow the Hedgehog		GameCube									0.00	10
133			Shatterhand		NES									0.00	10
134			Skate or Die!		NES									0.00	10
135			Slam City with Scottie Pippen		Sega CD									0.00	10
136			Snake's Revenge		NES									0.00	10
137			Socks the Cat ROCKS the Hill		SNES									0.00	10	Unreleased
138			Sonic CD		Sega CD									0.00	10
139			Spawn: Armageddon		PS2									0.00	10
140			Spider-Man		Atari 2600									0.00	10
141			Spider-Man 2		GBA									0.00	10
142			Spiritual Warfare		NES									0.00	10
143			Stack Up		NES									0.00	10	PB has to play it!
144			Star Trek: Strategic Operations Simulator		Atari 2600									0.00	10
145			Star Trek: The Motion Picture		Vectrex									0.00	10	GHETTO CAM VECTREX STRIM
146			Star Trek: The Next Generation		NES									0.00	10
147			Star Wars		NES									0.00	10
148			Star Wars		Famicom									0.00	10
149			Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire		N64									0.00	10
150			Starfox		SNES									0.00	10
151			Street Fighter: The Movie: The Game		Arcade									0.00	10
152			Super Breakout		Atari 5200									0.00	10
153			Super Godzilla		SNES									0.00	10
154			Super Hydlide		GEN									0.00	10
155			Super Mario 64		N64									0.00	10
156			Super Mario Galaxy		Wii									0.00	10
157			Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars		SNES									0.00	10
158			Super Mario World		SNES									0.00	10
159			Super Noah's Ark 3D		SNES									0.00	10
160			Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back		SNES									0.00	10
161			Super Street Fighter II Turbo		PS1									0.00	10
162			Superman		Comm. 64									0.00	10
163			Superman		Atari 2600									0.00	10
164			SwordQuest: WaterWorld		Atari 2600									0.00	10
165			Taito: Legends		PS2									0.00	10	Can select 1 game and play it natively
166			Tattoo Assassins		Arcade									0.00	10
167			Teleroboxer		Virtual Boy									0.00	10
168			Tempest		Arcade									0.00	10
169			Terminator 2		SNES									0.00	10
170			The Addams Family		SNES									0.00	10
171			The Adventures of Batman & Robin		SNES									0.00	10
172			The Adventures of Dr. Franken		SNES									0.00	10
173			The Amazing Spider-Man		Game Boy									0.00	10
174			The Legend of Kage		Arcade									0.00	10
175			The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages		GBC									0.00	10
176			The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess		Wii U									0.00	10	Can also play TPHD on Wii U
177			The Punisher		NES									0.00	10
178			The Simpsons: Bart vs the Juggernauts		SNES									0.00	10
179			The Simpsons: Bart vs the World		NES									0.00	10
180			The Simpsons: Bart's Nightmare		SNES									0.00	10
181			The Terminator		SNES									0.00	10
182			The Terminator		NES									0.00	10
183			The Three Stooges		NES									0.00	10
184			The Ultimate Stuntman		NES									0.00	10
185			The Uncanny X-Men		NES									0.00	10
186			Time Killers		Arcade									0.00	10
187			TimeGal		Arcade									0.00	10	Can also play Sega CD version
188			Todd McFarlane's Spawn		SNES									0.00	10
189			Tomb Raider II		PS1									0.00	10
190			Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness		PS2									0.00	10
191			Tomb Raider: Chronicles		PS1									0.00	10
192			Toxic Crusaders		Genesis									0.00	10
193			Toxic Crusaders		Game Boy									0.00	10
194			Universal Soldier		SNES									0.00	10
195			Wall Street Kid		NES									0.00	10
196			Wayne's World		SNES									0.00	10
197			Woody Woodpecker in Crazy Castle 5		GBA									0.00	10
198			WWF Wrestlemania: Bigger, Better, Badder		NES									0.00	10
199			X-Men		Genesis									0.00	10
200			X-Men		Arcade									0.00	10	Co-Op w/ Chrispy072003
201			ZAPPER GAMES (See notes)		NES									0.00	10	Hogan's Alley/Barker Bill's Trick Shooting/Wild Gunman/Bandai Shooting Range
202			Zelda's Adventure		CD-i									0.00	10
203			Zool 2		Jaguar									0.00	10
204															10


1		Graphics	Music	Sound	Control	Design	Fun	Difficulty	Overall

2	Game 1: Batman: Revenge of the Joker (Sega Genesis)	4	7	3	2	5	3	3	4.19
3	To start things off, for our first game, the AVGN Wheel gave us a Batman game, released in 1992 for the Sega Genesis. Batman: Revenge of the Joker is a terrible remake or port, whichever it may be, of the NES 1991 game "Return of the Joker" which, by itself, wasn't exactly a gem. But at least that version was playable, looked really nice, sounded amazing, and was fun to play. This game is a severely undercooked variant of that slightly above-average NES game, and it suffers greatly for it, as will you if you play it.
4	It starts off innocently enough. But you notice the graphics almost immediately. Where the NES version had big colorful sprites, parallax backgrounds, and many colors, this version has sprites that blend into the background, little to no parallax, and TOO many colors, making it hard to see where to go, what can hit you, and mostly, just makes it a chore to look at.
5	Fortunately the music isn't as terrible, but still pales compared to the NES bangers. This version has FM versions of those songs, and they're fine. However, the sound effects are awful in this game, and get on your nerves quickly.
6	The controls are where this game falls apart. Awful input lag, heavy jumps that feel like you weigh 400 pounds, weapons that can't hit their targets, a ton of animation lag when Batman has to crouch, change direction or jump... and the biggest culprit? This pose. This freaking pose. WHY, BATMAN? You just can't help yourself? You have to show off there? More like Dork Knight.
7	Finally, we talk about the game's design. WHY WOULD YOU RESTART IN A LEVEL WITH NO POWERUPS WHEN YOU NEED THE POWERUP TO BEAT THE BOSS IN THE FIRST PLACE? Inconsistent checkpoints, too many autoscrollers, unfair enemy placement, and useless powers make this a boring and monotonous experience at best, and a rage-inducing patience test at its' worst.
8	This is not a fun experience. You're much better off playing "Return of the Joker" on NES... or any other Batman game to be honest. This sucks. Stay away from it if you have no reason to play it.
9
10	Game 2: Terminator 2: Judgment Day (NES)	6	7	7	7	6	5	4	6.63
11	It can't get much worse than #1, right? Well, fortunately, this LJN "classic" turned out to be much better than I expected, though that's not saying too much. That said, it tried to remain true to the film, you have some nice presentation, and decent controls, making this much more fun than I expected it to be.
12	You play as the man himself, Ah-nold aka the T-101, sent back to protect John Connor. You play in the biker bar, than the LA river, the mental hospital (saving Sarah), Cyberdyne, and finally, the forge.
13	It tried to follow the movie, and did a decent job, but it's a very repetitive game with stiff controls, though they're at the least responsive and don't eat inputs. The game is also forgiving, though continues are limited.
14	The music is well-produced yet repetitive, with fun arrangements marred by serious tones and boring cadences. The graphics are also pretty boring, though the forgery is a nicer location than the rest.
15	It's a decent game, though if you're a Terminator 2 fan there are MANY ways to enjoy this franchise besides just playing this old NES game. It's mid at best, and I would just play something else.
16
17
18	Game 3: Sonic R (Sega Saturn)	6	10	10	1	1	4	7	5.69	Normal Difficulty
19	LIVING IN THE CITY! This game is so bad it's good, and it lives up to exactly what I expected from it, both in the best of ways... and the worst of ways.
20	Graphically, Sega did an ok job making their flagship hedgehog the star of a 3D game. They look decent for a Saturn game. And the music.... MAN it's so catchy! I LOVE the soundtrack of this game.
21	However, the game has to be played, right? Well, you can do that.... barely. The controls are like if you put boots made of salt on, then tried to walk across a frozen lake after it rained on it. Good luck.
22	It's bad. You slip, fall off the course, get stuck, lose momentum. And the courses are designed so poorly. There was little thought put into the momentum and natural flow of a race. You feel restricted and lost.
23	If this game wasn't this bad, it wouldn't be hilarious, so in a way its' jank saves it from mediocrity, but it does so in a way that makes it infamous. This game is pretty bad.
24	Unless you're a diehard Sonic fan, a diehard Sega fan, or just a curious masochist, there's no reason to play this turd outside of a quick laugh. Play Mario Kart instead.
25
26	Game 4: Hook (NES)	7	7	8	5	3	7	9	7.25
27	When I first played Hook, I was scared. This game put a terrible first impression on me. And it was also very difficult, as I game overed near the end and struggled hard... at first.
28	However, the more I played it and got used to the janky controls, it became a very fun game, and the difficulty curve turned out to be perfect, as I was able to adjust and felt like this was a well-designed game in that regard.
29	It's too bad then, that the game is a repetitive fetch-fest. You do get to fight Rufio and Hook! However, the rest of the game barely resembles Peter Pan at all, and you just fetch... food. Yeah. Dumb.
30	It ruins what might have been an absolute hidden gem on NES! The graphics, music, and sound are all above-average for it's era of NES game. And the controls, janky and slippery, aren't that bad.
31	If they had just put a bit more effort or imagination into the level design and gameplay, they might've had the best licensed game on the NES. Instead, it's middling. Diehard fans only!
32
33
34	Game 5: Ecco: The Tides of Time (Sega CD)	10	8	9	8	3	2	5	6.75	Normal Difficulty
35	No. Nononono. I apologize to Ecco fans, but I HATE this game. The puzzles aren't imaginative, they're repetitive, tedious, boring, difficult, and did I mention they have ZERO IMAGINATION!?
36	Look, I get it. Ecco 2 is gorgeous, one of the most beautiful Genesis games ever made. The Sega CD version I played looks exactly the same, but changes the soundtrack and effects to CD-quality.
37	And while the CD music sounds great, it's not as catchy as the Genesis version, with its' signature FM bass. And the controls are responsive and tight, once you get used to the weird tank perspective Ecco forces you to play with.
38	No. This game isn't bad because of how it looks, it's bad because it's BAD. You swim, find the glyph, find the other glyph, and then push a rock. Next level? Same thing but MORE SHARKS!
39	It is fine at first, but it gets repetitive, boring, and difficult. This game is very hard, though it's both fair (infinite lives) and intuitive in its' difficulty. But that doesn't make it any more fun. It's not.
40	It's the same thing every stage, mixed in with random weird stuff. This game is weird, hard, and too long. Sounds very "that's what she said"... I'm pretty sure that "ecco"s my experience with Ecco 1!
41
42	Game 6: Big Nose Freaks Out (NES)	3	3	6	7	8	10	8	7.69
43	I didn't expect this. It was FUN? It was FUN! Big Nose Freaks Out is a sequel to "Big Nose the Caveman" which I've also never played. This is a game I've never heard of or seen, and guess what? I LOVED it!
44	The graphics are pretty rudimentary for its' day, and the game also has a ton of bright flashing and repeated enemies. So at first glance, you think this game is going to be awful. And who can blame them?
45	Zero in-game music, weird controls similar to a Sonic game, and no real direction. But then you start to play. And you realize that the designers actually put EFFORT into the design of these levels!
46	As you play more and more, you find a flow that feels very similar to how you would expect Sonic to play, except here you can ACTUALLY go fast! It actually encourages you to! And it's a blast!
47	It's too bad this game is unlicensed and never got a big official push. There are so many games on NES worse than this game. And it's easy to miss it because of how ugly and boring it looks.
48	But if you want something off the beaten path on NES that's a fun and easy-to-grasp game, try this one out! You won't be disappointed!
49
50	Game 7: Super Metroid (SNES)	10	10	10	9	10	10	10	9.84
51	The GOAT. This game changed everything when it dropped in 1994. It formed a literally brand-new genre. It was one of the greatest games of its' era, and it holds up to this day. Super Metroid is a gem.
52	Graphics and music? Some of the greatest ever put in a video game. You really feel like a galactic bounty hunter exploring this alien planet. And it puts fear and intensity into your session at every turn.
53	The controls? Amazing. Though they do take some time to get used to. They are quite complex, using literally every button on the SNES controller. But once you get it, it feels like second-nature.
54	The different areas of Zebes feel and sound and look different, with evil enemies, pitfalls, and traps at every turn, but you never feel like the game isn't taking power away from you. It's very well-designed in that regard.
55	You don't feel lost and scared, you feel powerful and you want to explore deeper into the planet. Intense boss fights, terrifying escape sequences, and an amazing story presentation? Yes, it's got that too!
56	This is a top-5 SNES game easily, and possibly one of the greatest games ever made.
57
58	Game 8: S.C.A.T.: Special Cybernetic Attack Team (NES)	5	7	8	10	5	8	6	7.03
59	How do the Trials follow up one of the greatest games ever made? Good luck lol. But S.C.A.T. was a decently fun shmup that felt like a short burst of adrenaline and dopamine, and not much more.
60	It's a decent looking game with catchy jams and some really great sound effects, and it's all wrapped up with really tight and intuitive controls; you can play this game within 30 seconds of booting it up.
61	It's a bit repetitive, but the gameplay is still so fun that you won't care that much. It's mostly just scrolling sections of shmup action and bullet hell, but it's not as difficult as most shooters, even on the NES.
62	You get 4 weapons to choose from, and 2 adjustable options. And that's it. It's very rudimentary, though I'd argue that makes for a quick-to-grasp experience that gives this game accessability.
63	It makes for a fun experience, even if the game is short and far too easy for an 8-bit shooter. If you're looking for a short and sweet experience, give this a try!
64
65
66	Game 9: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD (Wii U)	10	10	10	9	9	10	8	9.38	Hero Mode
67	2 of the greatest games within 3 picks in the Trials? DOGS AND CATS LIVING TOGETHER, MASS HYSTERIA! Wind Waker is one of the greatest games in the greatest gaming franchise ever made.
68	It's gorgeous, man. The cel-shaded look was beautiful in 2003, and it's aged like fine wine. It looks almost modern, with a high frame rate and lovely, expressive characters in a cartoony style.
69	The music and sound effects are typical of a Zelda game: top notch, catchy, and high fidelity. This all comes with that classic Zelda control scheme, which makes this an engrossing game to play.
70	I heard many times about how bad the sailing was, and on the original GameCube game it was worse. On Wii U, I found it to be fun and easy to navigate. I liked exploring the Great Sea!
71	A wonderfully-written story, engaging combat, a thousand places to explore, and great characters and story? This game is in the argument as best Zelda game ever, and I can't stress how much weight I put in that statement.
72	The Wind Waker HD is one of the best games I've ever played. And Hero Mode is a fantastic challenge if you find this game easy. Give it a try!
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74	Game 10: Action Fighter (Master System)