More Thoughts From Me #141: That 80’s VideoKid

I was born in the 1980s. So for me, there is a lot of nostalgia to be found in those years. The 90s, not so much, but there was so much I loved in the 80s. From cartoons to tv shows to movies, the 80s has cool stuff in spades. When you get a movie (Ready Player One) or a video game, such as The VideoKid, thats all about taping into 80s nostalgia than I’m interested. I recently got The VideoKid for Nintendo Switch from InderGamerChick on twitter during a #IndieSelect event. Here’s what I think of this trip to the 80s.

The VideoKid plays a lot like the old school game Paperboy, expect your character is on a skateboad and delivers video tapes instead of newspapers. The graphics are also better and there are a ton of 80s references in this game.

Its very easy to lose in VideoKid. You can get hit by a car or run into a person on the sidewalk or get eaten by a giant alligator in the sewer. Wait. What?!

The VideoKid isn’t a realistic game. Theres a ton of references to 80s cartoons, you’ll see Inspector Gadget walking down the street, the Thundercats mobile, the Turtles van, the stars of Lethal Weapon, Arnold appearing in the middle of the road Terminator style and more. Each time you play the level, you’ll see a mix of different things and the further you get down the road, the crazier the 80s references get.

If you were born/grow up in the 1980s, you’ll definitely get all or most of the references. If you’re a total geek like me, then you’ll love all of this stuff to bits. I enjoy the gameplay of The VideoKid a lot, but its the references that I dig the most.

Whenever I’m bored and I want to play something different, I play The VideoKid. Its a game thats great in small doses here and there. Though you can easily find yourself going “Just another run through. I know I’ll get further this time.” Its an addictive game for sure.

Have you played The VideoKid? If so what is your favorite 80s reference in it?

Thanks to IndieGamerChick and #IndieSelect for the digital code for this game! The VideoKid is currently available on the Nintendo Switch eshop.

Next week: Just dreaming about Dreams. Media Molecule’s upcoming create-your-own-whatever game Dreams will be having a beta this year and most likely be coming out next year for the Playstation 4. I don’t have a PS4, currently, but I still want to give my thoughts about this cool looking game.

More Thoughts From Me is an opinion column. The thoughts expressed here are mine and mine alone. I have the power!