E.T. Interplanetary Mission (PS1) - Angry Video Game Nerd (AVGN)

Quick Overview

The Angry Video Game Nerd (AVGN) reviews the PlayStation game E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: Interplanetary Mission, confirming that the game contains a hidden, highly offensive cheat code displaying "FUCK OFF BIN LADEN" on the credits screen, which was inserted by the developers to vent frustration over the game's development and the notorious Atari E.T. game.

Key Points: AVGN plays and reviews the PlayStation game E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: Interplanetary Mission (2002). The video reveals a hidden cheat code that displays the text "FUCK OFF BIN LADEN" over the credits screen. The cheat code is activated by inputting R2, R1, L2, L1 on the Options screen after collecting the first four flowers in the game. The game's developers, Santa Cruz Games, intentionally included the message as an Easter egg to express their frustration. The game itself is described as featuring frustrating, awkward controls, such as E.T. moving like he is 'intoxicated' and flailing his arms when holding items. The reviewer compares the multiple E.T. games across different decades, noting the disparity between the original 1984 Atari game and later attempts like the 2002 PS1 title. The AVGN ultimately concludes that the PlayStation game, despite having some 'cool' 3D graphics and abilities like telekinesis, is still a bad game hindered by poor design.

Context: This video is a review by James Rolfe (The Angry Video Game Nerd, or AVGN) focusing on the 2002 PlayStation game, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: Interplanetary Mission. The video contrasts this later E.T. game with the infamous 1982 Atari 2600 version, while also exploring an unexpected, politically charged Easter egg hidden within the PS1 game's code that references Osama Bin Laden.

Detailed Analysis

The video features AVGN reviewing the PlayStation game E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: Interplanetary Mission. He begins by showcasing the game's box art and then demonstrates the gameplay, which is an isometric 3D platformer where E.T. collects flowers and uses telekinesis. He criticizes the gameplay for having frustrating, awkward controls, comparing E.T.'s movement to a drunk person or when trying to herd cats (07:21). The central focus of the review is a hidden message: by collecting the first four flowers, exiting to the options screen, and inputting the button sequence R2, R1, L2, L1, the player unlocks a message on the credits screen reading "FUCK OFF BIN LADEN" (12:57). Rolfe notes that the developers, including programmer Diego 'Egg' Link and producer Bill 'Laughing Jaffy' Baffy, seemingly hid this message due to frustration with the game's poor reception or the toxic environment surrounding E.T. media, referencing the infamous 1984 Atari game. He also shows that the 2002 DVD release of the movie replaced the original gun props with walkie-talkies, suggesting a trend of sanitizing controversial elements in media.