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

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9MZ0lmZ4pg
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/B9MZ0lmZ4pg
Generated: 2025-12-18T19:08:27.642+00:00

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## 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.

![Screenshot at 12:57: The hidden cheat code result on the PlayStation game's credits screen displays the explicit message "FUCK OFF BIN LADEN" over the game's standard E.T. artwork.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/B9MZ0lmZ4pg/00-12-57.png)

**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.

### E.T. Interplanetary Mission Gameplay

- Isometric 3D platforming
- E.T. uses telekinesis to move objects (14:14)
- Movement controls are frustratingly awkward, making E.T. seem intoxicated (07:36)

### The Hidden Easter Egg

- Cheat code discovered by inputting R2, R1, L2, L1 on the Options screen after collecting 4 flowers (13:38)
- The code displays "FUCK OFF BIN LADEN" on the credits screen (12:57)

### Developer Commentary

- Credits reveal developers used nicknames like 'Laughing Jaffy' Baffy and Diego 'Egg' Link (10:15)
- The developers hid the message to vent frustration, as they were forced to remove the original credits sequence (10:36, 10:57)

### Movie Context

- The 2002 Special Edition of the E.T. movie replaced guns with walkie-talkies, showing a trend of sanitization (03:09, 03:15)

![Screenshot at 00:04: The reviewer, wearing a Santa hat and Atari jacket, holds up the PlayStation case for E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: Interplanetary Mission.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/B9MZ0lmZ4pg/00-00-04.png)
![Screenshot at 00:17: The video contrasts promotional material for the infamous 1982 Atari E.T. game with the 1999 \(PS1\) game.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/B9MZ0lmZ4pg/00-00-17.png)
![Screenshot at 01:03: Promotional artwork for The Angry Video Nerd 8-Bit Endless Challenge, demonstrating the over-the-top action style of AVGN's own games.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/B9MZ0lmZ4pg/00-01-03.png)
![Screenshot at 03:55: The title screen for E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: Interplanetary Mission plays on the original PlayStation, showing E.T. holding flowers.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/B9MZ0lmZ4pg/00-03-55.png)
![Screenshot at 12:57: The hidden message "FUCK OFF BIN LADEN" is displayed in pixelated green text over the blue, forest-themed credits screen of the PlayStation game.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/B9MZ0lmZ4pg/00-12-57.png)