Plot: What’s it about?
In the beloved 1980s, a small video game company called GameAvision works to put out the coolest content around, or at least goof off while they try to do so. Once owned by the great and powerful Steve Wozniak, the company was taken over by a cowboy with tons of cash named Larrity. He tries to crack down on the office hijinks, but with this motley group of workers, even Larrity’s iron hand can’t maintain control. Dave and Jerry program as a team, but the two have different approaches, as Jerry is dedicated and Dave is better known for being drunk and naked. Then we have super geek Todd, feminist Mary, slutty Claire, token Black Steve, and gay music creator Clarence. Can this ragtag band of video game workers keep GameAvision alive, or will they be crushed by their big budget corporate foes, BellecoVision?
If you’re a video game devotee, then Code Monkeys is a must see series. This show is loaded with hilarious video game content, from basic references to obscure mentions to humorous cameos from industry folk. The more into video games and the longer you’ve been into them, the more you’ll love Code Monkeys. I was weaned on the Atari 2600 and NES, so I couldn’t get enough of this show, as it is even animated in 8 bit NES style. The humor can be crude to be sure, with animated nudity to boot, so while it is a cartoon, Code Monkeys isn’t for young viewers. While Jerry and Dave are the core of the show, the other characters all have their moments in the sun. In other words, this is very much an ensemble piece and each episode usually gives some time to each character, which helps keep things nice and varied. This first season of Code Monkeys was a blast to watch, so if you’re even a casual video game fan, don’t miss this release.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in full frame, as intended. This show has a simple animation design and it looks great here, even better than when broadcast on G4. The basic colors look bright and bold, while black levels are also up to snuff. The image looks clean and as sharp as this kind of animation allows, so no complaints. The old school animation style used limits the overall visual impact, but for what it is, this show looks great here.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio is even more basic than the visuals, with vocals and some old school sound effects being the foundation. The sound effects have the kind of presence you’d expect from this kind of show, so they’re basic and old school. Not much in terms of impact, but they’re fun and mesh with the design of the show, which is what counts in this case. All of the dialogue is crystal clear, which is crucial, since vocals drive the show, to be sure. Not the kind of audio you’ll be talking about, but it does the show justice and with a show like this, that is what matters.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The extras here includes an interview with creator Adam de la Pena, a brief look behind the scenes of the show, a reel of pranks, gaming tips from G4’s Cheat! show, commercials for GameAvision games, and some downloadable content you can access via your personal computer of choice.
