By Mick Neeky
Based on an idea by Will Campos and Chris
Pappavaselio, Video Game High School is a clever and quirky series based in a
world where video games are the ultimate sport. The story follows Brain D (Josh
Bloylock) as he is accepted into the prestigious VGHS by chance due to his
pwning of The Law (Brian Firenzi) on national TV. Having beaten the best gamer
in the known world, Brian is given a full scholarship into VGHS. Following the
typical high school agenda, VGHS touches up on everything from crushes to
bullying. It explores what life could be like if video games where taken
seriously. And let me just say, it has a flawless execution.
Without spoiling anything, I’d like to point
out one of VGHS season 1’s triumphs: its clever twist on cliché and cheesy
moments. Where most series fail miserably, VGHS hits the mark. The viewer is
always enthralled and kept guessing. Sometimes it does go over the top—Ted Wong
(Jimmy Wong) I’m looking at you—but it pulls through.
VGHS nailed its cast perfectly: everything from
hardened youtubers like Freddie Wong to move stars like Zachary Levi. But
beyond the enchilada of love (Ki Swan played by Ellary Porterfield and Ted
Wong), there’s the truth heart of VGHS: Brian D’s spat with The Law. The show
revolves a great deal around them; their hatred on screen is perfect and gives
games someone to love and hate. It’s up to you who you pick. Yet each character
gets a chance to be in the spotlight. They don’t feel bland and pointless;
they’re alive! At the end of the day Brian D doesn’t go to school with a bunch
of bots.
All the drama, jokes and awesome rivalry aside,
there’s still one aspect of that outshines them all, VGHS’s execution on video
games. Heralded by Freddie Wong, special effects master on Youtube, VGHS
centers on a virtual reality feel, yet it’s not. I know it’s confusing. Truth
be told that as your watch Brian D gun his way through a battlefield he’s not
really inside the game. It’s just a clever way to add the video games into the
mix. After all, it is called VGHS, or would you rather see him tap keys and click
his mouse? In my opinion, VGHS nailed its first season. The only beef I got
with it, and it’s not a big one, it’s its lack of other gaming types. They only
manage to cover a handful in season one like rhythm, racing, fighting, and FPS.
All in all, VGHS deserves your free time. Give
it a shout and maybe you’ll get a scholarship.
Keep it Neeky.
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