In 1992, my mom bought me a Ren & Stimpy postcard book.
I was only eight years old, so it’s not like I was doing a lot of traveling…but
still, I had to have that postcard book.
Every card was a little still from the show, and I spent weeks pouring over each one, trying
to draw every single pose…it was like my favorite book.
And 90 percent of the words were “eediot.”
So before I review Veediots, I feel like you should know the kind of person that you’re
dealing with.
I saved that postcard book my entire life.
And I promised myself, at the age of eight…that one day, when I had my own place, I would
frame every one of those stills and hang them on the walls.
And two decades later, that’s exactly what I did.
And in fact, they’re hanging around the caricature that the show’s creator, John
Kricfalusi, drew personally for me.
Which, by the way, hangs next to the personalized drawings I’ve got from Jim Smith and Bob
Camp, the show’s co-creators.
And speaking of whom, Bob and I once sang the entire Royal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen song.
Together.
So to say I’m a fan of this show wouldn’t even be accurate.
I’m a product of it.
Most of my understanding of the world around me was shaped by Ren and Stimpy.
So when I tell you this game sucks?
That’s honesty.
I want you to know, it makes me feel dirty.
And the dirt…the dirt won’t come off.
Veediots!
sort of reminds me of a game called Mickey Mania.
This is like the Ren and Stimpy equivalent.
Every level is based on a different episode of the show, and you get to play through classic
scenes.
It was a great idea for Mickey, it’s a great idea for Ren and Stimpy.
But here’s the thing, uh…this game’s not as good as Mickey Mania.
That game was based on seven cartoons, this one only has three.
That game’s levels were packed with references, and characters, and all kinds of crap from
those cartoons…and this one’s got the title cards.
And listen, as much as I love Ren and Stimpy title cards…
I mean, I could’ve used more Ren and Stimpy.
So you start off in The Boy Who Cried Rat, which is a great episode, and even though
the gameplay isn’t great…I mean, it’s the Boy Who Cried Rat, I’m on board.
But then you beat the level, it only takes a few minutes…and you’re already moving
on to a new episode.
This time, it’s Stimpy’s Invention, which is one of the best episodes.
In a heartbreaking twist, it’s also where you realize this game can go suck eggs, ‘cause
this level sucks eggs.
In fact, it’s actually five levels.
So where you at least had the promise of changing episodes every couple of minutes…now you’re
stuck in the same terrible levels, with the same terrible gameplay, for what seems like
forever before you finally move on to In The Army.
Then the game ends, and it actually makes you happy.
Like a helmet.
You sick little monkey.
I actually don’t know what’s more disappointing.
The fact that the levels are designed so poorly, or the fact that they’re are only kind of
similar to the episodes they’re based on.
Like, there are a million things you could do with the Stimpy’s Invention level, but
instead, all five of those levels have the same look.
Which means the gameplay becomes the focus.
Which means the repetition and boredom become the focus.
I mean, if the strength of your game is the license, use the license.
References, characters, scenery…I mean, I’d be fine with a bad Ren and Stimpy game
that feels like Ren and Stimpy.
Aside from the music and a few nice sprites, this doesn’t feel much like Ren and Stimpy.
Not enough vitamin F.
But I guess there are a few nice sprites.
Some of them actually maintain the Spumco style, which is awesome.
But at the same time, it only makes you wish the game did, as a whole.
Like, I could write this game in five minutes.
You’d start by escaping the pound from Big House Blues, then Stimpy has to run from Muddy
Mudskipper, like in Stimpy’s Big Day, then you have to subdue Ren during his breakdown
in Space Madness…
I mean, the game writes itself.
Instead, you get three cartoons, and five levels about Bunsen burners.
Ren and Stimpy was a groundbreaking show that changed cartoons and set the tone for the
next decade of animation.
Ren and Stimpy video games didn’t have the same effect.
And this one’s probably one of the worst.
Now, the main version of Veediots!
was released for home consoles, and that one’s at least better…but this one, you want to
stay away from.
And believe me, I take no pleasure in saying that.
I have Ren and Stimpy VHS tapes for no other reason than they’re Ren and Stimpy VHS tapes,
and even I wouldn't want Veediots!
for the original Game Boy.
A huge thanks to our pal Casey from Wenatchee, Washington, for sending this in, though.
He sent it specifically for me, too.
Thanks, Casey!
I hope you get a fridge with a padlock for Christmas.
And huge pectoral muscles.
Hopefully, you don’t just get another copy of this.
No, sir, I don’t like it.