History WebVideo / TheHappyVideoGameNerd

[[folder:Games Reviewed by the HVGN]]

* ''Crack Down''[[labelnote:*]]the 1989 game on the SegaGenesis, not the ''other'' ''VideoGame/{{Crackdown}}'' on Xbox 360[[/labelnote]] (Game Quickie)

[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5i_j17dKFo In December 2014, Derek officially dropped the "Happy Video Game Nerd" gimmick and name, but said he would continue doing his reviews.]]

* ''Film/TheSumOfAllFears'' for [[NintendoGameCube GameCube]] (Is It Really That Bad?)

->''[[{{Complaining}} Had enough with games that you hate?]]\\
[[SugarWiki/SoCoolItsAwesome Let's talk about some games that are great]]\\
[[EntryPimp I'd rather let other people know]]\\
[[SugarWiki/NeedsMoreLove About the underrated classics of old]]\\
[[ClusterFBomb Than bitch and cuss]] [[HypocriticalHumor about shitty games]]\\
[[FollowTheLeader Like it's done a million times before]]\\
[[InvertedTrope He's the happiest gamer you've never heard]]\\
[[Creator/{{Nintendo}} He's The Happy Nintendo Nerd]]\\
[[{{Atari}} He's The Happy Atari]] [[{{Sega}} Sega Nerd]]\\
[[TitleDrop He's The Happy Video Game Nerd]]''

Episodes of HVGN can be found on [[http://retrowaretv.com/happy-video-game-nerd/ Retroware TV]] (the show's official home) as well as HVGN's [[http://www.youtube.com/user/lophatjello YouTube account]].

!!The Happy Video Game Nerd provides examples of:

* ''VideoGame/EarthDefenseForce2017''

* ''VideoGame/RadRaygun'' (Game Quickie)

'''HVGN:''' "'''[[{{Ragequit}} WHAT]] [[NintendoHard THE]] [[PrecisionFStrike FUCK]]!'''"

A VideoReviewShow that is a self-proclaimed ripoff of WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd. Derek Alexander, aka The Happy Video Game Nerd, copies the style of AVGN right down to the opening theme song (at least for his early episodes)...''and then he inverts it.'' He really is the happiest gamer you never heard, as his specialty is to review old school games that he actually likes; to date, he has reviewed the following classic games as well as few recent titles.

* ''VideoGame/{{Rygar}}'' walkthrough (Gettin’ Super Nerdy)

** A ''Splatterhouse'' Arcade vs. [=TurboGrafx=]-16 comparison (Gettin’ Super Nerdy)

* ''Tobal No. 1 Sampler VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII CD Demo'' vs. ''Final Fantasy VII'' (Gettin’ Super Nerdy)

He reviewed a technically-new game (''VideoGame/MegaMan9''), but he did so because of the self-parodying [[{{Retraux}} Old School]] feel to it; he later reviewed ''10'' as well (and was much less kind to it). He also reviewed the new ''Rocket Knight'' and ''Splatterhouse'' games, as well.

--> "First up, let's get ''dangerous'', with good ol' [[WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck DW]], the KING of Disney cartoon cool!"
* AffectionateParody

** 2010: He switched shows with the Gaming Historian, another Retroware personality. Derek talked about ''{{Shenmue}}'', while Norman reviewed ''{{Ristar}}''. This is also the only April Fools prank to date in which Derek does ''not'' break character, [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall at least not explicitly]].

** 2014: The first episode of the meme-overloaded LIKECOMMENTSUBSCRIBESHOW with "Scare Cam" Cody and The Shitty Goose as they list the Top 10 NES boobs ([[spoiler: at least two of the listed characters [[TertiarySexualCharacteristics don't even have any]]]]) and start going to some really weird places.

* EnsembleDarkHorse: [[{{In-universe}} His basic shtick]] is showcasing retro gaming's {{ensemble darkhorse}}s.
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: Usually played straight but sometimes subverted. He mentions in his review of Eternal Darkness that viewers comment on his name as if that's his only modus operandi and that he should be praising games all the time. Instead, he reminds them that he's just honest about games he doesn't like but provides constructive criticism (backed by personal experience shown in the reviews) as to why that is.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: Subverted for Halloween 2012 -- he mentioned after his VideoGame/ElementalGearbolt review that he had some unfinished business after which he turned his head to look at the VideoGame/EternalDarkness game case present throughout the video. His next video: [[spoiler: VideoGame/IllBleed]].

* Picks up the controller*\\

* ShoutOut: Other than his appreciation of AVGN, HVGN also gives shout outs to other Website/YouTube video game reviewers, including Little Miss Gamer and Still Gaming - both of whom would eventually join Website/ThatGuyWithTheGlasses.

* {{Spinoff}}: His 'SSFF' and 'Is it really that bad?' series of videos, usually featuring his friend Calvin. They're all improvised, edited-for-length-and-highlights videos of Derek playing various games not featured on HVGN.
* TakeThat: In the stinger to his Final Fantasy Mystic Quest video, he deliberately pronounces "NES" as both "Enn-ee-ess" and "Ness" just to "piss everyone off".

* TrademarkFavoriteFood: While the Angry Nerd [[INeedAFreakingDrink drinks beer to get through shitty games]], the Happy Nerd drinks wine to celebrate good games.

[[ClusterFBomb Than bitch and cuss]] [[Horrible/VideoGames about shitty games]]\\

* [[AndNowForSomethingCompletelyDifferent And now for something a little different]]: His SSFF and 'Is it really that bad' series of videos. They're unscripted and not as educational as the HVGN series. However, the mood is still as upbeat as the original series, with exasperation and disappointment only seeping in when the video games really are as bad as public opinion has stated.

* TrademarkFavoriteFood: While the Angry Nerd [[INeedAFreakingDrink drinks beer to get through shitty games]], the Happy Nerd drinks wine to celebrate good games.

* TrademarkFavouriteFood: While the Angry Nerd [[INeedAFreakingDrink drinks beer to get through shitty games]], the Happy Nerd drinks wine to celebrate good games.

* SugarCritic: He is the trope codifier of those type of critics

** 2014: The first episode of the meme-overloaded LIKECOMMENTSUBSCRIBESHOW with "Scare Cam" Cody and The Shitty Goose as they list the Top 10 NES boobs ([[spoiler: at least two of the listed characters don't even have any]]) and start going to some really weird places.

** 2014: The first episode of the meme-overloaded LIKECOMMENTSUBSCRIBESHOW with "Scare Cam" Cody and The Shitty Goose as they list the Top 10 NES boobs and start going to some really weird places.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: Currently subverted for Halloween 2012 -- he mentions after his VideoGame/ElementalGearbolt review that he has some unfinished business after which he turns his head to look at the VideoGame/EternalDarkness game case present throughout the video. His next video: [[spoiler: VideoGame/IllBleed]].

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' Tobal No. 1 Sampler VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII CD Demo vs. ''Final Fantasy VII'' (Gettin’ Super Nerdy)

** A ''Splatterhouse'' Arcade VS [=TurboGrafx=]-16 comparison (Gettin’ Super Nerdy)

A VideoReviewShow that is a self-proclaimed ripoff of WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd. Derek Alexander, aka The Happy Video Game Nerd, copies the style of AVGN right down to the opening theme song (at least for his early episodes)...''and then he inverts it.'' He really is the happiest gamer you never heard, as his specialty is to review old school games that he actually likes; to date, he has reviewed the following classic games:

[[folder: Games Reviewed by the HVGN]]

* ''Crackdown'' (Game Quickie)

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' Tobal No. 1 Sampler VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII CD Demo VS VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII (Gettin’ Super Nerdy)

* ''VideoGame/MegaMan 9''

* ''Rocket Knight''

* ''Sparkster''
* ''Sparkster: Rocket Knight Adventures 2''

* ''Zoda's Revenge: VideoGame/StarTropics II''
* ''ZombiePanicInWonderland'' (Game Quickie)

He reviewed a technically-new game (''VideoGame/MegaMan 9''), but he did so because of the self-parodying [[{{Retraux}} Old School]] feel to it; he later reviewed ''10'' as well (and was much less kind to it). He also reviewed the new ''Rocket Knight'' and ''Splatterhouse'' games, as well.

The Happy Video Game Nerd (HVGN) is a deliberate attempt to contrast the trend of {{Caustic Critic}}s on the Internet, and it's also a way to bring up old retro gaming classics that [[SugarWiki/NeedsMoreLove deserve a little more attention]]. Surprisingly, James Rolfe - The Angry Video Game Nerd himself! - [[ColbertBump subscribes to Derek's YouTube account]].

Compare ''WebVideo/{{Wiiviewer}}'', ''WebVideo/ClassicGameRoom''.

-->'''HVGN:''' Until next time, gang, remember: [[IceCreamKoan good games are great because they're good.]]
-->'''Nightshade:''' *{{Beat}}* WHAT!

** He also appears in the BoardJames review of "Loupin' Louie", a LiveEpisode filmed at PAX 2011, and is identified by an onscreen caption. It's the first time he has ever appeared in a [[JamesRolfe Cinemassacre]] video, and Derek naturally joked about it being "the much anticipated [[WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd AVGN]]-HVGN CrossOver".

* {{Foreshadowing}}: Currently subverted for Halloween 2012 - He mentions after his VideoGame/ElementalGearbolt review that he has some unfinished business after which he turns his head to look at the VideoGame/EternalDarkness game case present throughout the video. His next video: [[spoiler: VideoGame/IllBleed]].

-->'''HVGN:''' Remember, there are way too many great video games out there to be so fucking angry all the time...
-->* Picks up the controller*
-->'''HVGN: [[{{Ragequit}} WHAT]] [[NintendoHard THE]] [[PrecisionFStrike FUCK]]!'''

** Played straight in his reviews of ''VideoGame/MegaMan 9'' and ''10''. He acknowledges that he rated ''9'' -- which helped kick off the recent {{Retraux}} trend -- as highly as he did partly for this specific reason. Now that "all that's old is new again" is getting...well, old again, he was able to take off his nostalgia-tinted lenses for ''10''. He does stand by his original review for ''9'', though, and cites other reasons why ''10'' is a weaker game.

** In his ''Clash at Demonhead'' review, inspired by ''ScottPilgrim'', he takes time out of his review to praise EdgarWright for his direction of [[ScottPilgrimVsTheWorld the film version]], saying "You're [[Film/ShaunOfTheDead three]] for [[Film/HotFuzz three]]."

-->'''HVGN:''' What are you gonna do about that, haters?
** In his review of ''Aladdin'', he makes a jab at the IrateGamer's infamous review.

-->'''HVGN:''' You know Nightshade, some people don't like this game.
-->'''Nightshade:''' Really?
-->'''HVGN:''' Yeah.
-->'''Nightshade:''' Like who?
-->'''HVGN:''' Some people (gestures at camera) on the internet.
-->'''Nightshade:''' (looks towards camera) [{{Beat}}] Fuck you.

* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: Usually played straight but sometimes subverted. He mentions in his review of Eternal Darkness that viewers comment on his name as if that's his only modus operandi and that he should be praising games all the time.

* ''[[DTrilogy D]]''
* ''[[DTrilogy D2]]''

* ''[[{{VideoGame/Doom}} DOOM 64]]''

* ''VideoGame/DuckTales''

* ''EnemyZero''

* ''MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' (Game Quickie)

* Quest 64 (Is It Really That Bad?)

* ''ResidentEvil4PreviewDisk'' (Gettin' Super Nerdy)
* ''{{Ristar}}'' (done by Norman as Derek as part of the April Fools 2010 switcheroo)

* ''RocketKnightAdventures''
* ''{{Rygar}}'' walkthrough (Gettin’ Super Nerdy)
* ''{{Shenmue}}'' (done by Derek as Norman as part of the April Fools 2010 switcheroo)

* ''Sparkster: RocketKnightAdventures 2''
* ''{{Splatterhouse}}''
* ''{{Splatterhouse}}'' Arcade VS TurboGrafx16 comparison (Gettin’ Super Nerdy)
* ''{{Splatterhouse}} 2''
* ''{{Splatterhouse}} 3''
* ''{{Splatterhouse}} 2010'' reboot

* {{Mid-Review Sketch Show}}: There has been the occasional cut-away, especially with earlier reviews, but there is only one full-fledged instance of this trope: the ''Nightshade'' review (itself a blatant homage to ''[[WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd Bugs Bunny's Birthday Blowout]]'').

* AccentuateTheNegative: Normally averted, but his reviews of ''VideoGame/StarTropics 2'' and ''VideoGame/MegaMan10'' had this in spades. Also in the second half of his ''Videogame/EternalDarkness'' review.