I found Code Monkeys a great time-waster. Along with The IT Crowd on G4TechTV, both these shows have an original flavour that feels new - at least until Adult Swim brings back the Venture brothers. Like the Venture brothers and honestly, Arrested Development, I find the humour layered and easy to watch repeatedly just to pick up on the embedded 80's pop culture references and visual gags you missed the first time you watched it. (with a WTF look on your face, no doubt) Hat's off to the writers and animators for really thinking out some of the visuals that only a few hard-core gamers over 40 might get. Pop culture references are great to hear (Steve Wozniak from Apple and "Bellecovision" for example) and watching the programming hacks proudly crank out these atrocious games is hilarious. Borderline racist, sexist, vulgar and generally no boundaries to contain the direction they want to take the episode, it's a poke at the terrible games we used to enjoy when we were young - with some updated Seth MacFarlane-esquire dialogue thrown in for good measure. It's not going to be for everyone's taste but for some late-night PVR viewing, it goes down good with a bottle of night-time cough syrup, hit from the bong or even straight-up.
16 Reviews
Brilliant!!!
reiver10216 July 2007
I barely heard anything about this show, but I happened to be watching G4 the night the series premiered, and I have to say I was stunned. This is, quite simply, the best video game related cartoon EVER. Every part of this show is a reference to videogames, from the health bar and score at the top of the screen, to the brief "PAUSE" message right before commercials (including the trademark pause ding like Mario games have). The humor is a lot like Aqua Teen Hunger Force, though the stories are more cohesive than ATHF's. The show has the visual style of an 8-bit game (a close comparison would be to the Rise of the Mushroom Kingdom series at VGDC.com, although stylistically it looks more like River City Ransom) However, this innocent presentation belies the highly offensive content, which includes plenty of swearing, lots of video game violence, and even one scene were one character paints his penis green after a hard night of partying. Yet, so much attention is put into little details, where hardcore gamers will notice many things from many old classic games and probably read into many things that casual viewers wouldn't even notice. If G4 ever needed a show to get them more attention from the masses, this would be it. Whether that's a good thing or not is yet to be seen, but I can say that Code Monkeys is brilliant and I hope it stays on the air for a long time.
Player 1 Start!
CrassActionHero2 August 2007
Code Monkeys(2007)
Review: I have been an avid gamer for years since the old days of the Nintendo original. Now comes a show based on a made up video game. Code Monkeys.
What works right away is the concept. It's pure genius. Code Monkeys is about a group of people working for a company called Gamevision. We got your game developers, Dave, Jerry, Mary, Todd, we got the secretary Clare, The Accountant, Black Steve, the boss, Mr. Larrity, and his son Dean.
This show's greatest strength is the characters. All of em are very funny. We get the slacker Dave, creepy D&D fan Todd, the uptight Mary, the sensitive Jerry, angry Black Steve,(yep, that what he is really called here!)the slut Clare, the idiot Dean and the money grubbing Mr. Larrity. Code Monkeys does not have fear as they make fun of everything. And I mean everything. Let's not forget the ultra gay Clarence, the man who makes the games music. He's so gay that he sings instead of talks.
Do not forget the noticeable games tributes here like Mega Man, Super Mario Bros, The Legend of Zelda, Contra, and the show itself has the exact look of NES classic, River City Ransom! Included with points and pause for commercial breaks.
Code Monkeys is about as offensive and raunchy as South Park only better. This is not for kids. Not at all.
The Last Word: Are you an old school fan? Tune in. From tons of raunchy humor to the old school 80's look, this is truly a one of a kind show. I love it.
Review: I have been an avid gamer for years since the old days of the Nintendo original. Now comes a show based on a made up video game. Code Monkeys.
What works right away is the concept. It's pure genius. Code Monkeys is about a group of people working for a company called Gamevision. We got your game developers, Dave, Jerry, Mary, Todd, we got the secretary Clare, The Accountant, Black Steve, the boss, Mr. Larrity, and his son Dean.
This show's greatest strength is the characters. All of em are very funny. We get the slacker Dave, creepy D&D fan Todd, the uptight Mary, the sensitive Jerry, angry Black Steve,(yep, that what he is really called here!)the slut Clare, the idiot Dean and the money grubbing Mr. Larrity. Code Monkeys does not have fear as they make fun of everything. And I mean everything. Let's not forget the ultra gay Clarence, the man who makes the games music. He's so gay that he sings instead of talks.
Do not forget the noticeable games tributes here like Mega Man, Super Mario Bros, The Legend of Zelda, Contra, and the show itself has the exact look of NES classic, River City Ransom! Included with points and pause for commercial breaks.
Code Monkeys is about as offensive and raunchy as South Park only better. This is not for kids. Not at all.
The Last Word: Are you an old school fan? Tune in. From tons of raunchy humor to the old school 80's look, this is truly a one of a kind show. I love it.
"Code Monkeys" Is Simply Put: HILARIOUS
JH_Kalashnikov18 July 2007
G4 finally gets a show that has my attention! "Code Monkeys" raises the bar for great laughs, imaginative writing and, above all, enjoyable viewing.
How does it possess everything I said? Well I'm not going to spoil anything for you. This show has to be seen to be believed.
The animation of the show is an excellent homage to the days of 8-bit video games along with some very funny lines such as references to Apple Computers and "Ishtar."
The characters make the show slide along even better. Dave is our main character. A pot-head with some serious visions for what makes a good game. Too bad his idea for "E.T."...whoops, almost gave away the plot of the second episode...
You will beg for more than a half-hour show, believe me. It's addicting, very addicting TV watching.
This show is just starting out and I hope it lasts for a very long time. Long live "Code Monkeys"!
How does it possess everything I said? Well I'm not going to spoil anything for you. This show has to be seen to be believed.
The animation of the show is an excellent homage to the days of 8-bit video games along with some very funny lines such as references to Apple Computers and "Ishtar."
The characters make the show slide along even better. Dave is our main character. A pot-head with some serious visions for what makes a good game. Too bad his idea for "E.T."...whoops, almost gave away the plot of the second episode...
You will beg for more than a half-hour show, believe me. It's addicting, very addicting TV watching.
This show is just starting out and I hope it lasts for a very long time. Long live "Code Monkeys"!
never fails to make me laugh
cinderellagirl929 July 2007
code monkeys is a great show... in fact one of the best to hit g-4 since x-play. It is actually something to watch that has the humor of shows like south park, family guy, and a lot of original stuff. And it manages to make every episode have a bunch of moments that you and your friends will constantly be quoting the next day.
aright, down to business, I've already established code monkeys is great, but what makes it so great? well...
graphics- if you want to get technical they're a combination of 8 bit characters in a somewhat 32 bit environment. The characters flow and although their mouths can only make 4 different poses they still manage to pull off the talking audio- the voice acting is amazing, if they want a character to be crazy, he's crazy, if they want a dumb a$$, then hes dumb... and it executions it with some of the funnest lines I've heard in a long time humor- "I leaned over to kiss your face, but i punched it instead" style- with a bar up above to mock classic video game menus and features and all of the words being in 8 bit and the fire and bullets mocking Zelda and Contra its an awesome experience.
overall- ITS AWESOME
aright, down to business, I've already established code monkeys is great, but what makes it so great? well...
graphics- if you want to get technical they're a combination of 8 bit characters in a somewhat 32 bit environment. The characters flow and although their mouths can only make 4 different poses they still manage to pull off the talking audio- the voice acting is amazing, if they want a character to be crazy, he's crazy, if they want a dumb a$$, then hes dumb... and it executions it with some of the funnest lines I've heard in a long time humor- "I leaned over to kiss your face, but i punched it instead" style- with a bar up above to mock classic video game menus and features and all of the words being in 8 bit and the fire and bullets mocking Zelda and Contra its an awesome experience.
overall- ITS AWESOME
Surprisingly funny
ShmilboSmaggins15 July 2007
It's nice to see something on G4, that actually remotely resembles a video game. Now we have Cops, Cheaters, Jamie Kennedy Experiment, and Arrested Development. Now it's refreshing to have a show that, not only is about video game designers, it's format is made to look like video games back in there early days. I originally thought that this was going to be mediocre at best, and I was pleasantly surprised that I could put my fears to rest. It was filled with hilarity and randomness(the good kind)Let me say that this show is not for everyone, it's has some adult humor on it. It features characters which I have come to love, such as, Dave, Tod, and black Steve. Overall, I think this is going to be one of my favorite shows on G4...next to X-play
A painfully unfunny and poorly executed excuse of a show...
TedStixonAKAMaximumMadness18 August 2007
Warning: Spoilers
I was very optimistic when I first saw previews for the new animated show "Code Monkeys" on the G4 channel. Being a fan of video-games (both retro and new), I thought a show done in the style of an old 8-bit game would be an interesting take on animated comedy. I was wrong.
How can I describe the sheer crappiness that is "Code Monkeys"? The only way I can think of is this: If you sat Ray Charles down in front of a TV playing the show, and then muted it, even he would complain that it was horrible... despite the fact he cannot see or hear it! The show just seems to give off the foul oder of atrocity. That is really saying something.
Among the many down-points the show has are...
-Painfully unfunny jokes. The show is still early in it's first season, and already the humor is gone, which is not a good sign for the creative team behind it. In the portions of the show that I have seen (It is literally so bad I cannot force myself to watch a full episode), most jokes involve characters randomly screaming out stupid phrases like "It's Hump-day!" or "I have butt-hole cancer!" How is this funny? The jokes have no structure or payoff. It is like an ADHD-stricken three-year-old is writing the jokes for the show, based on what he heard his drunken trailer-trash father saying to his sister/wife. Actually, never mind, that would be funnier that this show.
-Failure to take advantage of the animation style. Despite looking like a video-game, the show does not feel like a video game in any way whatsoever. I thought the stories would at least be structured like a video game (set-up for the story, levels and boss-battles in the form plot-points, and a final showdown and conclusion), however, it is hard to structure a plot line if there is no plot. They treat the animation style with no regard, which hurts the show in the end.
-And finally, those annoying life/mission/experience bars at the top and bottom of the screen. The only video-game-like aspect of the show is also one of the most annoying things about the show. It is hard enough to focus on the show already, with the horrible jokes and stupid stories, and on top of it, I have to try and concentrate while numbers and inventory bars update every single second. It really hurts the show in an unforgivable way, as it takes away from what little it has to offer by distracting the viewer. And the last episode I saw, I kid you not, a character's level-up bar filled and a pink unicorn flew across the screen for about 10 seconds. Heinous and outstandingly bad decision on the part of the creators.
I am totally flabbergasted that anyone could like such a terrible slight against society, and it leads me to believe that perhaps the world is coming to an end.
Honestly, I would not wish this show on my worst enemy. Someone could kill all my family and friends in front of me, and if the judge ordered the killer to watch this show, I would beg them to reconsider because that would be cruel and unusual punishment.
My overall grade... The worst animated show I have seen in some time. Avoid like the plague.
How can I describe the sheer crappiness that is "Code Monkeys"? The only way I can think of is this: If you sat Ray Charles down in front of a TV playing the show, and then muted it, even he would complain that it was horrible... despite the fact he cannot see or hear it! The show just seems to give off the foul oder of atrocity. That is really saying something.
Among the many down-points the show has are...
-Painfully unfunny jokes. The show is still early in it's first season, and already the humor is gone, which is not a good sign for the creative team behind it. In the portions of the show that I have seen (It is literally so bad I cannot force myself to watch a full episode), most jokes involve characters randomly screaming out stupid phrases like "It's Hump-day!" or "I have butt-hole cancer!" How is this funny? The jokes have no structure or payoff. It is like an ADHD-stricken three-year-old is writing the jokes for the show, based on what he heard his drunken trailer-trash father saying to his sister/wife. Actually, never mind, that would be funnier that this show.
-Failure to take advantage of the animation style. Despite looking like a video-game, the show does not feel like a video game in any way whatsoever. I thought the stories would at least be structured like a video game (set-up for the story, levels and boss-battles in the form plot-points, and a final showdown and conclusion), however, it is hard to structure a plot line if there is no plot. They treat the animation style with no regard, which hurts the show in the end.
-And finally, those annoying life/mission/experience bars at the top and bottom of the screen. The only video-game-like aspect of the show is also one of the most annoying things about the show. It is hard enough to focus on the show already, with the horrible jokes and stupid stories, and on top of it, I have to try and concentrate while numbers and inventory bars update every single second. It really hurts the show in an unforgivable way, as it takes away from what little it has to offer by distracting the viewer. And the last episode I saw, I kid you not, a character's level-up bar filled and a pink unicorn flew across the screen for about 10 seconds. Heinous and outstandingly bad decision on the part of the creators.
I am totally flabbergasted that anyone could like such a terrible slight against society, and it leads me to believe that perhaps the world is coming to an end.
Honestly, I would not wish this show on my worst enemy. Someone could kill all my family and friends in front of me, and if the judge ordered the killer to watch this show, I would beg them to reconsider because that would be cruel and unusual punishment.
My overall grade... The worst animated show I have seen in some time. Avoid like the plague.
Very Silly, Fun, and An All out Surprise
killadamvol1418 July 2007
As Adam De La Pena shows go, there a no go for me. But This Is a fresh, funny, original, and referenced nerds paradise. Its concept is really neat and the jokes are very funny and strangely compelling. Honestly, after surviving such bad programming on G4 its so surprising that this show is actually good. Give it a chance and also count how many references it makes and whats more amazing is how many i catch. My only slight grief is that the writing isn't so fresh at times and some may not like the weird pacing and pay off at the jokes. Aside from that the show is ingenious. This is a def for anyone watching G4 or looking for a new fresh and funny animated comedy.
More of the same from De La Pena?
Nick Zbu10 August 2007
Warning: Spoilers
The works of Adam De La Pena--excusing the dreadful Jackass-style 'I'm With Busey'--seem to be one of toilet humor and a unique style of artistic rendering. While 'Minoriteam' had some serious conceptual issues that were easily overcome with the Jack Kirby style, 'Code Monkeys' at least does the '80s 8-bit mockery effectively. Not to damn with faint praise, but Adam De La Pena does seem to have a grasp on how to market his brand of humor effectively and towards a genre audience in a faithful manner.
Unfortunately, De La Pena's sense of humor seems too jaded. While humor is an art that relies on subtlety to an excessive manner (especially in these sensitive times) and the opposite of this can be used effectively as humor--Reno 911 being an adequate example--De La Pena seems not to care about the humor as much as the shock of his video game creations just being dirty. While this works, there seems to be nothing else to it. Video game characters are dirty, and there's nothing else besides that. Considering De La Pena's other creations having a short lifespan, this indeed comes off as a flaw that he hasn't been able to overcome. He starts well, but cannot maintain it.
Besides that, it's a funny show for what it is. Let's hope it breaks the problem of only lasting a season.
Unfortunately, De La Pena's sense of humor seems too jaded. While humor is an art that relies on subtlety to an excessive manner (especially in these sensitive times) and the opposite of this can be used effectively as humor--Reno 911 being an adequate example--De La Pena seems not to care about the humor as much as the shock of his video game creations just being dirty. While this works, there seems to be nothing else to it. Video game characters are dirty, and there's nothing else besides that. Considering De La Pena's other creations having a short lifespan, this indeed comes off as a flaw that he hasn't been able to overcome. He starts well, but cannot maintain it.
Besides that, it's a funny show for what it is. Let's hope it breaks the problem of only lasting a season.
Nerdgasm
PhillipJarodNelson21 October 2007
As a hardcore gamer geek, this show really speaks to me. I've been gaming for twenty-some years and counting, and this wonderful show is riddled with game-related jokes from start to finish. I don't expect non-gamers to appreciate it too well, but anybody that's spend a decade or two with a game controller in hand should find the show entertaining enough.
It has the silly absurdity of South Park, not to mention the vulgarity, but the cast of characters are adults working at a fictitious game development studio. The art direction is interesting because it's obviously intended to appear like a classic 8-bit video game, on a system like the NES, complete with overly-pixilated character sprites. Each episode is intended to appear as if playing some sort of weird video game, with each show beginning with a start screen and ending with a "game over" screen, and typical in-game stuff like a score or health meter appears at the top of the screen, though sometimes swapped out with other gaming oddities like items collected. The show pauses for commercial breaks.
I wouldn't recommend this show to non-gamers, but to the hundreds of millions of gamers out there, this show comes highly recommended.
It has the silly absurdity of South Park, not to mention the vulgarity, but the cast of characters are adults working at a fictitious game development studio. The art direction is interesting because it's obviously intended to appear like a classic 8-bit video game, on a system like the NES, complete with overly-pixilated character sprites. Each episode is intended to appear as if playing some sort of weird video game, with each show beginning with a start screen and ending with a "game over" screen, and typical in-game stuff like a score or health meter appears at the top of the screen, though sometimes swapped out with other gaming oddities like items collected. The show pauses for commercial breaks.
I wouldn't recommend this show to non-gamers, but to the hundreds of millions of gamers out there, this show comes highly recommended.
Insert Credit (0/2)
portnoys_disciple11 March 2008
Alright, so I'm a kid of the 90s. I grew up on NES and SNES games, and the old 8-bit and 16-bit technology is just nostalgia to me. I loved it, and still do. Now that I'm in my upper teens, I am able to enjoy everything this show has to offer, and not just the appearance...although the appearance in and of itself is extremely enjoyable as well.
The show rules, man. Inventive characters and good voice acting combined with out-of-the-park hilarity and a plethora of references to early gaming makes this show one of the absolute funniest I have ever seen. It's something that you don't have to be extremely in-tune with the gaming community to enjoy, and yet being part of it makes the show all the more enjoyable.
Some people may not like it because of its odd and sometimes inappropriate humor, some may not like it because it reminds them of that one level that they just couldn't beat when they were an acne-infested junior in high school, dropping quarter after quarter into that dang machine to no avail. And some may not like it because they simply can't be pleased.
Thankfully, I am not one of those people. This show gets a 10/10 for me. I certainly hope that they continue with the show and make more seasons of the fine, fine product that is Code Monkeys.
*GAME OVER*
The show rules, man. Inventive characters and good voice acting combined with out-of-the-park hilarity and a plethora of references to early gaming makes this show one of the absolute funniest I have ever seen. It's something that you don't have to be extremely in-tune with the gaming community to enjoy, and yet being part of it makes the show all the more enjoyable.
Some people may not like it because of its odd and sometimes inappropriate humor, some may not like it because it reminds them of that one level that they just couldn't beat when they were an acne-infested junior in high school, dropping quarter after quarter into that dang machine to no avail. And some may not like it because they simply can't be pleased.
Thankfully, I am not one of those people. This show gets a 10/10 for me. I certainly hope that they continue with the show and make more seasons of the fine, fine product that is Code Monkeys.
*GAME OVER*
best t.v. series g4 has ever seen
klutch673 January 2010
This show is well thought out and in my opinion one of the funniest TV shows of all time! I think Adam De Pena is a genius for ever thinking up this kind of show.
This show is for mature audiences. that is a bit of an understatement. i recommend that you don't let your kids see this. there is some kind of weird nudity thing they do, but it isn't really much of a concern because the show is trying to capture bad resolution, so you cant really see a penis.There is also the use of drugs. mostly being smoked by the character Dave. and then there is sexual references and extreme language. and they also make fun of people who love the same sex. enough said for that.
This show is awesome, and you should heavily consider of buying or just watching this show if the content doesn't offend.i bought all the episodes from itunes and i watch at least two episode a day.and i am still loving the series.
This show is for mature audiences. that is a bit of an understatement. i recommend that you don't let your kids see this. there is some kind of weird nudity thing they do, but it isn't really much of a concern because the show is trying to capture bad resolution, so you cant really see a penis.There is also the use of drugs. mostly being smoked by the character Dave. and then there is sexual references and extreme language. and they also make fun of people who love the same sex. enough said for that.
This show is awesome, and you should heavily consider of buying or just watching this show if the content doesn't offend.i bought all the episodes from itunes and i watch at least two episode a day.and i am still loving the series.
An eight bit Masterpiece in a 32 bit world.
cwhowho5 June 2008
This is not a kids show, that's why it's on after hours.
That being said. Code Monkeys is great off the wall humor that has no fear, and is quick to barbecue any sacred cow that crosses their path. It's bold and brash sense of humor will make you laugh out loud to the point that you might wake the kids up. Even though the animation style is big and blocky and reminiscent of the old NES games, there are plenty of references back to the Atari, and Colecovision for us really old-timer game fans.
The company they work for is called "Game A Vision", and "Activision" analog, their competitors are "Bellico-Vision", and "Protendo". Both analogs of "Collecovision", and "Nintendo" respectively.
Do yourself a favor and watch this cartoon. Your sides will hurt from the belly laughs.
That being said. Code Monkeys is great off the wall humor that has no fear, and is quick to barbecue any sacred cow that crosses their path. It's bold and brash sense of humor will make you laugh out loud to the point that you might wake the kids up. Even though the animation style is big and blocky and reminiscent of the old NES games, there are plenty of references back to the Atari, and Colecovision for us really old-timer game fans.
The company they work for is called "Game A Vision", and "Activision" analog, their competitors are "Bellico-Vision", and "Protendo". Both analogs of "Collecovision", and "Nintendo" respectively.
Do yourself a favor and watch this cartoon. Your sides will hurt from the belly laughs.
Love this show
checkiec20 August 2018
Excellent show,but not fun for the whole family.
dynokick20 September 2007
The Good:Code Monkeys is a hilarious animated comedy about a cast of people working at an 80's video game company.The show is actually pixelated like 80's video games,too.The cast of characters,without special characters that appear in only one or two episodes is as follows:
Dave-programmer Jerry-programmer Clare-receptionist Mary-programmer Black Steve-accountant Benny-game tester Todd-programmer(?) Mr.Larrity-boss Dean-supervisor Clarence-audio...person
Hopefully I didn't forget anybody.I would've listed their personality,but that might be considered a spoiler.
The Bad:Not exactly family-safe(the fact that this is a bad thing is arguable).
All in all,don't miss Code Monkeys.Considered giving it a 9 because of the vulgarity,but I realized that almost everything is these days.
Dave-programmer Jerry-programmer Clare-receptionist Mary-programmer Black Steve-accountant Benny-game tester Todd-programmer(?) Mr.Larrity-boss Dean-supervisor Clarence-audio...person
Hopefully I didn't forget anybody.I would've listed their personality,but that might be considered a spoiler.
The Bad:Not exactly family-safe(the fact that this is a bad thing is arguable).
All in all,don't miss Code Monkeys.Considered giving it a 9 because of the vulgarity,but I realized that almost everything is these days.
Ingenious!
Renjuku9 April 2008
This show is possibly one of the funniest shows of all time. Both gamers and people who really don't care can absolutely adore this show. The gamers will be able to pick out small references to other games (such as the Majora's Mask in Woz's office in the very first episode and Mr. Larrity's desk looking like a shop in The Legend of Zelda), and other people will simply laugh at the show's wacky sense of humor. The layout of the show is one of its strongest points, as the entire show is seen through what looks like a game screen (i.e. there is a point counter, a health bar, etc.), and it only helps the show seem more ingenious. I find very little fault with this show and have actually seen every episode more than twice. This show should continue on with its zany cast of characters and impeccable, small touches for as long as possible, and I cannot wait for the new season, which will premiere on April 20th, 2008... Dave will just love that, a 4/20 episode.
In closing, this show is absolutely hilarious, everyone (that isn't easily offended) can love it, and it cements Adam de la Pena as a comic genius. 10/10
In closing, this show is absolutely hilarious, everyone (that isn't easily offended) can love it, and it cements Adam de la Pena as a comic genius. 10/10
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
