Enjoyable movie with a good storyline, ok characters, and nice nostalgia. It is an interesting documentary that takes place over a few years in the life of a former video game champion, Tim McVey. His Nibbler high score achievement of the 1980s is introduced with archived footage and photos, and serves as the foundation of his ongoing quest to reclaim the worldwide high score from competing players who may or may not have bested his number in recent years. The movie follows McVey as he practices and plots the best strategy to reclaim his title. Many interviews with him, his wife, friends, Nibbler competitors, Official Video Game gatekeepers, and technical types all fill out the film and add context to the quest. Multiple locations are featured, giving it some globe-trotting scope, and the camera crew even meets with a disputed high score holder on his own turf in Italy. Iowa and Canada are also seen.
Good that the show includes McVey's Nibbler competitors.....especially when one is portrayed as a possible cheating villain. Or is he only a savvy loophole-exploiting player? And to bring in a KNOWN gaming villain (Billy Mitchell) for interviewing and supportive words helps give the movie some reach and weight, especially by overlapping with King Of Kong. Good to see Walter Day of TWIN GALAXIES get some screen time, and the personal details of his life are quite illuminating. Funny that the show somehow portrays McVey as a Rocky-type of underdog. But his ongoing successes and setbacks really give the movie some nice ups and downs. Interesting to see what he goes through trying to reclaim the title, and the true details of standing at an upright game machine for 40 hours really lend an appreciation to his zeal. Not athletic (although he does compare himself to a World Class athlete, as well as Michael Jordan) but not for the faint of heart, either. ALSO..... there are some very nice dots connected that allow this film to be about matters beyond gaming...... personal connections drawn that ANYONE can relate to regarding trials and tribulations that they may have in their own life. Inspiring and uplifting, with the spirit of camaraderie definitely overtaking the competitive nature of the subject matter.
