Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Good Game, No Rematch:
Literal trigger warning for Duck Hunt survivors.
Quick synopsis:
A memoir by comedian and comedy writer (Tonight Show/Full Frontal) Mike Drucker seen through his life in video games.
Fact for Non-History People:
The Nintendo company is 135 years old.
Fact for History Nerds:
In Street Fighter 1, you could only be Ken or Ryu.
My Take on Good Game, No Rematch:
If a book is about any sort of 1990s nostalgia, (that’s right kids, I am from the 1900s) then I must admit that I am not impartial. This is especially true when it comes to Mike Drucker’s Good Game, No Rematch. After all, this is about his lifelong love of video games and how they have touched every aspect of his life. I had feelings and flashbacks. I could feel the Nintendo controller in my hands. I’m not saying this book changed my life, but I am saying this book made me relive a lot of it.
Drucker has such a varied career that you have probably seen or heard his work somewhere. He is a stand-up comedian, worked for Nintendo, IGN, and wrote for shows like SNL, Full Frontal, and The Tonight Show – Jimmy Fallon version. If there is anything that everyone would agree with about the book is that Drucker completely gives himself over to the video game theme. Every chapter makes the connection somehow. I’ve read plenty of memoir-type books which promise something that they quickly jettison a conceit whenever it becomes inconvenient. Not so with this one.
Drucker is very funny (which is great!) and incredibly self-deprecating (be nicer to yourself, Mike!). It creates an easy tone in his prose even while you question the legitimacy of the shots he takes at himself. Sometimes his personal criticisms are truly just a man looking at his own failings, such as when he discusses his extremely thin skin at work. Other times, his self-flagellation is clearly something only he sees. You don’t get to do the things he does without having some true warmth that people are attracted to. Either way, I found these shots he takes at himself as totally disarming in a good way.
The biggest question for most people is probably whether or not this would be enjoyable if you were not a 90s video game dork like myself. I think there is still plenty here for you. Drucker’s family stories are near universal such as relationship with his father. It isn’t strained, but oh lord his dad would have been a lot happier if he liked sports. A short chapter on the loss of a friend is quick but poignant. So yes, you don’t have to be a video game nerd to enjoy this….
…but I would also be lying if I didn’t point out that a good amount will be over your head. Seriously, the chapter on Bioshock comes out of NOWHERE, and I loved it. In summary, this is a fun book for normies, but goodness gracious it’s a must-read for video games nerds.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing.)
Verdict:
Not just nostalgia bait. Buy it here!
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