Note to readers: WTFriday is a weekly feature where I find something stupid about video games and get you to laugh until it goes away. Please try to forget this is what I normally do every day of the week.
Today's WTFriday takes us back to the fabled year of 2001 because, uh, nothing really newsworthy is happening at the present. Regardless, it's worth taking a look back at the early parts of the decade, if only for the unbridled creativity on display by the gaming industry during this time period--especially with the long-lost Sega Dreamcast. This was the last point in time when intended-for-mainstream games could be so off-putting and bizarre in a distinctly Japanese way; remember, one of the Dreamcast's killer apps was a virtual pet fish with the face of a scowling Japanese man. Understandably, a lot of the Dreamcast's lineup was just a little too alienating for American gamers psyched for what the new generation promised to bring them. Today, however, here in the safety of the future, we can look back in bemused wonder at how certain games were approved, produced, and put on store shelves.
Illbleed is one of these games.
To break you into the magic of Illbleed, you probably want to check out the game's promotional trailer first (then you'll also know what the hell i'm referencing in the subject of this post):
If all of the dated game show references made your brain instantly turn off, let me inform you that Illbleed is an extremely weird take on the survival horror genre; whereas most horror games regard their content with a certain amount of sincerity, Illbleed has more of a Peter Jackson/Troma mindset. It's not the most playable game in the world, but if you're a fan of Suda 51's work (Killer 7, No More Heroes), Illbleed should be right up your alley and well-worth the few bucks it takes to pick up unwanted Dreamcast games. If you're still not convinced, here's a cutscene from the game that manages to parody Toy Story and Sonic the Hedgehog in an effort that feels like a waking nightmare. Enjoy!
Related Links:
WTFriday: Dragon Quest Crotch Buddies
WTFriday: The Splash Woman Rap
WTFriday: The Super Mario Bros. Anime