Weezeris very important to me. From the ’90s to today, theRivers Cuomo-fronted rock band known for hits like “Undone (The Sweater Song)” and “Hash Pipe” have formed the nerdy, crunchy, catchy tunes of my life. And yes,some puristsmay say thatThe Blue AlbumandPinkertonare the only ones worth listening to. But I find enjoyable stuff on nearly every album they’ve released since then (and, don’t tell anyone, butMaladroitis secretly my favorite). I’ve been stoked about their upcoming recordVan Weezersince it was first announced alongside the best single they’ve put out in years,“The End of the Game.“And now, “The End of the Game” has a bonafidevideo gameto go along with it.
“The End of the Game Game” has deliciously retro 16-bit styles, and lets you play as a member of the band – lead guitarist/singer Cuomo, rhythm guitaristBrian Bell, bassistScott Shriner, or my personal pick, drummerPatrick Wilson. Ostensibly, it’s a run-and-gunContra-styled side-scroller – except the very first steps you take take you to, well, the end of the game. A final boss level, against the very cute alien at the center of the “End of the Game” music video. I felt a little bad about blasting this guy away, but dear reader: I did. And I enjoyed every piece of Weezer nostalgia along the way, from the screenshots of the “Keep Fishin'” Muppets music video to the can of pork and beans I grabbed for an extra life. Just one issue I had – at the very end, after I beat the boss, it offered me a treasure to nab. But when I tried to walk over to it, jump to it, or even shoot it – the game killed the heck out of me. Is this intentional? Or is there some secret way to win I’m missing? Only one way to find out, gamers.
VanWeezer, the 14th record from Weezer, comes out May 15 – and barring any coronavirus related delays, they’re scheduled to go on theHella Mega TouralongsideGreen DayandFall Out Boystarting in June. Check outWeezer’s new video gamehere. For more in the world of “me overanalyzing music,” check out my take onMichael Giacchino’s new tease ofThe Batmanscore(and check out ournew interview with him, while you’re at it!).
