And Now for Another Batch of Kikoskia Videos, Including Special Videos

How popular has Kikoskia, the superb Let's Play commentator from YouTube, become? Ask any of his fans, myself included, and they will likely tell you that he has become immensely popular. With over 7,000 subscribers and counting, it is little wonder that he has even inspired a fan club on Facebook. I wish to write another list of wonderful videos from this talented man, but I will do it a little bit differently this time. Along with complete play throughs, I will also throw in some that are in progress as of February 1st, 2010, and even some one-shot special videos, which Kiko does on occasion to mark milestones or to make special announcements. Following are my latest recommendations, and I will start with a selection that will make a certain Kiko fan very happy...

Pepper's Adventures in Time: When her Uncle Fred messes with history and turns colonial times into a 60s-style hippie age, a young girl named Pepper and her faithful dog Lockjaw must travel back in time in order to set things right once more. Kiko is a guest commentator in this play through posted by Resulka, as is another entertaining person, Gavaroc. Just wait until you hear them break into song, and at one point, Kiko even brings Resulka and Gavaroc back from the dead! This highly enjoyable series is updated sporadically, usually on Fridays, and it is worth your while to check it out.

Where's Waldo: Will Kiko be able to find the elusive Waldo hidden in a variety of locations? He certainly can, and it is easier to do than one might think in this case. In this single video play through, Kiko sings about how dull the game is as he completes the game's activities. Finding Waldo turns out to be a breeze, but Kiko makes it worthwhile and entertaining the entire time. Whether you are a Kiko fan, a Waldo fan, or both, you will surely enjoy this brief, but wonderful, journey.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (Genesis version): Given the original Power Rangers show's recent return to television albeit in a truncated form (see my review of the updated version for details), what better way to check out what they were like back in the day with this game based on their first movie. Kiko becomes stunned when the game skips most of the actual movie plot, sings during a battle to liven things up, and wonders why the game only has all of two enemies aside from bosses. Will this legendary commentator be able to defeat Ivan Ooze, and can he deal with what he considers mediocrity in the meantime? Watch this excellent play through and find out.

Daikatana: Hiro Miyamoto is on a mission to rescue a woman and find a magical sword with the aid of his weapons and his companion, Superfly. This game's notorious difficulty level and ludicrous aspects become entertaining with Kiko along for the ride, as he strives mightily to avoid getting killed at many points. Additionally, he chuckles at some of Superfly's one-liners, becomes flabbergasted by some of the game's sillier features such as killer bugs and frogs, and even parodies the opening of the Super Mario Bros. Super Show at one point. This series is presently on hold due to a crash that prevents Kiko from progressing past the fifth level, but you can still enjoy the 38 videos (including one in which Kiko explains why Daikatana is on hiatus) that are up right now.

Action 52 (NES version): Having survived the Genesis version, Kiko now finds himself trying to make it through the original NES version of a game deservedly considered one of the worst ones ever made. He becomes shocked at all the glitches and other strange features, and to liven things up when it appears that boredom may strike, he occasionally sings some more instant classic tunes at some points. Sometimes, his rocket jockey alter ego (brought to life by Kiko's astounding voice acting) takes over, claiming that Kiko needed some time to recuperate from Action 52 madness. This series, made enjoyable despite all of the game's countless negative aspects, is presently updated on Mondays, though by the time you read this, only one or two weeks' worth of videos may be left, as Kiko has nearly played 3/4 of the Action 52 games.

Captain America and the Avengers: The world is doomed unless famed superhero Captain America and his comrades can defeat the forces of evil. Kiko shows how the shield throw maneuver is the ideal way to complete the game, and has his hands full on more than one occasion with numerous enemies on the screen. The question is, will he overcome the hard difficulty level to save the world, or will he run out of continues in the attempt. This excellent five video series will reveal all.

Contra Hard Corps: This collaborative play through with Heavensfrogman certainly lives up to its name, because our heroes strive mightily to get through some mighty hard sections. From vehicle chases to challenging bosses, this game has it all, and plenty of lives and continues are used up in a hurry. Nevertheless, Kiko and Heavensfrogman provide the usual assortment of wonderful commentary as they try to finish the game. See if they can manage to get very far when you look for this series under Kiko's "Lost Let's Plays" play list, which is dedicated to series which were halted due to a high challenge level or some other unforeseen circumstances.

And now for some special videos, which can be found under Kiko's "Special Videos" play list...

Quotation Quota: If you have ever wondered which of Kiko's classic quotes are among his, and the fans', favorites, this video is for you. For nearly eleven minutes, hilarious quotes pulled from Kiko's videos are brought together as a trip down memory lane for the existing fan base, and as a way to introduce new fans to what makes his videos so special. Quotes from games such as Resident Evil, Kirby's Dream Land, Ball Jacks, and Doom 3 are included in the mix, and you will laugh out loud at every single one of them. No word on whether Kiko will ever make a sequel, but for now, this compilation is available for your enjoyment.

One Year: When Kiko reached his first Let's Play anniversary in January 2009, he made this video showcasing highlights from his first year set to Turrican music. Footage from everything from Lands of Lore to Albion to Resident Evil are shown, and once again, old and new fans alike are sure to enjoy seeing what Kiko has done. He just keeps getting better, as his second year brought Doom 3, Ultima VII, Spelunky, Lands of Lore 3, and many other classics. This video is a great way to see how far Kiko has come over time.

If Jesus was a Ninja: As Christmas 2009 drew near, Kiko decided to set his announcement regarding holiday plans to game play footage of the NES classic Ninja Gaiden. Playing random games while making announcements is a common aspect on Kiko's channel, and for a few minutes anyway, watching Kiko play this classic, and doing the voice acting for the famous "just a girl" scene, nothing short of awesome. This video, and some others that Kiko posted that day, likely tided people over while he took a brief hiatus for the Christmas holiday, and of course, it is fun to watch at any time of the year.

From completed play throughs to those currently in progress to special videos, Kiko always has, and likely always will, had a knack for providing superb commentary, even if the on-screen action threatens to get dull. There is no telling what he might have in store for the fans in the future, but they will surely be every bit as entertaining as the videos that came before them. To check out Pepper, go to this channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/Resulka

To see the rest of the videos on this list, this address is where you should go:

http://www.youtube.com/user/Kikoskia

Also, if you are a fan of Kiko and would like to be a part of the unofficial fan club on Facebook, where you can discuss all sorts of Kiko-related things, visit this page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/the-unofficial-KIKOSKIA-Lets-Play-fan-page/293790313221?v=wall&ref=mf

Until the next Kiko-related list that I write, enjoy the videos and subscribe to Kiko's channel if you have not already done so. If you are not a fan of his yet, chances are that you will be as you watch these and his other videos, and you, too, will discover just how much of an entertainment genius Kiko truly is.