The 10 Best Episodes of Scott the Woz
Scott the Woz has entertained millions with his content on video games and other wacky misadventures. What are some of his best episodes?
In January 2017, days before the first official presentation of the Nintendo Switch, a YouTuber named Scott Wozniak released a video expressing his wishes and concerns for the console, its games, and Nintendo itself. Five years later, his channel and character, Scott the Woz, exploded in popularity with millions of subscribers and a spot in the G4 television network.
Scott the Woz is a series focused on video game reviews, retrospectives, and skits. Some of the best episodes of the series are the ones that combine all three, especially when his zany, off-kilter, outlandish humor is on display.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury | A Critical Third Look
Scott, like many YouTubers, took time to find his footing. One example is his 2017 critical look at Super Mario 3D World for the Nintendo Wii U. The 18-minute episode was more in line with a formal game review, and the jokes he became known for were very minimal.
Come 2021, Scott revisited the game through an episode on 3D World's rerelease on the Switch. However, it was not enough to look at the Switch version with more jokes, but he also re-examined the original game, resulting in an hour-long episode. Just as 3D World's Switch port became the best version, Scott's return to 3D World is one of his best episodes focusing on a particular game.
Console Gaming On The Go
One day, Scott declared that he hated walls, moved his desk into the great outdoors, and discussed console gaming on the go. Instead of discussing portable downgrade systems like the Nintendo Game Boy or ports, Scott talked about devices, official and unofficial, that played the actual cartridges and CDs. Among those discussed are the Sega Nomad, the Sony PSOne with its LCD Monitor, and the HyperKin SupaBoy.
Cut to Scott struggling to get back inside through his window to discuss the systems. He did not count on all these options requiring him to go back inside for various reasons. Humorous moments aside, this was a good episode that served as a reminder of the progress of gaming technology for console-caliber games to be played portable on systems like the Switch.
Midnight Releases
The popularity of midnight launches of games and consoles may have waned due to current events and online shopping, but that does not stop Scott from trying to understand their appeal. After going down memory lane for some midnight launches of the past, in this episode, he decides to take the plunge and wait for Pokemon: Sword and Shield and Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order.
It is not enough for Scott to wait though, he wants to go the distance, leading to massive overstocking of camping supplies, repeated drives between stores, and dealing with Ohio's November weather. While it is evident that this was all staged, it fits in line with the crazy situations Scott finds himself in. It all leads to a comical anti-climax when Scott finally obtains the games.
Personal Trainer: Cooking
In this Thanksgiving special, Scott decides to eat food but does not know how to cook. Thankfully, he had Personal Trainer: Cooking for the Nintendo DS as part of his game collection. As a virtual cookbook starring the one and only DS Chef, Personal Trainer: Cooking provides many recipes, a shopping list, and calorie settings for health-conscious cooks.
Everything goes off the rails once Scott is in his kitchen as he cuts away to the game's features, dubiously attempts to cook dishes, and fails to satisfy his Thanksgiving guests. Scott's quick madcap humor is on full display, culminating in dissatisfaction with the game. Thanksgiving 2021 may have passed, but it is essential to always be thankful for many things, like this episode.
The Trial
Scott the Woz may primarily be focused on games, but on occasion, episodes break from the norm with Scott dealing with life situations. "The Trial," the third part of an ongoing subplot involving a game store, a party, and attempted murder, is one case. Scott and his friends, freshly recovered from being murdered, take the accused Officer Steel Wool to court for justice.
"The Trial" continues what previous episodes like "It's Awesome Baby!" and "It's a Bargain Bin Christmas" established: namely, how outrageous the characters and universe of Scott the Woz are. The kangaroo court and antics of vegan Terry Lessler, the nonchalant Steel Wool, and the desperation of Scott for his guilty verdict led to a cavalcade of surreal jokes, quips, and one-liners.
Game Show Games
After losing "Say That Answer!" Scott vowed to return and prepare in the best way he knew how: game show games. In this episode, Scott goes through simultaneous playthroughs of adaptations of some famous game shows like Jeopardy! and Family Feud. Throughout his playthroughs, different versions were compared, like Jeopardy! on the Nintendo Wii being superior to Jeopardy! on the Switch.
Unfortunately, Scott's attempts to feel smart with minimal effort fell short with a rush of incorrect answers to the games' questions. Rapid-fire cuts between the games and his answers result in big laughs and absurdist humor. The cherry on top is the final joke that plays upon an earlier throwaway line.
Shovelware Variety Hour: Round Three
In previous episodes, Scott strongly defended the Wii because of its success and innovations. He simultaneously was critical of how the Wii was a magnet for low-budget games of questionable quality that preyed on casual consumers and parents. These games are the specimens for three episodes, called "Shovelware Variety Hour," where Scott plowed through them the best he could and ranked them relative to each other.
While all the episodes are hysterical, the third deserves particular praise because of its runtime and games. There are titles that Scott enjoyed like Mercury Meltdown Revolution, a handful of poor minigame collections, and games like Calvin Tucker's Redneck Farm Animals Racing Tournament. His quips, jokes, and offbeat asides were abundant as his patience slowly ebbed from so much mediocrity.
Mario Party (N64) | Party Hard
The Mario Party series is famous for its competitive multiplayer, chaotic luck, and skill-based minigames. Scott began this episode by defending games like this as fun experiences at get-togethers, despite the critical reviews they usually get. To prove this, he took a look at the original Mario Party on the Nintendo 64 and gathered his friends.
The combined wacky, unpredictable fun of Mario Party and Scott's universe then ensued. In this exaggerated take on a typical Mario Party session, Scott and friends sabotaged each other, vented their frustrations at the computer, and often made mistakes that cost them their victory. Scott's final thoughts said it all: it may be unfair and cheap, but it's an experience everyone can share.
Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash | The Darkest Age Of Nintendo
During an early episode looking at the Nintendo 3DS, Scott expressed disdain towards Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash. He threw it in the toilet, declaring, "This game blows!" and afterward, Zip Lash popped up on occasion as a recurring joke. It was not until 2020 that Scott finally took a closer look and dissected why it was the worst game he ever played.
Serving as the conclusion to a trilogy, this episode on Zip Lash included appearances by all of Scott's friends. The scene-stealer was Justin Womble as the therapist, as eccentric as everyone else. Add in the climax of the episode where Scott leads the gang to end his hatred of Zip Lash, and it makes for one of the best and memorable episodes of the series.
Borderline Forever
For this hour-long extravaganza celebrating 200 episodes, Scott spared no expense by taking a look back at the past. Many of his recurring jokes and gags are brought up, like his obsession with Nintendo, enmity towards Madden 09, and even smaller, more obscure references. One such reference is something many have pointed out and noticed since the first episode: a blue border surrounding Scott's videos.
With a humorous retrospective and review covering Nintendo's consoles and games, skits involving his friends, cameos from famous game reviewers, and catchy songs, this episode has it all. It is a culmination of how far Scott Wozniak has come as a YouTuber and content creator. Like any good milestone celebration, "Borderline Forever" celebrates its past while setting the stage for the future and next 200 episodes.
