LJN logo
LJN was a toy company and video game publisher that was notorious for its poorly made licensed video games. It is, by far, the gaming company whose output is most frequently criticised by the Nerd. The Nerd's various criticisms of LJN often focus on negative aspects such as rushed production, prolific glitches and the company's attempt to make easy money by producing games that would capitalise on the relative popularity of movies or other intellectual properties in non-gaming media, whilst often failing to provide any noticeable reflection of said IP.
AVGN refers to the company's logo as the "Shit Rainbow". The Nerd also talks about LJN being what seems like the only game company who can get a hold of the licensing for movie rights to make video games.
In 1990, the company was bought by Acclaim Entertainment, and LJN was folded to Acclaim in 1995.
Games by LJN reviewed by AVGN
- The Karate Kid (NES/1987) (Reviewed in the episode of the same name.)
- Who Framed Roger Rabbit (NES/1989) (Reviewed in the Roger Rabbit episode.)
- Back to the Future (NES/1989) (Reviewed twice in the Back to the Future episode and Nintendo Days Re-Revisited).
- Back to the Future Part II & III (NES/1990) (Reviewed twice in the Back to the Future episode and Nintendo Days Re-Revisited).
- Friday the 13th (NES/1989) (Reviewed in the episode of the same name).
- A Nightmare on Elm Street (NES/1990) (Reviewed in the episode of the same name).
- Spider-Man: Return of the Sinister Six (NES/1992) (Reviewed in the Spider-Man episode).
- The Amazing Spider-Man (Game Boy) (Reviewed in the Spider-Man episode).
- Roll 'n Rocker (NES Accessory/1988) (Reviewed in the NES Accessories episode).
- The Uncanny X-Men (NES/1989) (Reviewed in the X-Men episode).
- Wolverine (NES/1991) (Reviewed in the X-Men episode).
- Terminator 2: Judgement Day (NES/1992) (Reviewed in the Terminator (Part 2) episode).
- Terminator 2: Judgement Day (Game Boy/1991) (Reviewed in the Terminator (Part 2) episode).
- Terminator 2: Judgement Day (SNES/1993) (Reviewed in the Terminator (Part 2) episode).
- Town & Country Surf Designs: Wood & Water Rage (NES/1988) (Reviewed in the How The Nerd Stole Christmas episode).
- Jaws (NES/1987) (Reviewed in the Spielberg Games episode).
- Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (NES/1991) (Reviewed in the episode of the same name).
- Alien 3 (NES/1992) (Reviewed in the episode of the same name)
- Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage (SNES/1994) (Reviewed in AVGN: Wish List (Part 2)) - The only game that the Nerd has stated as "A LJN game that's not shit"
- Beetlejuice (NES/1991) (Reviewed in the episode of the same name)
- LJN Video Art System (1987) (Reviewed in The final 12th day of Shitsmas)
About the Logo
According to The Nerd, LJN stands for "Laughin' Jokin' Numbnuts" though it really stands for "Lewis J. Norman". The LJN logo depicts all the colors of the 'Shit Rainbow' seen in all of their games:
- Purple: Putrid Gameplay
- Blue: Bad Musical Abominations
- Green: Graphical Farts and Garlic
- Yellow: Piss-poor Lack of Loyalty to Source Material
- Orange: Orange (Aren't) You a Fucking Idiot (possibly due to the cartridge art decieving you into believing you're playing an actual ok game)
- Red: High Stress Anger Inducing Masochism
- Put them together, and you get all the colors of the Shit Rainbow. Hooray, LJN.