Mad #457

Mad Magazine's September 2005 video game issue is a genuine treat for anyone who grew up with a controller in their hands. Greg Horn's cover crams in an impressive lineup of recognizable gaming figures — Lara Croft with pistol raised, Sonic the Hedgehog mid-sneer, Mario wide-eyed, Crash Bandicoot, a Halo-armored soldier, Chun-Li in her fighting stance, and a night-vision-goggled Sam Fisher lurking in the foreground — all surrounding the headline promise of "50 Worst Things About Video Games." With a Nintendo DS giveaway teased in the corner and only-Mad bonus features like "Street Gangs: Should You Join?", this issue delivers that perfectly chaotic blend of pop-culture satire and gonzo humor the magazine does so well.