I Wanna Be the Guy

Most game lovers will not list I Wanna be The Guy among their most favorite games. In fact, most people who have tried it only to end up quitting. If you have, you probably understand why so many people are scared of the game. I Wanna Be The Guy (IWBTG) is among the most successful freeware PC games developed by Michael ‘Kayin’ O’Reilly in 2007. Since then, the faithful gamers have showered it with cultic loyalty. There are now over 2300 freeware games based on the original release. This genre has risen in popularity so much that the main character; ‘The Kid’ has been included in Indie platformer Super Meat Boy among others.

Its uniqueness is its main selling feature as it is unlike most of the games you have played before.

The Plot

The game is based on the story of the The Kid whose quest is the main concern. This character desires and attempts to become The Guy. Among the battles he endures at different levels include; Mega Man, Zelda, Metroid, Ghosts N Goblins and many more. The boss fights are the most exciting. They include; Dracula, Mecha Birdo, Giant Mike Tyson, Bowser (also called Wart or Dr. Wily Clown Car). Majority of the players cite the giant green Zangief/Kraid as their personal favorite.

This is admittedly; a tough traditional 2D platformer, which requires you to control The Kid onto his quest. You will have to play and fight through the levels to discover the relationship between your character and The Guy. This kid must defeat six bosses in his quest as he collects orbs for unlocking the paths ahead. Eventually, after succeeding to fight off the fierce and subsequently difficult opposition, The Kid will attain access to the Fortress. This will be after overcoming several challenges including dangerous pitfalls, spikes, fake irresistible fruit, and traps.

Gameplay

The user interface borrows the classic view and feel of the early games. IWBTG feels like a game of the 80s or 90s era. To control The kid, you will have access to the trusty gun and cape inherited from the late grandfather who is The Guy. It means the weaponry is of sentimental value and priceless. Unlike most other games of pursuit and quest, there are no health bars. This means there is no opportunity to recover from danger. Once The Kid makes a mistake such as touching the wrong thing, falling of a pit, or taking a blow from an opponent, he is done. Luckily, the controls are tight and reliable. No player complains of the controls because they help you recover quickly and cover your tracks effectively.

Verdict

Simply put; this is a beautiful game as it combines the old styles of the 8-bit era to the latest technologies of the day. It also comes with exciting musical selections from popular classic games. Most importantly, it is easy to download. Most people are scared to try it after watching the video.