Game:

Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)

Duration: 1:08:06

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DOWNLOAD: https://engineerkappa.itch.io/budd

BUDD is by my friend @EngineerKappa, and is a game I've been honored to playtest over the past two years. It was at SAGE this year and became a surprise favorite of the event, and as of today (September 15th 2023) is the highest rated game on the Sonic Fan Games Headquarters site. Pretty nuts!!! Well deserved though!

BUDD began life as a game jam game made a few years ago (this version, referred to as BUDD Classic, is actually included here). This new version is fully fleshed out into a complete game. It is essentially a stripped down Metroidvania featuring several smaller planets instead of one big one. While BUDD Classic was a pretty simple affair with an NES Metroid style aesthetic, the new version has a Sega Master System inspired style that draws from a combination of Wonder Boy and Phantasy Star. You are also given a sword and energy shield to do some sick combat with, and you even learn new moves by leveling up.

There are three of the titular BUDDs, two of which are available in the demo. Boxer has a short range but incredibly powerful punch attack that can break blocks and kill enemies quickly, while Ray (which you get right after the demo credits) can shoot long range lasers. The BUDDs rely on energy which automatically refills. They are very well balanced and useful in both combat and environmental puzzles. There is also a third BUDD, Coil, which lets you bounce on it (and even bounce enemies into the air!). Coil is not available in the demo but can be found in BUDD Classic.

There are also two secret "satellites", which are similar to the cyberspace levels in Sonic Frontiers. These are linear action levels with multiple objectives, each of which earns you a hunter medal (a coin, basically) for use in shops. Both satellites in the demo are goofy inside jokes.
The first is loosely based on MAP22: Habitat from TNT Evilution; widely considered the roughest official Doom map of all, we've lovingly embraced it as a meme. It even has brain enemies based on Archviles and the TNT truck!
The second is, surprise! Ludicrous World from Super Freaks. Kranion's Kranibots (and his right hand man Dino, weak as ever) have drank some of the mysterious and vaguely evil AB energy and gone nuts, so Kranion tasks Eris to "knock some sense into them." The level is a loving tribute to Super Freaks 1 Ultimate Edition and is also extremely funny to trick unsuspecting people into discovering. This level was added right before SAGE and while it is easily the hardest thing in the demo, technically meant as a more late-game area, it is absolutely worth playing and I was honored to have it included.

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