GAMES FROM THE FROG'S BOX: SUPER LUIGI COUNTRY
Today's entry is covering Super Luigi Country by Kablamooie, released in 2014. This is a weird one, but one of my favorite janky games ever made- mostly because it's entirely on purpose, and it's still fun to play. Let the synopsis speak for itself:
"Remember the nineties, when fan games were weird? Super Luigi Country seeks to bring back that magic with a dash of platforming insanity. Overcome twenty levels, battle big bosses, and rock out to a MIDI soundtrack on your quest to rescue Princess Peach.
also there are voice acted cutscenes hnngh"
Well, with a pitch like that how could I not check it out?
CUTSCENES
The game starts with a glorious MSPaint-quality cutscene with Luigi's voice changing every time he speaks, with Bowser threatening to eat Peach (who sounds like she has a really awful cold), and inexplicably Cranky Kong appearing to give Luigi advice. (Also I love how Luigi's face is colored two different shades here.)
There's only cutscenes at the beginning and end, but I really wish there were more, because the two we have are hilarious.
GAMEPLAY
Why thank you, game!
Anyway, the gameplay is all about trying to get to the Star in each stage, but with plenty of twists and turns along the way, lmao. You jump way higher/faster than you walk, you die in one hit- but the levels are all one screen, so it's fine.
Also, up to jump, but you can thankfully change that in the options. Not that it would change much about the game...
Also the levels all have names, and they're very funny. Ranging from Mushroom KingDUMB to Whoahshi's Island. They're hilarious.
There's no save feature, but there are passwords every five levels- the
THE LEVELS
Literally all the levels are one screen long, so I don't have much to say about them. But they ARE amusing enough to discuss to some extent. So here's what I'm gonna do. I will describe every single level in this game in fifteen words or less. Ready? Go.
Flying squirrel PNG, don't get caught on the return trip. MIDI charmingly broken.
Yoku Blocks appear, not as difficult as they sound.
Random crossover go, Death stalks everywhere, Simon throws infinite axes. First major spike in difficulty.
Swim around the fish, thankfully no water physics.
First boss, surviving endless barrage of pills. Nice rhythm to this one.
Lights turn on and off, makes jumping difficult. Apologies for poor screenshot.
Generic ship, only memorable because DIXIE KONG comes to kill you. Best running gag, lol.
Collect the rupees, outrun the Peahat. Another goofy crossover, appreciate the twist in gameplay.
Spaceship shooting at you, just keep moving. Why is Mario trying to kill brother?
Nice aesthetics in silhouette, but the last jumps are quite aggravating.
Bidoof slowly slides in with dramatic music, stand in southwest so he hits spikes. LMAO.
Flying Signs, platforms changing spots, Dixie flying in- what is this, Owata?
Requires dancing around Wario to time the Yoku Blocks appropriately- screw you Wario.
Cheep Cheep follows you- but not immune to scrolling offscreen far enough that he can't catch up.
Most complex stage yet, falling icicles, dodge Popo's hammer and foot. Eggplant makes fart sounds.
Dodge the falling eggs. Love the comedically small platforms.
Very small fight, physics altered. Climb up to the top, and...
He gets squooshed like an ant. Lmao.
Emulate Virtual Boy Wario Land- go through pipe into background. Clever.
Hardest stage in the game, died more here than anywhere else. Spike hell.
Just outrun the Peahat when it leaves the small corridor. Door doesn't work, sadly.
SPIKES EVERYWHERE, EVEN IN THE BACKGROUND. Still easier than level 17.
Why thank you, door, how nice of you! Podoboos hard to dodge.
Final boss, Bowser- jump over fireballs, grab the axe, yadda yadda.
SURPRISE! Final boss isn't Bowser, it's Dixie Kong! Dodge the running gag's apex!
But then, she grabs Mushroom, gets huge! Outrun her, and hit the P-switch! Very exciting.
(Yes, the two phases of the final boss count as separate levels, the game window says so.)
One Dixie Kong death, pitch-perfect Toad impression, and acknowledgement from Cranky as a peak video game hero later, and Super Luigi Country is finished. Hilarious and very charming.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
I mean, I feel like this game speaks for itself. It's a very charming twenty minutes that'll keep you laughing the whole way through. The levels are quite varied and constantly have new things to throw at you. Even though some of them can be pretty rage-inducing and janky, the controls are snappy enough and the stages short enough that it's never overbearing.
Plus, the nostalgia hits like a truck, with the MIDI jams and asset clash EVERYWHERE. This game knows exactly what it's trying to be, and does it with flying colors. If you want a fun short time with a blast of retro jank, here it is.
(Oh, and if you want to find the Lost World- protip, jump on Simon Belmont's head. There's a nice message from the dev there :3)
GAME LINK: https://mfgg.net/index.php?act=resdb¶m=02&c=2&id=29860
Thanks to Jake Brito's playthrough for that one bowser screengrab...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmwE-m9h4uA