I Wanna Be the Guy

October 5, 2007(19 years ago)·Full Release

Kayin

★

8.3

26 user ratings

★

8.3

26 critic ratings

★★★★★★★★★★

⭐

VOTES

Genres: Shooter, Platform, Puzzle, Adventure, Indie

Platforms:PC

Action Comedy Single player Side view Multimedia Fusion

Summary

I Wanna Be the Guy: The Movie: The Game is a 2D platform indie freeware title developed by independent creator Michael "Kayin" O'Reilly for Microsoft Windows, built using Multimedia Fusion 2. Initially launched in October 2007, the game is no longer actively developed, despite being labeled as a beta version. However, in November 2011, Kayin made the game's source code publicly available. IWBTG is best known for its extreme difficulty. The game's environment is largely designed with the sole purpose of defeating the player character. In addition to standard hazards like spikes and bottomless pits, there are numerous more subtle and deceptive dangers, many of which can only be avoided through prior experience or repeated attempts.

Storyline

I Wanna Be The Guy: The Movie: The Game is a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the golden era of early American video games, wrapped in a brutally challenging platforming experience. As The Kid, a young, vaguely Megaman-inspired hero, players embark on a mission to become The Guy. The game's cryptic story serves as a backdrop for a series of clever, meticulously crafted, and maddeningly tough platforming and shooting challenges that nod to the classics of your childhood. The fragile The Kid turns into a burst of red pixels at the slightest touch of the game’s many hazards—ranging from classic spikes and bottomless chasms to more bizarre threats like flora and floating puzzle pieces. With a multi-path structure reminiscent of a Metroidvania, the game offers perilous exploration without the crutch of unnecessary upgrades meant to ease the pain. Players can choose their level of suffering through a difficulty setting that adjusts the frequency of save points from generous to nonexistent. IWBTG is accessible to all players; familiarity with video game history is not required and may not even help when facing the game’s often ironic and consistently cruel traps. So the question remains... Do YOU have what it takes to become The Guy?