As many of you may know, I am quite the sucker for indie games. Especially ever since 2019. I thoroughly enjoy sprinkling my year with these lovely gems, and My Friend Pedro was certainly that. This game is absolutely brilliant from its level design to its unique gameplay. If I had to describe this game in one statement it would be that it feels like you are in the Matrix. Dodge bullets, wield and arsenal of weapons and wreak havoc on your enemies. Luckily though, I can take a bit more time to dive into this title than just one statement.
Level Complete
This high octane, 2D shooter/platformer has a lot to offer from tight platforming to fast-paced shooting frenzies. Even in the middle of absolute chaos though, you will able to slow time and bring everything into focus. This is where it really feels like the Matrix, obviously. The game is broken into areas and those areas are broken into levels. At the end of a level, you’ll be scored on your performance just like in most games that implement this level system. And of course, feel free to get S rank on every level if you want to. There are bonuses for optional objectives too, like completing a run without killing anyone or not dying. And of course, the fancier you are, the higher your score will be.
I had a blast playing with this game’s scoring system. Even if I didn’t achieve the score I wanted, I enjoyed experimenting with different things. The gameplay took a minute to get used to anyway so replaying levels was excellent practice. As you progress through these levels you’ll unlock new abilities and of course, guns. This opens the door for a whole slew of gameplay options. If you want to use your shotgun, go for it. Certain guns are more effective in certain situations, but the game is great about giving you the freedom to do whatever you want to do. Take it one level at a time and enjoy destroying your enemy.
Backflips, Front Flips, Side Flips, and More
My favorite thing about this game is how fun it is to move around. The main character moves with such grace and poise, every step was like watching a ballet. Add bullets into the mix and you have my attention. The game allows the player to dodge bullets by holding down a button. This can be done while running, jumping, swinging or almost any other action. When it is time for a fight, take aim and shoot. The player can split their aim using two guns, if those guns are small, effectively gunning down two enemies at once. This helps in many situations that place the player in between groups of enemies or if the enemies are on different platforms. Kill combos are a thing as well as extra points for performing kills during other actions like flipping.
I wasn’t too hyper-focused on the scoring to be honest. Instead, I just had a blast with the game in my own way. There were moments where I felt like I could get a better score but ultimately I was perfectly content playing the way that I wanted to. I appreciated the freedom that this game gave me and I most certainly took advantage of every ounce of it. I was constantly in awe when I would try something experimental and it would pay off. This game is a playground that I did not want to leave but eventually my backlog beckoned to me.
There are segments in the game that take a break from the shooting and put the player in different situations. These moments help break up the chaos just a bit and offer different styles of gameplay. There are also levels that will demand more platforming than anything else which was exciting. They really took advantage of every gameplay mechanic they created and allowed the player to play with them from every angle.
A Man, A Banana and A Dream
You might find yourself thinking that this game full of chaotic violence wouldn’t have a story but you’d be wrong. There’s a method to the madness and it is absolutely worth seeing through to the end. At the beginning of the game you’ll wake up and Pedro the banana will be there to guide you through your mission. While it may not make much sense at first, it will all come together beautifully in time. In the meantime, take in the scenery, have fun and shoot a ton of people. (Or don’t, there are bonuses for that, too.) Regardless, this game is a delight to play and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys action games. Its unique gameplay, slapping soundtrack and hilarious banana mascot makes for a unique experience unlike any other.
