Today we are starting a new feature at Gamercamp. From now until Gamercamp begins on November 25, we’ll be featuring games from our talented speakers! To kick off, we’ve got the computer game Friendship in 4 Colours by Damian Sommer.
Everyone has a list of games they love that are utterly frustrating, yet hopelessly addicting. Be prepared to add a new game to that list: Damian Sommer‘s Friendship in 4 Colours.
The game requires two players and begins deceptively simple: two small creatures navigate together across a level of blocks until they both reach the goal zone. There are no enemies and no obstacles—the only requirement is that both players must make it to proceed further. Easy enough, right?
Upon completing the first level, you get a prize! Who doesn’t like prizes? Both players get jet packs to soar higher. Complete the second level and one of the players will get… bullets… that rain down like confetti… automatically?!?
And suddenly the game becomes something unexpected as one player becomes a hiccuping firearm and the other player must work to avoid the bullets while making it to the other side. Succeed and the other player gets rewarded with… a GIANT BACK LASER?!?
Oh great. Now, the first bullet-spewing player has to avoid the laser wave while the second dodges bullets and tries not to incinerate their friend.
And so the game goes, playfully “rewarding” you with bigger and better weapons, cheekily subverting traditional ideas of leveling up and skill-building in games.
Amazingly, Friendship was made in just three days, while Damian was at the Toronto Video Game Jam in May. What’s great about the game is the level of polish: from the look, which evokes the early Game Boy days, to its charming animations that make being blown to smithereens or fried to bits a hearty amount of fun.
You can try Friendship in 4 Colours for yourself by downloading it (for free!) here. You can also play the game in an arcade cabinet at the Toronto Underground Cinema on Saturday of Gamercamp.
Damian will be sharing a new work as part of our Emerging Artist Showcase on Friday. If you’re interested in making a simple game, he’ll also be presenting on Sunday how he got into games and the tools he uses. That is, of course, if you’re not still at home trying to beat a level of Friendship.
