My extended family fell in love with this game. My 12-year-old niece, when she was 10, would organize times for her family to play it together, and has since introduced her friends to the game, who ended up buying it.

While I hate pixel art in general, and this is no exception, the gameplay is just so much fun that in this case I'm willing to overlook it. What makes the game work so well is the randomness - you don't choose your character, and which enemies are suicide bombers is randomized, so you end up with a different experience every time even in the same levels. The game has a distinctly unique cadence that goes back and forth between "hurry up" and "look over and analyze the situation." And that tension between the two, which is also what makes Spelunky 2 so much fun, works really well here.

BROOOFOOOOOOOORCE

is not as close to my heart as its free counterpart, expendabros. and maybe i should just play "good run 'n guns" like metal slug 3 or *yawns* contra. however, neither of those games let you tunnel under your enemy like an evil worm or suicide bomb every platform in a stage, creating a platforming gauntlet for whoever you're playing with. this is also the only video game ever (to my knowledge) that lets you play as blade, ash williams, cherry darling, AND ellen ripley. it's more of a power fantasy playground than your traditional r&g, which makes for FANTASTIC multiplayer experience, particularly with more casual players. sure, that makes for a less engaging singleplayer than the greats, but if i catch your ass critically critiquing the funny explosion simulator i'm bombing your ass into oblivion while you're not looking. just have fun with your friends, man. liberate some countries