Kill the Plumber in this Super Mario parody anti-platformer
If you’ve ever wanted to play a platformer as the baddie instead of the good guy, then you’re in luck. Such a game has just come out on the App Store in the form of Kill the Plumber World.
Previously rejected by AppleAs you may have guessed from its title, Kill the Plumber World is “inspired” by Super Mario — you know, that seminal series of platform video games starring the titular plumber. But touted as an “anti-platformer,” the game is actually a parody of Super Mario in particular and platforming tropes in general.
That fact was apparently lost on Apple, as its review team refused to make the game available on the App Store last year on copyright grounds, reasoning that it included “content or features that resemble a well-known third-party material.”
Not to be downtrodden, the game’s developer, Keybol (which also created Pretentious Game), resubmitted Kill the Plumber World with some tweaks, including new graphics and, most notably, a plumber who no longer bears a more than passing resemblance to Mario. And now, the game is out.
Previously banned by Apple Kill the Plumber is now out on #AppStore. https://t.co/Z1yK18Qckh #indiedev #gamedev pic.twitter.com/dus1cgE45n
— keybol (@keybol) February 1, 2016
Play as various enemies and bosses
However, the gameplay mechanics of Kill the Plumber World remain the same.
In this “reverse” puzzle platformer, you play as the enemies and bosses instead of the hero, whom you must, as the game’s name commands, kill. “Now you can play as different types of enemies like a jumpless minion, a stomper and a ghost who can’t move if the plumber is facing him!” Keybol notes. “It gets more challenging when the plumber can now throw fireballs, become invincible, even fly and swim!”
Pay once and play
Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, Kill the Plumber World is available now on the App Store for $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Staying true to its “pay once and play” philosophy, Keybol promises that future updates, new worlds, new levels, and new playable enemies will come free of charge.
Kill the World Plumbler currently features 144 levels plus a special speedrun mode. And lest you think that, since Kill the Plumber World is a parody, you can no longer expect to play a high-quality game, know that the game has already won several creative awards.
It really does look like a lot of fun, the kind of game that will make you realize that sometimes being bad can be so good.