Threat Level: MONDAY

December 31, 2024 2:28 AM

It's a pitch-perfect combination of old-school shooter action, bombastic anime-style storytelling and Saturday Morning cartoon, and it's free to play on itch.io and Newgrounds. (HTML5, Windows and Mac) Help ace fighter JON STARBUCKLE, stationed on the USS ACRES, pilot the GAR-TYPE D to destroy GORESTAR, a planet-eating threat, with your choice of three different weapons: Ravioli, Macaroni or Spaghetti. If the action is a bit too hot for you (ya Nermal), you can check out the trailer, or this complete playthrough. And if you find this bit of silliness to your liking, its creator Lumpy Touch also made Bad Monday Simulator, a fangame crossover with Undertale (video).
posted by JHarris (11 comments total)

OMG! This simultaneously gives me giggles of joy and dark, dark flashbacks. FWIW, this is the sort of unhinged stuff we in the art department desperately wanted to create, but to which the powers-that-be were blind to the appeal of.

I must contact the creator and applaud this amazing piece of inspired audacity, before the Paramount legaldroids disappear them.

Great find JHarris!
posted by Thorzdad at 2:41 AM on December 31 [3 favorites]

Oh my god. Not just Binky the Clown but Liz as, I'm guessing, Vetvix from Garfield's Pet Force.
posted by BiggerJ at 3:17 AM on December 31 [2 favorites]

At least it doesn't have the Buddy Bears.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 5:45 AM on December 31 [1 favorite]

PASTA
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 5:53 AM on December 31 [1 favorite]

Marvelous and horrifying! This got me wondering what Jim Davis thinks about the weird directions of ironic Garfield fandoms, and apparently he’s cool with it. Or at least with Garfield without Garfield, to the point of collaborating on a book with the originator of that idea. (Source)
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 7:59 AM on December 31 [3 favorites]

Good post.
posted by Wolfdog at 9:16 AM on December 31 [1 favorite]

I was just planning to post this today, but this post is indeed perfect.
Horrific takes on cutesy mascots have come a long way since Barney Doom! If such things are to your liking you may also appreciate The Eldertubbies.
Oh, also: Previously (incl a linked video in the comments to an early version of Gar-Type).
posted by subocoyne at 10:20 AM on December 31 [1 favorite]

I can't get my controller to work, and mouse control for this kind of thing feels weird and bad. Still, great work all around. Spaghetti is OP ofc.
posted by SaltySalticid at 10:40 AM on December 31 [1 favorite]

Yeah, mouse control is sad trombone. But it is extremely smooth and compelling gameplay / music!
posted by grumpybear69 at 10:43 AM on December 31

If only I were good enough at video games to get far enough to truly appreciate this.
posted by Going To Maine at 11:11 AM on December 31

Mouse control is bit odd.
There's no shame in going to the videos. I've finished many a challenging shmup and still opted for viewing the playthrough video instead of dedicating a number of uninterrupted hours to actually play the game myself considering there's no save system.
posted by subocoyne at 11:23 AM on December 31 [1 favorite]