Technical Information
Developer: andyman404
Publisher: andyman404
Release Date: June 14, 2021
Link: https://andyman404.itch.io/buttlympics-pole-vault
Buttlympics is a free game made for the 2021 So Bad It’s Good game jam. It’s a pole-vaulting game where you control a pair of legs attached to an ass and must jump as high as possible using the force of your farts!
As the name suggests, this game jam is for games that are so bad they’re good. Besides that peculiar quality requirement, all participating games must use only one button!
Final Thoughts – Analyzing the Game as a Whole
Graphics and UI
The game’s art style is quite crude, but it has its charm.
The fuchsia and cyan colors were intentionally chosen to reference the CGA card, IBM’s first color graphics card.
The animation of the ass running and jumping is well made, but the poop left behind looks weird. But who cares? It’s poop. Within a few minutes of gameplay, there’ll be crap everywhere.
During gameplay, you’ll see other asses watching you, but without any meaningful details about their characters or movements.
The interface is easy to comprehend, and the control instructions remain visible throughout the game. The only thing I think could have been improved is the readability of certain words, which sometimes fade because they’re white and end up blending into the scenery as the camera moves. A black outline would easily fix this. But since it’s a game that’s “so bad it’s good,” I believe this may have been intentional.
Soundtrack and Sound Effects
The game doesn’t have many sound effects, and honestly, it didn’t make much of a difference.
The music on the introduction screen is a reinterpretation of Fanfare for the Common Man (1942).
The intro is so nice that I doubt you’ll listen to it without wanting to start singing afterward.
Gameplay
The gameplay is as simple as possible, since the main rule of the game jam is to use only one button. You only use the space bar.
To run, you need to press it repeatedly as fast as possible.
To plant the pole in the ground and get a boost, you need to hold the space bar for at least 0.5 seconds.
And finally, to jump, just release the key.
It seems simple, but I confess I was quite confused at first. In no time, though, I got the hang of it and started playing to see what my best score would be.
To jump high, you’ll need to fart. And believe me, you’ll fart hard enough to leave a mess behind.
It’s an anal-themed game, but I guarantee it’s far funnier than it is gross. 🙂
Replayability and Game Retention
The game is fun, and you’ll want to try again and again.
It’s very casual and somewhat disposable. There comes a point when the music (which was still enjoyable) starts to get on your nerves and makes you close the game! Hahaha.
But undoubtedly, it’s a game that oozes creativity and humor. Playing it drunk or high (or maybe both) with friends would probably be a unique experience.
