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The speedrun ‘Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy’ is a well-loved computer game all over the world with a rather plain plotline. Millions of people assay their strength while playing this, seemingly, a simple-minded game. It was developed by QWOP company designers too and became as successful as its predecessor. So what is the secret of such a success and popularity of ‘Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy’? Well, the game aim is to climb a mountain as higher as possible. If you fail and come unstuck (fall down), the main thing is to keep it up, clambering higher. Overall, that is a conception of the game. No zombies craving for fresh flesh, no vampires looking for some blood, no mortal battles with aliens, etc.… Just a main character and a mountain.
According to the words of Bennett Foddy, the design of this computer ‘brainchild’ was inspired by author’s personal experience of mountaineering. Being high in the mountains, he looked out and the sense of joy and fulfillment overtook his mind and body. Thus, understanding of one’s achievements makes people appreciate time and efforts spent on something, the same implies to the game. The feeling of one’s progress within the game makes the character to be persistent and aim-oriented in spite of all. It is peculiar that the process of falling down is intentionally omitted: no shrieks, no yells, no disgusting bloody spots on the ground… Falling down is the other side of one’s progress and they are inseparable from each other. Though the focus in on scrambling up over and over again.
However the other words of Mr. Foddy are rather ambiguous: ‘I created this game for a certain kind of person… To hurt them.’ How to understand his intention? Did Bennet Foddy really mean to hurt some people by the game? Maybe, he just used a metaphor?
Despite the game apparent simplicity, it emphasizes the main principle of life – never give up, and represents a well-known metaphor ‘to conquer the mountain’ that means ‘to conquer yourself/to become a better version of yourself’. As for those who can be hurt figuratively, they fall down and have to start their mountain-climbing expedition from the very beginning.
If you are looking for a calm and non-aggressive video game, do not linger to try it. ‘Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy’ is worth playing, as it teaches gamers to get the job done.
