Full disclosure: I play Spelunky as a ‘Podcast game’ – that’s the collection I’ve added it to in Steam. So, almost all the time, I’m paying more attention to Never Not Funny than I am the game.
However, I still keep coming back to it because I feel like that might be the best way to play it. If I play for a few minutes, I definitely end up in a state where playing becomes natural and instinctive.
I’ve been treating this game like a Nethack game, where looking up the guidebook is considered ‘spoilers’ (in a way where no one actually cares). So, I’m still surprised by things happening. Even though I’ve barely got to the ‘cold’ area that my last death hinted at.
- The pickaxe doesn’t last forever. I thought I had solved the game. But it only last a few whacks – which I completely wasted – before breaking.
- The egyptian eye thing will go blue sometimes, showing the way to an early exit. I’ve never had this happen before even though I’ve often got this item.
- You can’t jump-kill the red flowers. It should have been obvious from their art, but they just eat you.
- Your lover has lives, which you may as well use. If you run headfirst into a bad guy whilst holding the dude you’re rescuing, they’ll take the hit rather than you.
- The climbing gloves are surprisingly jarring. After learning how jumping works, having an item that changes that is really odd. Same for the spring boots.
- Killing the bees is well worth it. The big one has a bunch of lives that it gives!
