You are Peter Shorts (v1.0.18)

A quiet backyard cookout turns into a bizarre escape story when a secret laboratory kidnaps an ordinary man for an army of genetically copied replacements. You Are Peter Shorts is a colorful retro-inspired action platformer that combines interconnected Metroidvania levels with scrappy beat-’em-up combat. Its tone is knowingly ridiculous, but the action takes its systems seriously: every room is packed with hostile duplicates, environmental hazards, shortcuts, and secrets. The result feels like a lost 8-bit cult favorite with far more modern ideas about movement and replayability.

Players push through a large facility, opening routes and gaining new transformation abilities by defeating major clone bosses. Combat uses only two primary buttons, yet supports guarding, precise parries, aerial evasions, combos, and situational attacks that reward timing rather than button mashing. Rescued clones need to be escorted to safety, while BUG, a small helper character, traps enemies and tosses explosive eggs to control crowded encounters. A second player can take direct control of BUG in co-op, making rescue sections more manageable and giving the campaign a lively couch-multiplayer angle without turning it into a simple brawler.

The standout feature is how much personality the clone concept gives every part of the package, from bosses and unlockable forms to a versus mode featuring 25 playable Peters. Bright pixel art, elaborate industrial stages, and an energetic chiptune score keep the pace buoyant even when the layouts become demanding. Completionists can hunt down diskettes to unlock a randomizer that reshuffles the adventure into a fresh challenge, while competitive players have a separate arena for testing the clone roster. Fans of Shovel Knight, classic Mega Man exploration, or fast technical brawlers should find plenty to enjoy, and the approachable controls make it welcoming even for players who usually avoid difficult Metroidvanias.