Action Fist!

Released in 2010 by TeknoPants, Action Fist! is exactly what it sounds like: a no-nonsense, side-scrolling barrage of explosions, robots, and pixelated chaos. The game takes inspiration from old-school arcade shooters, but instead of trying to innovate, it just revels in being loud, fast, and absurd. Every level feels like it was designed by someone who thought, “What if we just cranked the fun dial to maximum and never turned it back down?” It’s a sugar rush of bullets and power-ups, best enjoyed with a controller and no sense of responsibility.

“Action fist is a 1-2 player platform shooter inspired by Metal Slug, Contra, and mostly Gunstar Heroes. I made the bulk of this game in high-school, but didn’t end up finishing it until after my first (and only) semester of college. It stands to be the longest project I’ve made to date, what with 5 worlds, most with 2 acts and a boss for each.” - TeknoPants