Freind Saves X-Mas was a game that I had been wanting to make since the previous Christmas.

Freind Saves X-Mas was a game that I had been wanting to make since the previous Christmas, but had never gotten around to making. The premise is simple - guide Freind (yes, it's meant to be spelled that way) around a long hallway, catching the items from the song 12 Days of Christmas, to "save" Christmas. The bear shooting the items out of the cannon is known as Freakabear. And you can't catch the partridge in a pear tree... it's supposed to clobber you!

More of an inside joke between my brother and I than anything else, Freind Saves X-Mas was designed as a gag game, where you would play it once, laugh a bit, send it to your friend, and be done with it. By the time I finally got the last items programmed into the game correctly, I was so tired of the 12 Days of Christmas that I could barely play through the entire game to make sure it worked! Luckily I had the help of friends and family who tested it for me a few times, before they too were entirely sick of the song.

This game also pays homage to one of my favorite series of games, Earthworm Jim by Shiny Entertainment. Anyone who is familiar with the series should instantly recognize the similarities between this game and Earthwork Jim 2's Puppy Love levels. The unique gameplay and endless amounts of art and style were two of my primary influences in what I feel games can and should be, and I highly recommend EWJ 1 and 2 to anyone who has yet to try them.

Needless to say, Freind Saves X-Mas tries to capture some of this style of fun, even if it does get to be a bit tedious at the end. How many games have you played where the ultimate goal of every level is to get smashed by a potted pear tree? With this said, have fun!