A unique climbing game that teaches great lessons

In life, there is no better teacher than failure. This is the main philosophy upon which the game, Getting Over It With Bennett Foddy, is based on. Getting Over It With Bennett Foddy is a climbing simulation game developed by the eponymous Bennett Foddy. In this unique and absurd hiking game, you follow Diogenes, a man with a large hammer who live in a black cauldron. To win the game, the player must help Diogenes climb a huge mountain and reach the top using only his hammer. 

Inspiration and Presentation

Getting Over It With Bennett Foddy was inspired by a 2002 game titled Sexy Hiking which was developed by a Czech video game designer known as Jazzuo. It’s pretty easy to see the elements that directly inspired Getting Over It because the games are quite similar, both in terms of gameplay and presentation.

Design-wise, it may not seem that way because Sexy Hiking is rendered in a 2D cartoon style while Getting Over It is rendered in 3D. However, they both have minimalistic environments that feature only one character and require moving using a stick or hammer.

Gameplay 

Getting Over It’s gameplay is pretty much the same as Sexy Hiking. As mentioned above, you must use Diogenes’ hammer to climb to the mountaintop. You can use it to grip objects on the mountain and propel Diogenes higher. Needless to say, this is easier said than done, and players will find themselves losing grip, slipping, and falling down the mountain. Diogenes’ journey is accompanied by philosophical commentary from the game’s developer regarding failure, determination, and perseverance. These topics are, of course, relevant to the game’s design because accepting failure is a massive and recurring theme in this game. 

High Difficulty

Getting Over It is a difficult and frustrating game. There are no save points in this game which means you can lose your progress at any time. Sometimes, you will almost reach the top only to come crashing down due to a false step. The game is an interactive lesson about learning to let go of anger and continuing the journey despite the frustrations. It is only by “getting over it” will players learn to press forward and achieve the rewards brought forth by perseverance.

Absurd, But Meaningful

Getting Over It With Bennett Foddy has a simple premise and uncomplicated gameplay. Nevertheless, it has a more meaningful purpose than most games out there. It teaches users lessons on perseverance despite the hardships and obstacles. Whether you finish it or not, it’s a good game to check out.