PixelLinkr #143: The Story Behind the Puzzle
Spoilers ahead: for the puzzle and the movies/games
This post assumes you've already solved the puzzle. It reveals all categories and their connections, and discusses plot details, endings, and spoilers for featured movies/games throughout.
Bread & Fred ties two penguins together with a rope and asks them to climb. This turns every platform into a trust exercise designed by someone who has never forgiven friendship.
🟢 Easy: Run-and-gun games
Games: Contra · Metal Slug · Alien Hominid · Broforce
Contra and Metal Slug teach the genre in seconds: move right, shoot constantly, and learn which parts of the screen are about to become explosions. Both started in arcades before spreading across home systems.
Alien Hominid carries the same speed with Dan Paladin's animation. Broforce adds destructible stages and action-film parody heroes. The scenery lasts until somebody presses fire.
🟡 Medium: Co-op partners are physically tethered
Games: Chained Together · Bread & Fred · Unravel Two · PHOGS!
Chained Together uses a simulated chain, so one player's missed jump becomes shared evidence. Bread & Fred applies a rope to two penguins. The mountain now has couples counseling.
Unravel Two joins its Yarnys with a strand of yarn. PHOGS! goes further and puts two dog heads on one stretchy body. This category clicks when cooperation stops being a suggestion and becomes anatomy.
🔵 Hard: Tennis games
Games: Virtua Tennis · Top Spin 4 · Tennis Elbow 4 · Mario Power Tennis
Virtua Tennis began in arcades in 1999 and later became one of the Dreamcast's defining sports games. Top Spin 4 chases licensed simulation, while Tennis Elbow 4 has built its reputation around detailed ball physics and career play.
Then Mario arrives with power shots and themed courts. The rules still involve serves, rallies, singles, and doubles. The mushroom effects were not covered at Wimbledon.
🟣 Tricky: Sentient weapons travel with the hero
Games: Tales of Destiny · The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword · Xenoblade Chronicles 2 · Soulcalibur III
Tales of Destiny calls its ancient talking weapons Swordians. Skyward Sword gives Link Fi, the spirit inside the Goddess Sword. Equipment has crossed the line into party member.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 makes Blades humanoid partners who empower weapons. Soulcalibur III revolves around soul-bearing swords with wills and histories of their own. The reveal is not "games with swords." It is swords that bring lore, agency, and unsolicited conversation.
Today's CineLinkr puzzle has dangerous museum exhibits. At least those usually wait until closing time before developing agency.