It’s become pretty apparent that we at DIYgamer are huge fans of platformers. Maybe it’s the nostalgia of playing something that reminds us of the yesteryear (mashing buttons and finding Easter eggs in Mario), but there is no doubt that this genre offers gamers a prime example of enjoyment within simplicity. Say hello to Enough Plumbers from Newgrounds users Radix (design) and MrPodunkian (music)–Glenn Forrester and Arthur Lee, respectively.

If you’re a fan of any Marvel comic books, DC comic books, or The 6th Day starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, you know a thing or two about clones. They may piss you off, they may offer an intriguing plot twist, or they may not make much of a difference at all. Certainly, The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom, puts emphasis on clones as a gameplay element for our portly pie thief. But Enough Plumbers is a clone on multiple levels.

For one thing, the main character looks identical to Mario… and those enemies look awfully similar to goombas. Well, that’s with good reason, because this tongue-in-cheek comment from the developer should be enough to quell any frustrations anti-clone supporters may feel:

“A puzzle platformer about clones cloning clones that’s totally not a reference to anything.

Move and jump with the arrows, and remember you can reset with space or go back to the level select screen with the arrow in the top-right.

Have fun!”

There you have it, it’s totally not a reference to anything…

While Enough Plumbers settles for a similar mood and atmosphere as Mario, its gameplay is much more puzzle-oriented. Yes, the bulk of the game requires that you jump from platform to platform and collect coins. But, you see: each time you collect a coin, you’ll be creating a clone of yourself. That clone will help you get through the level and–obviously–it’s your job to figure out how. Sometimes only one clone will have to jump on a lever, other times a lever may require a certain amount of clones to be pushed, and most of the time all of you won’t make it through.

But that’s what keeps Enough Plumbers fun: The carelessness of a 2D platformer that can be reset at any point with the space bar. The references to iconic 2D platformers in their heyday. The music and beautiful settings the game is based within. Sure, it’s all a little familiar, but maybe that’s what makes it feel so good. With Enough Plumbers, you’ll have 25 stages, each either testing a unique element or a combination.

Sometimes the number of clones may feel overwhelming. After all, they’ll be performing the same action so it’s not exactly easy to keep track of all of your beloved clones, but therein lies the challenge. Puzzle platformers shouldn’t be a walk in the park, they should challenge the gamer in some way, and Enough Plumbers offers plenty of challenge for the seeker. Unlike the name suggests, however, I just can’t get enough of these plumbers.

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