Best Games With Dudes In Distress

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Many gamers who grew up in the 80s and 90s often played games where they rescued characters – typically princesses – from villains. A classic example is *Super Mario Bros.*, where Mario’s goal was to find Princess Toadstool, now known as Princess Peach. This ‘damsel in distress’ storyline was common in many forms of entertainment, but over time, it’s been reimagined and changed significantly.

I’ve noticed a fun trend in games, shows, and movies – guys getting into trouble! You could jokingly call it ‘dudes in distress.’ It’s not always about a female character saving the day, but it happens a lot. Honestly, I think stories like these are just really good and enjoyable.

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest

DK’s Kidnapping

Donkey Kong Country was a huge success on the Super Nintendo, bringing the Donkey Kong character back into the spotlight. So, a sequel was inevitable! But the developers, Rare, didn’t want to just create another typical Donkey Kong game. Instead, Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest put Diddy Kong in the lead role, tasking him with rescuing DK from a group of pirates. They also introduced Dixie Kong, who quickly became a fan favorite and a key player in the game.

Like the first game, players control Diddy Kong, but this time Dixie Kong can use her hair to glide, which helps with the challenging jumps and platforms. The game also introduced collectibles – coins you can earn to unlock new areas and rewards. *Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest* is a fantastic follow-up, and many fans consider it the best game in the Donkey Kong Country series.

Final Fantasy 10-2

Where Is Tidus?

Final Fantasy X-2 was the first game in the series to directly continue the story of a main installment, bringing back familiar characters Yuna and Rikku, and introducing Paine. The game begins when Yuna receives a strange video seemingly showing Tidus imprisoned, prompting her to gather a team to investigate. Like the previous game, it uses turn-based combat, but with a new feature: characters can change classes mid-battle using special Dresspheres.

Even though Tidus faces danger, the game’s mood has become more cheerful and lighthearted, moving away from a serious, somber feel. While areas aren’t as vast as before, there’s still a lot to discover, as the game cleverly reuses many of its existing elements.

The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom

Absorbing Link’s Power

For years, fans have been asking for a *Zelda* game where Zelda is the hero, and *The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom* delivers! The game starts with Link, but he quickly gets trapped in another world. This leaves Zelda as the main player, equipped with a special rod that lets her create copies of objects and even monsters. She can then use these copies creatively – for example, building towers of tables to reach high places or unleashing flocks of birds to fight enemies.

Okay, so I’ve been playing *The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom*, and even though it’s got that classic top-down view, the world feels HUGE. Seriously, it’s packed with stuff to do – it really feels like a proper open-world game. The coolest part? I get to play as Zelda, and she can actually *use* Link’s abilities! She can temporarily tap into his powers, like wielding his sword, while she’s trying to save him. It’s a really unique twist!

River City Girls

We’ll Take The World On And Sing This Dope Song

River City Girls successfully brought the Kunio-kun series back into the spotlight, and has since been followed by one sequel. The game stars Misako and Kyoko, the girlfriends of series protagonists Kunio and Riki. The story, presented with a cool animated intro and song, centers around Misako and Kyoko’s mission to rescue Kunio and Riki after they’re kidnapped in a van.

These characters are just as strong as the heroes players control, fighting their way through the city with punches and kicks. They get stronger by defeating enemies and can learn new abilities at shops. This is a fantastic modern take on the classic brawler genre, and the newest game lets you play as Kunio and Riki, alongside a few fresh faces.

Spelunky 2

Pow Ana, Straight To The Moon

Spelunky 2 continues the story of the original game, set years later. The previous hero, Guy, has settled down with Tina and they have a daughter named Ana. When Guy and Tina venture to the moon to investigate ancient ruins, they vanish, leaving Ana behind.

Players take on the role of Ana and venture through numerous dungeons on the moon. The game maintains the challenging difficulty of the original, requiring careful exploration of its constantly shifting, roguelike dungeons. While not solely a ‘damsel in distress’ story, the disappearance of Ana’s mother, Tina, adds another layer to the search.

SteamWorld Dig 2

A Rusty Adventure

SteamWorld Dig 2 continues the story shortly after the first game. The hero, Rusty, has disappeared, and a new robot named Dorothy is on a mission to find him, no matter what it takes. The gameplay is similar to the original: players start in a central town, dig underground to find treasure, and then return to sell their finds and replenish their water supply.

Dorothy needs water to function, and in *SteamWorld Dig 2*, she gains abilities that let her explore more of the world. These include bombs for breaking tough rocks and a hookshot for reaching new areas. Overall, it’s a significant improvement and expansion upon the original game.

Super Princess Peach

An Emotional Journey

Princess Peach is often the character who needs rescuing in *Mario* games, so it made sense for her to star in her own adventure, *Super Princess Peach*. When Koopa Troopas kidnap Mario and take him to an island, Peach quickly follows. There, she discovers a magical umbrella that lets her fight enemies and float through levels.

Peach gains four unique abilities tied to her emotions, activated on the DS touchscreen. For instance, when she’s sad, she cries, and those tears actually help her run faster! They also solve puzzles – she can use them to grow plants that act as platforms. It’s a strange concept, but it makes for a fun and creative *Mario* adventure on the DS.

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2025-09-18 06:06