Understudy (Early Access Demo)
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About this game
Understudy is a comedy platformer where you are the stunt double on five very silly film shoots. The star refuses anything dangerous, so every jump, fall and explosion is yours, and each level is one take that ends the moment you get hurt.
Made by Brainlag.
How to play
Each scene runs from your starting mark to the camera. Hit a hazard and the director calls CUT: the set resets and the take counter goes up. Reach the camera and the scene prints, earning up to five stars for takes against par, time, director's notes nailed, credits collected and your longest chain of linked stunts.
ONE TAKE is the arcade mode: about two minutes, one life, scenes back to back, and the first cut ends the run. Each printed scene is worth 1,000 points, plus extras for credits, your best chain and time under par. The campaign is five films, from Attack of the Colossal Newt to The Dreadful Manor Picture, eight scenes each, bosses included. Finishing one film opens the next.
Stars are the only currency. Spend them in the Stunt Shop on suits, the Safety Helmet (survive one hit per take) or The Big Finish (a ground pound with a shockwave).
Controls
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Arrow keys / WASD | Run; Up also jumps and climbs fly lines |
| Space / Z | Jump, then again in the air for a double jump |
| Down (in the air) | Ground pound: breaks cardboard and presses buttons |
| X | Grab and throw props (hold Down to set one gently) |
| C / V | C: hold to flail and slow your fall. V: fire a blank (Down + V in the air for a recoil boost) |
| Shift / Esc | Shift: dash. Esc or P: pause |
Tips
- Die the same way three times and the director shouts a tip for that hazard. Two worth knowing early: wait for the giant foot to lift before you run, and count the blinks on red laser lines.
- Enemies are padded extras, so land on them from above. High falls from a gallery onto a colleague count toward an extra star.
- Collecting 60 percent of a scene's credits earns the star, so take the galleries on your route and skip the rest.
- From take four a rival double turns up. If he reaches the camera first, the scene prints with his footage and one star, so steady runs beat frantic retries.
- Stuck? Press Esc on the title screen for the Safety Wire, which forgives platform edges, a slow rehearsal speed down to half, and key remapping.
FAQ
Does Understudy save my progress?
Yes. Campaign progress, stars, shop items, settings and your ONE TAKE best are kept in this browser's local storage. Clearing site data, a private window or another device means starting fresh.
Can I play on a phone or tablet?
Yes. On a touch screen, controls appear: a stick on the left that follows your thumb and a big jump button with the other actions on the right. A gamepad works too.
Which mode should I start with?
On your first visit, Enter on the title starts ONE TAKE and C starts the campaign. After that they swap. ONE TAKE suits a short break; the campaign has the stars, the shop and the bosses.