SuperTux, the Greatest Linux Game of All Time

If you ask my 3 year old son what's his favorite Linux game of all time, he would start hopping and say SuperTux in a loud and superhero-like voice. I can't blame him for being such a SuperTux fanatic because when I was a kid, I was very much addicted to a game which SuperTux was based upon. --SuperTux is inspired by Nintendo's Super Mario Bros., the best selling video game of all time.

SuperTux was originally created by Bill Kendrick and is currently maintained by the SuperTux Development Team. It is released under the GNU General Public License with most data files being dual-licensed under the Creative Commons "CC-by-sa" license. Many of the in-game graphics were created by Ingo Ruhnke, creator of the popular puzzle game called Pingus.

Gameplay:
Playing SuperTux is really like playing Super Mario Bros all over again, so it brings back good memories. The only funny difference is that you are playing Tux, the mascot of the Linux kernel, instead of Mario. Also, if you look closely, the squeezable enemies look different compared to the original Super Mario Bros. SuperTux all in all features 9 enemies and 26 playable levels.



Extra Features:
SuperTux contains some extra features that make the game even more exciting. Aside from the 26 playable levels, SuperTux has tons of bonus and secret levels to keep you busy for weeks. --The bonus levels have names such as Thompson's Domain, Matr1x' Sector, Abednego's Area, and Torfi's Territory.

If you find a certain game level too difficult to accomplish, you can always cheat. Just open a terminal and type:

$ supertux --debug-mode

Then, press the appropriate key that refers to its corresponding cheat:

* end - gain 50 coins
* tab - become bigtux
* delete - become firetux
* l - take away a life
* insert - become invincible (stars)
* tab - become smalltux

Another cool and fun thing about SuperTux is that it will let you edit or even create your own game levels. See screenshot below to see the game editor in action:


Here's a sample edited level:


Conclusion:
SuperTux is a highly addictive game that both young and old can truly enjoy. Kids will love it for its colorful graphics, easy game controls, and super cute penguin. The not-so-old will like SuperTux for its fast-paced action, secret levels, and super cute penguin. So why wait? Fire up that package manager of yours and go get SuperTux now!