Ufouria: The Saga

Ufouria: The Saga is a 1991 NES Metroidvania developed and published by Sunsoft, known in Japan as Hebereke. Players begin as the penguin-like Hebe and explore a single interconnected world in search of three lost friends.

Each rescued companion — Rakkun, O-Chan, and Sukezaemon — plays differently and grants abilities that open previously inaccessible areas, in classic ability-gated Metroidvania fashion. Overlooked at launch (its North American release was cancelled), it later gained a cult following strong enough to earn a 2024 sequel.