Partner

Your partner is your biggest motivation, next to the urge for rootin tootin cowboy shootin, and lootin. After a nice day in the canyon your partner gets kidnapped by bandits. Now it's on you to save them.

The partner is not to be confused with companions or Co-op players.

Rescue
To rescue the partner the player needs to reach Level 3-3 and defeat the Bandit Boss. Afterwards the partner can be found on the right side of the level in a section that is plastered with bear traps and locked behind some strong, wooden walls that needs to be destroyed with explosives.

After reaching the partner the player can rescue them just like a prisoner. But after freeing the partner the game is not won yet. Instead the partner will become a companion. Partner companions are much stronger than your average prisoner companion, but if the partner dies and bleeds out the game is lost. It's important to keep them alive during the following stage of the game: The B-Levels.

The player will need to escort the partner to the start of the run by going back through all the previously visited levels.

Only after reaching the end of Level 1-1B the game is actually won, if the partner is still with the player and alive.

Jane or John
The player has the choice to select between two options to change the visual appearance of their partner.

By default Jane is selected and represents a feminine partner.

The difference between Jane and John is purely visual and does not impact gameplay.