It's Faster The Porcupine and Friends! Oh man, this one takes me back. Surely you all remember that feeling of playing the first Faster game on The Start's magnetic tape deck? It was awesome. I liked Super Embargo Siblings as well, but this was something else. I can still hear the theme from Grey Asphalt Area in my head today; it really brought classical music to the gaming forefront.
For those of you who don't remember it was the adventures of Faster the Porcupine. He was a green porcupine that was just slightly faster than anyone else. He was in a war of attrition against Professor Hamguy and his army of rabid organically fed animals. Hamguy wanted to turn the urban sprawl of Faster and his friends into a protected national forest, but Faster wasn't having that! Not with his 90's attitude of awkwardness, excessive enthusiasm and habit of purchasing The Start related merchandise!
He wasn't alone, though, his friends would make appearances and even become playable characters in the following games! There was Sidekick the tail-less fox. Constantly in agony with his untended injuries and already missing an eye, it was hard for him to keep up with Faster (who was already slightly faster than him in the first place). He had gumption, though! In the second game his squirrely controls made him a bane on the first player.
Then there was Maria Schoolgirl! She was the overly aggressive and rude love interest for Faster. She would show up and take shots at him both verbally and with her tech-9, not unlike the models seen in use by 90s gangs across urban America!
Lastly was Muscles the Aardvark. A crude dude that had a fear of heights but specialized in power walking and would become a stout ally in future games. Everyone was in slightly faster (eh? ehh!?) pursuit of the Stable Gems. They were pastel coloured gemstones with a mediocre yet still just enough energy to help one self actualize and achieve their goals! With his catchphrase 'Far beyond neat!' he would have the most adventurous adventure to begin a long line of wonderful games that would stay great forever and ever. Still one of 5-EGA's greatest accomplishments.