For Greener Grass

Hello there! I am a student and this was my latest project for university.

Our challenge was to create a 2D Metroid Vania with several unlockable abilities and interesting level design. 

This is my completed project called: For Greener Grass. 

In FGG you play as Herb, a plant humanoid who's mother as her last act before using up all her strength creates him in order to try and carry her seeds to a better place. Upon awakening in his mothers milting petals, Herb sets off to find a place to carry on his family. However, to his shock he discovers the whole area is an arid dry wasteland with other plants begging for his help. Help herb find out where all the water has gone and restore the life to this world. 

This game does have a major issue, in the virtual sync, which i hopefully will be fixing once my next project is done

Can you find the two secret plant friends?