These little things over here play a vital role for Dudebro in his mission. The versatile medal; acting both as a reward and a commodity.
On the surface, medals are merely collectibles. However, their uses extend beyond just being a badge of honor. They also help the player advance through the game, unlocking boss doors when enough are gathered. Of course, something so important wouldn’t be easy to obtain.
Long shootouts, difficult platforming sequences, or any kind of “challenge” you can think of. Some medals will just be in hard to reach places, requiring some puzzle solving or just simple exploration. Some won’t even be accessible until specific weapons or abilities have been added to your arsenal.
If you see a medal, you better not ignore it.