Super Meat Boy

Platform games have always gotten away with a rather bare bones narrative. Whether it be a moustachioed plumber or a wacky bandicoot, the developers have always emphasised style and fun above telling a story. It’s a decision that often pays dividends, pushing players in the right direction and allowing them to enjoy the self-contained levels and stages with no need for exposition or complexity. Well, platform games are at a premium these days but Super Meat Boy was a revolution in 2010, giving fans another damsel in distress to hunt down Princess Peach style.

This game plays rather like other 2D platforming adventures such as Super Mario Bros., Celeste, Shovel Knight, Sonic Mania or the MegaMan series to name a few. This game is one of the most difficult yet rewarding experiences of the modern gaming era. However, does it stand the test of time and still offer a fun platforming adventure. We find out in our review of Super Meat Boy.

Plenty of Meat on the Bone

So let’s address the elephant in the room. This game is very difficult. The game eases the player in with easy tutorial levels, allowing you to come to grips with the core mechanics. However, by the climax of the first stage, the player will have to master each mechanic, hit very precise jumps and slides and even then, you still might not make it through. It’s a game that will test you thoroughly, relies on precsion and twitch reactions and puts all it’s assets into gameplay. A decision that makes this game a joy to behold.

Sure, this game might be frustrating and yes, for many players, you will simply hit a wall and most players will not see the end of this journey. However, that is ok because its about getting gradually better with each try. The game allows you to use ghosts of past failures to guide you through levels, the load times are non-existent, allowing for seamless restarts and overall, the game is fun and addictive thanks to the super tight controls.

We also have to commend the overall aesthetic of this game. While the blocky cartoon style isn’t exactly groundbreaking, the art is unique and does a fine job of giving this game its own undisputed signature look. Plus, the audio and heavy tunes add to the intensity of the entire affair, making for a gripping, high octane experience.

The Verdict

It is incredibly hard to make a successful platform game in this modern age of gaming. Especially with so many expansive open worlds and immersive, photo realistic levels to explore. However, Super Meat Boy manages this and does so through offering some of the best arcade platforming gaming has ever seen. The gameplay is difficult but a joy to behold.

Pros:

• Incredibly tight controls
• Great visuals, animations and audio
• A wide variety of levels and stages

Cons:

• An immensely challenging game that may put off a few