Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2010/11/19/games_review_super_meat_boy/
Super Meat Boy
Play for high steaks
Posted in Personal Tech, 19th November 2010 14:00 GMT
Review While hitting the sack early with my girlfriend has it's appeal, I've recently preferred to stay up late in the living room playing with my meat. By that I mean, of course, bashing away on the Xbox at Super Meat Boy, a simple platformer I've been unable to put down.
2D games have made a comeback recently and some real gems can be found within Xbox Live's compelling range of arcade games. But while titles like Braid, 'Sploison Man, Limbo and Comic Jumper, are all riveting experiences, Super Meat Boy steps in and tops the lot.
Meat in the forest
Some may remember the original Meat Boy, a Flash game released in 2008 that laid the foundations, much to the same degree that Mario Bros did for Nintendo's successful follow up. Super Meat Boy bears a likeness to Super Mario Bros in more ways than just its initials too. The familiar idea in SMB is to rescue the damsel in distress who waits helplessly at the end of each level, only to be whisked away upon your arrival. In this case, it's the love of Meat Boy's life, Bandage Girl, imprisoned by his nemesis, Dr. Fetus, a tuxedo wearing, monocle bearing evil unborn baby. And you thought Mario was on shrooms!
The bizarre storyline is told through a heap of wacky cut-scenes - often direct imitations of moments in classic titles. Packed with pop-culture references, SMB certainly strikes a chord and Danny Baranowsky's fantastic soundtrack, a collection of 8-bit inspired melodies, prescribes a huge dose of nostalgia from the days of chiptune music.
"Hands off my Bandage girl, Fetus features!"
Essentially put together by just two guys, Edmund McMillen and Tommy Refenes - aka Team Meat - SMB takes us back to a time when graphics weren't that great, controls were limited to just a few buttons and gameplay ruled supreme. Tolstoy once said: "There is no greatness where there is not simplicity," and it doesn't get much simpler, or greater than this.
What's the beef?
Super Meat Boy is a cube of meat, apparently a boy with no skin, who runs, jumps and bounces off walls. There are no powerups, no health bar and no game overs - if you hit a hazard you die and restart the level. These levels gradually increase in difficulty until they border on what initially appears impossible. However, after meaty perseverance you scrape through with relief and much satisfaction.
Hit the road, splat
Each level is so short there's no need for checkpoints and despite the fact you may die over a hundred times in the process, the game remains enjoyable. In the same sense as Trials or N+, you master each step gradually and as soon as precision skills are up to scratch, end up completing the level in minimal time. This accuracy improves so much, I found myself whizzing through levels I once thought impossible in super fast times and unlocking the "darkworld" version. These are harder variants that add at least another three hundred f-word outbursts before completion.
While from outside the room, I may sound like I suffer from Tourettes, the constant failure and frustration is by no means a turnoff. The concentration nausea does kick in eventually, but after a short break I was gagging to play again. The quickfire repetition of joypad movement can cause much thumb ache, so although SMB is a one-player game, taking turns with a friend is an enjoyable and often much-needed experience.
Super minced Meat
By the time you've completed a level, every wall will be covered with red gloop and a replay is shown, which while centred around the successful attempt, simultaneously features every failed run too. Dozens of Meat Boys dying in the space of half a minute is pretty cool to witness.
Pleased to meat you
Meat Boy isn't alone in this adventure and there's a handful of familiar characters you can unlock through easy-to-miss secret zones and collectable bandages scattered throughout. These characters have traits that come in handy and you'll probably recognise many of them from other indie games. These include Tim from Braid, who is able to rewind time, and Commander Video from Bit.Trip, who can hover midair. While these characters are awesome in their own right, nobody is as good as Super Meat Boy himself whom I found myself using 90 per cent of the time. 2D platformers have a new Don - Mario is a vegetable in comparison.
Testing your cognitive powers
The game also includes warp zones, which are tricky to reach but when you do: the visuals shift into a blocky 8-bit NES style, a tribute to all of the classic games that SMB draws influence from.
I may have completed the story mode, but clocking the entire game is a challenge I'll continue with into the new year. Whether or not I manage it is another thing altogether - these darkworld levels are next to impossible. Then again, I said that about many of the regular ones.
Bit nostalgic
SMB is due out on Mac and PC this month which will eventually feature a downloadable level editor as well as alternative unlockable characters. However, if you're after it on the Xbox 360, buy it quick as it's currently on sale for just 800 Microsoft Points and will increase to 1200 this coming Sunday (21 November).
Verdict
Super Meat Boy relies on its flawless dynamics and precise control abilities, which Team Meat has tinkered perfectly. The balance of difficulty is superb and with over 300 levels to keep you busy, Super Meat Boy is one of the best value for money games I've ever played. Although frustrating at times, it's an addictive and gripping adventure and definitely one of the stand-out games of the year. ®
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