Super Meat Boy | Review

Developer: Team Meat

Publisher: Team Meat
Reviewed on: PlayStation 4
Available on: PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Wii U, PC, PlayStation Vita
Released: October 20th 2010

Super Meat Boy is a hardcore platformer released in 2010 by an independent developer; Team Meat. It's based on the online Flash game 'Meat Boy' (playable online and on 'The Basement Collection') and is available on most game systems including the Xbox 360, PC and is brand new to the PlayStation 4. I'm reviewing the PS4 version, despite the picture of the PC version's box at the top of this article. The PS4 version doesn't have a physical release so I had to improvise.

Although the same game mechanically, the PS4 version is primarily different because of the new soundtrack. The Xbox 360 and PC versions of the game has a soundtrack created by Danny Baranowsky (which was universally praised) however the new PS4 version of the soundtrack is completely different and was created by many other famous names including Matthias Bossi and Jon Evans (The Binding of Issac), David Scatliffe (Hotline Miami) and Laura Shigihara (Plants vs Zombies). The reason for the strange change in music is because Danny Baranowsky retained the rights to the original soundtrack and didn't allow his music to be used for the PS4 re-release.

It's a little bit odd when first playing through the game (for those who had played Super Meat Boy in it's original form) but the soundtrack, while not as memorable at all, is still good and doesn't detract from the overall experience.

The objective in each level is to get to Bandage Girl. Sounds simple? Not so much when this game ramps up the difficulty.

Besides the level design, one of the most important things about Super Meat Boy is the way it controls. The PS4 controller works very well with the game, it's nice and responsive and I have never felt like any of my many many deaths have been because of the controls. Although having used the Xbox 360 controllers analogue stick for the game in the past, I actually found it much more natural to use the d-pad in the PS4 version. Whether this is because I simply prefer the d-pad for 2D plaformers, or if it's because the analogue stick simply isn't as natural feeling as the Xbox 360's (after-all the game was originally created to be used solely with the Xbox 360 controller). Either way I find the controls to be smooth and responsive.

For those that haven't played Super Meat Boy before, it is a 2D platformer designed to make you die. A lot. The many saws, pits, spikes, missiles, lasers, etc, etc will kill you a lot. However even though this sounds (and can be) frustrating at times, the rewarding feeling you get by completing the level you've been stuck on is worth all the tears in the end.

Speaking of rewarding, the game keeps itself fresh by offering new characters (obtainable by collecting bandages hidden within certain levels or by accessing warp zones which take you to retro inspired areas) and through offering you a harder version of every level in the game (known as the 'dark world' levels) if you can complete the standard levels fast enough to earn an A+ ranking. Visually the game remains interesting throughout, with its different world themes and different visual tones within those themes. One second you can be in a bright yellow level and then move on to a metallic silver level, which keeps you interested and stops you getting bored. The changes in visual style within the worlds are kept from being jarring by having the same visual assets and music within the world. There are nice visual qwerks too such as the trail of blood Meat Boy leaves behind him where-ever he runs that also remains in the level through all your deaths until you've completed it. This means what starts as a clean sparkly level can often end looking like a blood soaked massacre has taken place after all your deaths.

The PS4 version of Super Meat Boy features trophies (some of which are insanely difficult to unlock). All versions of the game also feature cameos from other video game characters all with their unique abilities from their own games. It also feature more subtle references to other classic games such as Super Mario Land, Castlevania and Mega Man.

Being a 2D platformer inspired by games of the 1980s, such as Super Mario Bros, Mega Man, etc. the story is quite minimal. To put it simply, Meat Boy loves Bandage Girl, Bandage Girl is stolen by Dr. Fetus, so Meat Boy needs to rescue Bandage Girl from Dr. Fetus. It's your standard Mario/Peach scenario. As with games of that era, the minimal story doesn't at all affect the game because it's not about the story. It's about jumping around trying not to die.

However, one slight problem I have with Super Meat Boy is that the bosses are a little boring and aren't memorable at all. Most of the bosses are basically just standard levels you need to complete quickly and the bosses that aren't standard levels rely on you simply memorising a pattern, dying a lot in the process. The boss music also glitched on the PS4 version, and simply stopped working after the first boss. However, I imagine this will be patched very soon and because the boss levels are fairly short anyway, this didn't really bother me. Another little problem, is why don't the bosses have dark world versions? Only the last boss has a dark world version (which is unlocked by completing a certain number of dark world levels). But really, it isn't the bosses that make this game great. It's the standard get from point A to point B levels which are where this game shines.

The level design is fantastic, starting fairly easy with not too many traps and obstacles in Meat Boy's way, but after learning the ropes, suddenly the game starts to throw new obstacles at you, you then learn how to beat those and it throws even more at you, gradually building up in this fashion until you get better and better at the game and can go back to the start of the game to get all those bandages you missed or to get A+ ranks you missed and you realise you've gotten a lot better at the game since first starting. It's this sense of progression and legitimately becoming more skilled at the game that keeps you coming back.

As the game progresses, the levels get longer and a lot more difficult meaning that every death means you need to get past all the traps from the start of the level. However, this means you will get better at the game and is all the more rewarding once you get past that tricky level.

One other slight problem I have, is that the game is quite short. Yes there is a clear emphasis on replaying the game to fully complete it, the basic part of the game only has around 100 levels (not including warp zones, secret worlds or dark worlds) and when most levels can be completed very very quickly if you are skilled at platformers the game can be over before it really feels like it's begun. However this isn't too much of a problem because of all of the extra levels. If anything it's a good thing that I'm disappointed there isn't more because it means I enjoyed what is there.

So there we have it, Super Meat Boy, a game released in 2010 and just re-released for the new generation of consoles (for PS4) in 2015. It still is as good as it was back then even if the change of music is slightly disappointing (because the original soundtrack was fantastic and did have some really catchy tunes). But even then the new soundtrack is by no means bad, and everything else is the same as it once was. If you are a fan of platformers, or hard games in general, definitely pick this up. But if you are frustrated easily and don't like hard games or platformers, I don't think this is for you!

7/10

Pros

- Visually good, varied, has lots of little details and is not dull by any means
- Controls perfectly with either an Xbox 360 controller or PS4 controller
- Level design is rewarding and keeps you challenged throughout
- Hidden collectibles, levels and characters keep you playing even after the main game is over

Cons:

- Boss levels leave a lot to be desired

- A little bit short if you have played it before or are good at platformers

- New soundtrack isn't as good as the original, but doesn't detract from the overall experience

- Very slightly glitchy with the music (but this will most likely be fixed with a patch)