Throw Yourself in the Grinder- Super Meat Boy Review

It may not be mere coincidence that recent Xbox Live Arcade release, Super Meat Boy shares an acronym with the world’s most renown platformer. Both Team Meat’s and Miyamoto’s creations share a handful of similar elements- from a impetus driven by a kidnapped (and elusive) girl, warp zones, diverse environments cunningly crafted from only a handful of hazards, to jumping physics which allow for pixel-perfect precision. Yet, Meat Boy is no mere Mario wannabe- from a masochistic difficulty, a charming absurdist sense of humor, and a handful of unlockable characters, the title forgoes its own confident vibe. Like the famous Koopa-stomping franchise, Super Meat Boy is a must-play title for platforming enthusiasts.

Two components are fundamental to the title’s success- a spot-on control scheme and skillful stage design. At first, Super Meat Boy‘s control seam woefully appreciated: player can run and jump. Further inspection reveals a number of surprising nuances- from controlling the distance and elevation of each leap by holding down the jump button for different durations to being to bounding between two vertical walls. Whereas some games in the platforming genre offer little control for hurdling heroes, the title permits players to modify the trajectory of their vault, and even change directions mid-air. Fans of 2008’s N+, will undoubtedly realize notice the inspiration, although the agile ninja never left of telltale trail of crimson blood, like Meat Boy‘s cubed protagonists does.

Each of the game’s 350+ levels seem to favor the abilities of a specific character. While Meat Boy has the ability to navigate through each stages murderous buzzsaws, salt mounds and crumbling bricks, some designs surely favor one of the game’s supporting cast members. With a roster that spans the indie platforming realm- players can direct The Bit.Trip series’ Commander Video, Braid‘s Tim, Castle Crasher‘s pink knight or even the vicious extra-terrestrial from Alien Hominid. Each cameo character has its own unique control method; for example Bit.Trip‘s star has the capacity for extended horizontal  leaps (ala Princess Peach) which offers the ability to reach inaccessible plateaus. 

Completing a stage within a specified time frame unlocks it within the dark world. Here, players will find some of the toughest challenges  presented to gamers, rivaling the outlandish intensity of adversity found in the last levels of Trials HD. Players without lightning-fast reflexes may still marvel in Super Meat Boy‘s bonus levels, which captivatingly contextualizes the title to retro eras.  Playing levels in a faux Gameboy palette or which recall the scan lines of a 2600 game is certain to charm the title’s veteran players. 

Once player’s gather twenty bandages- the game’s obligatory collectable, they’ll unlock ‘teh internets’, which permits gamers to download new stages from the developer. Although this a  great bonus, with twenty additional levels currently available for players, I would have liked to see Team Meat borrow a page from Little Big Planet‘s playbook and offer gamers the ability to create and share their own custom creations. While the forthcoming PC and Mac iterations of Super Meat Boy are purported to receive this functionality, console gamers get the snub.

Players with a elevated threshold for frustration are highly encouraged to give Super Meat Boy an extended  trial. Although the game masks its sadistic disposition with a gentle learning curve and the ability to retry each level indefinitely, make no mistake- the title will vex the most hardened gamer. Yet, before the aggravation commences, Super Meat Boy has already got his hooks into you- preparing to grind ‘seasoned’ gamers into hamburger. Well played, Team Meat.