Super Meat Boy has been around the block. Developed by Team Meat and designed by Edmund McMillen (one of the creators of the original Flash game, Meat Boy, and designer for another well-known indie title, The Binding of Isaac) and Tommy Refenes, this is the latest in the countless ports of the original game. Originally released on Xbox Live Arcade for the Xbox 360 in 2010, Super Meat Boy has finally seen it's Nintendo debut with the Wii U. Forgotten fact: Super Meat Boy was actually originally set to be released for the Wii via the WiiWare service alongside its Xbox 360 début, but unfortunately was scrapped due to limitations of the service and console. Better late than never for us Nintendo fans, right?
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Super Meat Boy (though you'd be hard pressed to find a gamer that is oblivious to this indie game powerhouse), it's a single-player precision platformer. Think 8-bit or 16-bit platformers. Do you remember how difficult they were? Great, now turn that all the way up to 11! Like a typical platformer, you're presented with a unique stage with multiple obstacles that you can jump and slide your way through. Spinning blades, endless pits, spikes, needles - everything is out to end you, and one small touch will send you back to the beginning. The objective of each level is to guide Meat Boy through the dangerous paths to save Bandage Girl, who has been kidnapped by the evil Dr. Fetus.
The game offers up the perfect nostalgic feeling. Not only is the gameplay reminiscent of old play styles, the intros to each world (and secret levels within the world) are based off of old consoles and games. Just in the first world alone you'll see Super Nintendo and Game Boy based screens and aesthetics to the secret levels. With a title like Super Meat Boy (and the initials of SMB), how could you not include nods back to some of the greatest consoles and titles that ever were?
Controls are tight and unforgiving. Often you'll find yourself repeating the same mistake over and over until you can finally nail that precise timing on a jump or a wall slide. We found that playing with the Wii U Pro Controller was a much more responsive experience over the GamePad for tackling this challenge. The face buttons on the Pro Controller are tighter together, giving you that extra split-second while rolling your thumb from the run to the jump button. Depending on finger-size and individual preferences, the GamePad could end up being the better option. It's nice that the Wii U has multiple controller options, allowing the player to find the perfect experience for themselves; with a game as demanding as Super Meat Boy you'll need all the help you can get.
Each world has a specific theme and new obstacles for you to try and manoeuvre around. Then, within each world are hidden portals that can take you to unique levels that can help unlock some of the extra characters. Each character (many from other indie titles) has its own set of pros and cons. Commander Video from the Bit.Trip series has a jump and float mechanic, but he runs much slower than Meat Boy. Ogmo, from the Flash game series Jumper, has the ability to double jump, but the trade-off is that his individual jump height is much lower. There are several other characters to unlock, each that offer a new perspective to all the levels. With an assortment of characters, and a speed timer that determines an A+ grade on completing the level quickly, completionists will surely appreciate the replayability of the game.
Unfortunately, due to the circumstances between Team Meat and Super Meat Boy's original composer Danny Baranowsky (composer for other indie games, such as Canabalt and the original Meat Boy), the Wii U release - as well as the previous port to the PS4 and Vita - has a new soundtrack. However, the new music is composed by a handful of other extremely talented artists. The new musical score team includes Ridiculon (The Binding of Isaac), David "Scattle" Scatliffe (Hotline Miami), and Laura Shigihara (Plants vs. Zombies). Although the tone may feel different, especially for Super Meat Boy veterans, the new score certainly keeps within the overall theme. You may feel that some tracks don't hold up to their old counterparts, but the moment you move on to the next song you may find that you enjoy that one more than the original. The new soundtrack is delightfully catchy and fits the game well.
Although the game is still fantastic, enjoyably difficult and very rewarding, the execution on the Wii U is only a mediocre experience. That's not to say that it takes away from the game at all, because it doesn't, but for a port that has come 6 years after the original release and almost a year after its previous port to the PlayStation 4 and Vita, it doesn't feel like the wait was really necessary. The release feels like an afterthought. No unique GamePad elements, no integration with Miiverse, nothing special to Nintendo or the Wii U (which is disappointing, since Nintendo games and consoles inspired a lot of the graphical elements and game design of the original game). It runs well, though, which is all some will care about.
Conclusion
The Wii U port for Super Meat Boy may not necessarily bring anything new to the table, but it's still an enjoyable experience. The new music is great. The level design is brilliant. The gameplay is difficult, yet satisfying. It's an excellent ode to original platformers, and a nice middle-finger to a lot of games that hold your hand throughout your experience. Super Meat Boy is trial by fire; here's hoping you make it out alive!
Comments 31
I'm not a big fan of frustrating platformers, but if it comes to 3DS I'll be more than tempted. Absolutely LOVE Binding of Isaac, so feel like I should give it another go.
''It runs well, though, which is all some will care about.''
Pretty much, yes. I'll get it pretty soon.
May get ot in a sale some time.
Glad to finally be able to play this one.
And people say Nintendo consoles never get the latest releases!
8/10 for one of the greatest platformers ever? When Nintendo Life's 8/10 is the score for any random mediocre title? What the Hell?
"For those of you who are unfamiliar with Super Meat Boy (though you'd be hard pressed to find a gamer that is oblivious to this indie game powerhouse)" My friends haven't heard of it! And if they did, they would automatically think it's "stupid" because of the name.😔
@Moon 3DS might not be recommended. Trust me, as a owner of the 360 version, this is a game you'll be HUGELY tempted to chuck your 3DS against a wall for failing again and again. XD
@Angelic_Lapras_King lol, you raise a good point there.
No unique GamePad elements, no integration with Miiverse, nothing special to Nintendo or the Wii U.
That with the inclusion of the new not as good soundtrack as the original makes this not a must buy. Thankfully I have the PC version already since years ago.
Still fun to see it finally on the platform where it was supposed to be since the start. A Nintendo home console.
Seems incredible that they did not even add Miiverse to the game, wth?
Great game. Tough but fair. I may double dip when an attractive sale comes around. My 360 version is easily accessible but would want to support this port.
An awesome platformer that is currently best played on PS Vita... Unless it comes to 3DS [with autostereoscopic 3D] of course?!
@xxAcesHighxx Gotta love the PS Vita
Wii u owners have to have at least a laptop right? I love this game, but the new music isn't great, it's standard. Gamepad integration idea: loop slo-mo replay of last death. Just seems like Nintendo fans get treated like they don't have any other options sometimes and will be fine with bare bones ports arriving years after everyone else at a premium price. Would get 3ds version!
I found the keyboard much easier to use than a controller for this game, so I think I'll pass.
Bought it on 360 at release, then snagged it on PS4 when the re-released it for free on PS+ last year. No point in triple-dipping. Glad it's out for those who haven't played it, but this is just too late.
I think it's a bit harsh to not give it those two extra points simply because it doesn't have any new features. I know that it basically means that there's no reason why it was delayed for Wii U, but they probably just focused on other consoles due to their larger user base, with no intention of ever putting new innovations on the Wii U. In my opinion, I think a game should only be marked down for not having interesting gamepad integration if it could have benefitted from it but, tbh, there's nothing that the gamepad could bring to this game that would improve it in any meaningful way. At least, that's my view, I really dislike innovations just for the sake of it.
Nice too play this on a Nintendo platform.
Mutant mud Gabe's are enough frustration for me. I'll think I'll skip meat boy
I have this game on every platform released and even have the physical PC release; yes that good.
...finally, some Meat on the menu...
"Controls are tight and unforgiving." Unforgiving yes, but tight? Heck no. I love masochistic platformers like this but Super Meat Boy is way too slippery and floaty.
1001 Spikes is an example of tight controls where you only have yourself to blame if you mess up.
Still some of the slickest platforming out there, with controls that are easily up there with the best Nintendo 2D platformers.
...shouldn't he be Super Meat MAN by now?..
Nice review and nice score! A pity about the changed soundtrack, though.
Does anyone know if this has Off-TV play?
I saw the part in the review about "no unique gamepad elements" but I wasn't sure if they were talking more about no separate stuff on the gamepad and no touch screen or if the gamepad is literally just blank during the game.
It's always a bonus for me with Wii U games in general if they have Off-TV play.
@KoiTenchi Yup, Off-TV Play is the single greatest "unique GamePad element" that I want in Wii U games.
Also, does the game support Wiimotes and its controller attachments? (I believe I don't even have to ask about Gamecube controllers... )
@KoiTenchi It does - the GamePad screen shows everything your TV screen does while playing.
I think this game has commander video in it.
He's in a lot.
This game is tough reminds me of the good old days when games didn't molly coddle you.
Picked up this game while it's on sale, never played it before, and it's pretty intense, but not as hard as people make believe. I A+'d the first three chapters on normal and dark, but haven't started chapter 4 yet.
There are ultra brutal platformers out there if you wanna go for 100% (Mutant Mudds Super Challenge, Electronic Super Joy, Giana Sisters Twisted Dreams) but this is fair enough. There's no frustration because it doesn't have long extended levels or sections you have to replay over and over again.
However, the game softlocked once in a replay (the music and animations were continuing, but no buttons worked other than the HOME button), and once it couldn't display the replay correctly (my Meat Boy's just standing around).
Anyway, I think it's a funny and well-designed platformer with tight controls. In comparison, Giana Sisters and Mutant Mudds had too exhausting/long levels, and Giana Sisters and Electronic Super Joy had more floaty controls. I haven't played 1001 Spikes as it was never released on the German EU eShop, so Super Meat Boy is probably the best platformer that combines great level design, hard difficulty, and good controls.
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