Super Meat Boy

Remember all those times parents would get on their kids and yell “Don’t play with your food!” Well those times are behind the older generation of gamers, while the younger might still have to deal with it.

Well thanks to Team Meat (Developers Edmund McMillen and Tommy Refenes); gamers can now do without having to hear a rant from their parents with Super Meat Boy for Xbox Live Arcade, Mac OS X, WiiWare, and Windows.

Let’s get it in!

With a storyline reminiscent of Mario Bros, Super Meat Boy is a piece of meat set on a quest to save his girlfriend Bandage Girl, from the evil Dr. Fetus (a small fetus inside a jar with a body and top hat!). Of course a bloody piece isn’t clean and neither is Meat Boy moving around some 350 levels (no we didn’t play all 350 either) leaving a trail of blood behind him as he jumps over spinning blades and jumping/climbing up walls (avoiding blades as well) all with the objective of saving bandage girl.

Each level changes with considerably and obstacles become changeling, that lead to a boss battle at the end (that varies with the overall objective being staying alive and not get chopped to bits). A certain number of levels does have to be completed in order to get to the boss but are well worth it to get an idea of the creative process that Team Meat had going into the game.

Of course, Super Meat Boy doesn’t just leave gamers to trek through each of the 350 levels; every now and then a warp zone will appear, giving Meat Boy the ability to play a mini game. Completing the mini games 8-bit levels (These levels will also have retro rules applied to them such as a three life limit). Completing a level within a certain time will earn an ‘A+’ grade which unlocks a harder alternate level. Characters from various indie games can be unlocked by collecting bandages hidden in the levels, or entering warp zones featuring retro styled bonus levels.

Additionally 12 unlockable characters appearing from various indie videogames, each with unique abilities are playable. These characters can be unlocked by collecting enough bandages or completing certain warp zones. Some bandages can only be collected by using certain characters.

There are freedoms and restraints depending on what system gamers play Super Meat Boy on. A full level editor was planned but due to new regulations concerning user made content on consoles, only the PC and Mac versions of the game will have this feature, which will be released some time after the PC version. The XBLA version features an unlockable mode called “Teh Internets” which will be freely updated with new levels.

One of the bigger highlights is the replay function, showcasing failed attempts simultaneously. Try attempting to complete a level at least 15 times then finish it, to see the 15 plus Meat Boys failing at all the different points then finally watching the one that successfully makes it to the end.

There’s not much to handling Meat Boy, he simply just jumps and moves. For the few buttons there are, they’re very responsive and never fudge up during gameplay.

Xbox Live games are getting better and better with each year. Yes there are typical XBL games but there are developers who give their IP’s just as much attention as bigger companies working on Triple A titles.

Everything gels cohesively (even the blood trail left from Meat Boy moving about). And that’s what works to Team Meat strength. Not having to worry about super poly textures or anything else leaves for everything to run smoothly and show up crisp on the screen.

With almost complete replay value depending on what system gamers play on, not to mention 350 levels to complete to save Bandage girl from Doctor Fetus. Super Meat Boy was pulled off beautifully and is worth getting on whatever system gamers choose. Now gamers still living with their parents can play with food, just not in front of their faces.

Great job Team Meat, can’t wait for what you guys have in store for us next.