Team Meat’s Super Meat Boy is easily one of those platformers that has stood the test of time. Since its initial release on Xbox 360 and PC, the game has challenged fans of the genre in every way imaginable, whether it was finding the tough retro levels, or taking on the “new game +” style harder levels that literally dare you to beat them. Even with some changes over the years – namely with the soundtrack, beginning with the PlayStation 4 version – the game has retained every bit of its meaty goodness.
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And the same could be said for the Nintendo Switch edition of Super Meat Boy, which is still a raging delight after all these years, whether you play on the go or in the comfort of your own home. The game is tough, but definitely rewarding for those that stick with it, and its replay value is significant, especially if you’ve been looking for a game that ultimately tests your platforming skills. Boy, does it.
The game revolves around our meaty hero as he attempts to battle the world’s most diabolical fetus (no, seriously), as he kidnaps Super Meat Boy‘s girlfriend (Meat Girl?) and holds her captive as our hero ventures through a world filled with all sorts of hazards – including a record number of buzzsaws. How does a fetus afford all this? Credit line? ACME discount? Hey, who knows?
Super Meat Boy leans on two simple mechanics – jumping and holding down the button for speed. This is incredibly helpful, especially as you try to clear near-impossible jumps or rebounding off walls without biting the dust. Granted, you will – in fact, one of the game’s greatest features is a level replay that shows you all the times you killed your beloved meaty hero. It’s pretty hilarious actually.
I love the boss battles, too. They require you to follow a particular rhythm in order to survive, all without having to actually attack them. They get tougher as time goes on, but that’s expected – and finishing off these foes is truly satisfying.
The gameplay is very responsive, and works without fail on the Switch. If you do mess up, that’s probably on you, though many of the levels require some good knowledge in order to avoid traps and/or hazards. It also feels great with either the JoyCon set-up or the Pro Controller, so don’t fret about your options.
Along with the main game – which will take you a great deal of time to plow through, especially once you unlock the tougher levels and chase after the hidden band-aids – there’s also a two-player race mode, where you can try to complete levels before your friend does. It seems gimmicky at first, but it prolongs the game’s value, and makes for some interesting speedruns in the future. Can you imagine people challenging one another on Twitch? We sure can.
The presentation doesn’t go miles above previous versions of the game. Super Meat Boy still looks about the same, but the outstanding level design and fun visuals are still intact. Again, the new soundtrack is here, instead of the original Xbox 360 version, but it’s not bad. Just be prepared for the fact that Team Meat wasn’t able to complete it.
We’ve got Super Meat Boy Forever coming up later this year, so if it’s something new you’re after, you can probably hold off until that game rolls around. But, if you need another great platformer for your Switch collection – or you just want to see how you fare against a friend in a two-player competition – then Super Meat Boy is worth the purchase. This meat remains surprisingly fresh.
WWG’s Score: Four out of five.
Disclaimer: A review code was provided by the publisher.
