Platform games are a dime a dozen, with an endless list of titles to play, making any new entry into the scene a dangerous one, given the depth of competition. However, Super Meat Boy 3D stands out above a lot of its competitors.
The franchise took a bold step by moving to a 3D model in the latest title, having enjoyed success with the original Super Meat Boy and Super Meat Boy Forever. But it’s a risk that certainly paid off, with the gory details making every trap and level deadlier than ever.
Super Meat Boy 3D is equally addicting and infuriating, resulting in me swearing like a sailor, yet I was unable to tear myself away as I watched Meat Boy sliced, diced, and suffer repeated deaths while I worked tirelessly to finally overcome each level.
Muscle Memory’s Heavyweight Boxer Workout
Before we begin, here’s an honest and frank (and hard to admit) admission: I’m not very good at Super Meat Boy 3D.
The lack of checkpoints in levels frazzled my incapable mind, yet none of this took away from the enjoyment of the game. In fact, it actually made it better, increasing the sense of accomplishment for every level I ticked off, and I’m telling you this because it’s relatable—this is a hard game that most of you will struggle with.
And that’s the point.
Much like its predecessors, Super Meat Boy 3D thrives on being impossible on the surface. The fast-paced gameplay and precise controls are easy to comprehend, yet difficult to master, and the high level of difficulty may appear off-putting. Yet, it’s balanced perfectly in a way that lures you in for another go, and another, and another, and…oh look, it’s 4 AM.
Despite my struggles, I never wanted to throw in the towel. I repeated ‘just one more attempt’ in my head like a parrot with a stutter, constantly trying again and again to get it right. Then, finally, success. Sure, the timing screen showed I had a long way to go to master the level and boast an A+ rating, but I was through and onto the next, where the process repeated itself.
Eventually, you’ll get to a boss battle, where your muscle memory is put to a workout that would leave a heavyweight boxer sweating. The patterns need to be memorized perfectly, and one slip puts you right back to square one. Eventually, you’ll get through, and the reward is a fresh batch of hellish levels trickier than the last.
The difficulty of each level largely depends on how you can handle each mechanic, with wall-running, jumping, boosting, and all the other tricks Meat Boy has up his sleeve put to the test. In terms of traps, you’ll be dodging projectile saw blades, fire, explosions, and more.
Along the way, the goal is very simple: rescue your girlfriend, Bandage Girl, from Dr. Fetus. Largely, this plot goes along in the background without too much emphasis, only showing Dr. Fetus stopping you from reaching her at the end of each level. It didn’t take me long to want to skip every cutscene, to be honest, as the story is far from important and takes precious time from me that could be better spent watching my next death animation.
Sensory Overload
Throughout every failure and success is a fast-paced soundtrack, upping the ante and raising your heartbeat on every level. While this adds to the experience, it can be detrimental at times, and I couldn’t stomach long playing sessions. I had to take it step-by-step to cope with the overload on my senses, which countered the game’s addictive nature.
The high-stress music is like being put in charge of a group of toddlers after they’ve had free rein at a sweet shop, leaving you to deal with the sugar rush and inevitable crash. Sometimes, it’s too much to take in.
For those familiar with the franchise and who hold it dearly, this won’t be an issue. However, for anyone else who wants to try it out for the first time, it can be incredibly jarring.
The same can be said for the difficulty curve. It takes a good chunk of grinding through the levels to realise that this game is proud of being difficult, which forces you to embrace it. Without putting that time in, it’s easy to turn away from the game entirely.
Again, this is nothing new for fans of the franchise, but for those venturing in for the first time, potentially through a Game Pass subscription, it may provide a sticking point.
3D provides a welcome new depth to the franchise, though, providing more variety in the levels and obstacles you need to overcome, and helps to bring the franchise into the modern era of gaming.
Split Personality
All in all, Super Meat Boy 3D is exactly what you’d expect from the title, and fans of the franchise will likely quickly fall in love. While it’s certainly better than the last entry in the series, Super Meat Boy Forever, it doesn’t quite capture the attention as much as the debut title.
And, while I have enjoyed every second I’ve played with the game, the overbearing nature on the senses is too much to stomach for long periods, which seems counterintuitive to a title that is geared towards trying again and again until you finally find the breakthrough.
This has proven to be a stumbling block for me, as I desperately want to extend my play sessions to push for A+ time rankings, unlock new levels, and digest more of the game, and while it’s not always for me, it might be your perfect nightmare.
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For more Insider Gaming reviews, take a look at our verdict on Crimson Desert and Solateria.
Super Meat Boy 3D
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