Do you find games too easy? Do you miss the good old days of gaming? Are you a fan of indie games? Well, Super Meat Boy is here for you!!

The saying “Easy to learn, hard to master” lies at the heart of Super Meat Boy. In a similar vein to Trials HD, you will replay each level countless times, with the frustration well worth it when you finally make it.

Taking notes from platformers of days gone by, the story sees Meat Boy’s girlfriend, Bandage Girl, abducted by Dr. Fetus. The main game has you hunting her down by completing levels, with some parodies along the way, but the heart of Super Meat Boy lies all in the gameplay.

It’s basic platforming at its best. Precise controls while running, jumping and wall hugging ensure that you know what you did wrong when you die, which will happen a lot. Super Meat Boy is not a game for the easily frustrated.

There are PLENTY of levels, over 300 and counting, consisting of the normal levels, remixed harder dark world counterparts and various warp zones. A special mention has to go to “teh internets,” it allows the developers to add new chapters, consisting of 20 levels each, free. These are only accessible while connected to Xbox LIVE and contain no additional achievements, but they are free. There are currently two chapters of 20 levels each available, with a lot more planned.

“teh internets” and a lot of the supporting characters are unlocked by collecting bandages. They are scattered throughout the normal levels, with some right in your path, to brain breaking “WTF” how do I reach that, to some only reachable with a specific character.

The various supporting characters are pulled from indie games and each add a special ability to the mix, be it double jumping, floating or sticking to ceilings. These characters fall into two categories: ones unlocked by collecting bandages and ones unlocked by completing warp zones designed around a specific character. Warp zone characters are different on every platform the game will release on: XBLA, PC (Mac, Windows and Linux versions are planned) and Wii.

As a package Super Meat Boy is a perfect five course meal: lots of levels, collectibles, nostalgia, frustration and elation. Short levels and instant restart keeps that “just one more go” feeling for hours on end. The feeling of accomplishment once you finally beat that 20 sec level after hours of trying can’t be beat, especially when watching the replay that overlays all attempts and seeing masses of Meat Boys whittle down to one.

Thanks to www.discless.co.za for providing this review of Super Meat Boy.

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