Super Meat Boy

Overview

Super Meat Boy is a 2D platformer developed and published digitally by Team Meat for the Xbox 360 (on October 20, 2010) and PC (via Steam on November 30, 2010). The Steam version was later expanded for both Mac (on November 18, 2011) and Linux (on November 5, 2013) support. It was later ported by BlitWorks and released digitally for the PlayStation 4 (on October 6, 2015), PlayStation Vita (on October 6, 2015), Wii U (on May 12, 2016), Android devices (on April 13, 2016), and Nintendo Switch (on January 11, 2018).

It follows the titular Meat Boy, a "boy without skin," as he attempts to rescue his girlfriend Bandage Girl from the menacing Dr. Fetus while avoiding a variety of deadly obstacles (most commonly sawblades, missiles, and laser beams). The game is known for its tricky "trial and error" gameplay, where players must use precise controls and an infinite amount of lives (with quick restarts) to clear each short level (filled with platforming puzzles of increasing difficulty) as fast as they can.

Similar to some other indie games (such as The Behemoth's Alien Hominid), the concept for Super Meat Boy began as a free online game made in Adobe Flash for the entertainment site Newgrounds. This game, originally called Meat Boy, was released on October 5, 2008. Super Meat Boy references other games and videos from the Newgrounds community, as well as the indie game scene at large at the time (including N, Aquaria, VVVVVV, I Wanna Be The Guy, and Braid). The game's development process was featured in the 2012 documentary Indie Game: The Movie.

Both XBLA and Steam versions include different platform-exclusive characters and features (such as avatar awards and free level packs for the XBLA version and a level editor and more achievements for the Steam version). Due to licensing issues between musician Danny Baranowsky and Team Meat, the BlitWorks ports feature a brand new soundtrack featuring Ridiculon (of The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth fame), David Scatliffe (of Hotline Miami fame), and Laura Shigihara (of Plants vs. Zombies fame). This soundtrack was later introduced on the Steam version on April 13, 2017.

While the game was primarily released in digital format, the PC version received a limited-edition retail release (titled Super Meat Boy: Ultra Edition), featuring an art booklet, mini-poster, and digital soundtrack.

Along with the its spiritual sequel The End is Nigh, the game will receive a full-fledged sequel in 2018 (titled Super Meat Boy Forever) featuring randomly-generated levels.

Gameplay

The objective of Super Meat Boy is to guide Meat Boy (or one of the other playable characters) past deadly obstacles to reach Bandage Girl, who will be promptly kidnapped by Dr. Fetus. Navigation of these obstacles requires extremely precise timing to pass. Failure means instant death and a quick restart from the beginning of the level. The player is given an infinite amount of lives and near-instantaneous respawns, but Meat Boy leaves a trail of blood to mark where he has been and what obstacles previously killed him. When a regular level is completed, a replay showcases every attempt within the level simultaneously.

Characters have two abilities at their disposal: a jump button and an ability button. For Meat Boy (and most other characters), pressing the ability button engages sprinting. Some characters sprint automatically and replace the ability button with another power, such as Tim's ability to rewind time or Viridian's ability to inverse his own personal gravity. To keep the difficulty in check, the game features extremely precise controls. Quickly tapping the jump button performs a small hop, while holding down the jump button performs a tall leap. Players can also stick to the wall (which may either slow their descent or slightly continue their ascent) and press the jump button again for a wall jump. Some unlockable characters have special jumping abilities, such as the Kid's ability to double jump and Jill's ability to stall her descent.

Over the course of the game, new mechanics are introduced and obstacles become more complex. These include rising tides of lava, portals, magnetic fields, fans, lava rocks, and eventually enemies that hunt down the player character. All obstacles will result in instantaneous death upon contact. The "bosses" are equally indestructible; instead of actually fighting them, these levels require players to navigate difficult puzzles under time restraints until a cutscene is triggered.

Players can also collect bandages scattered around certain levels to unlock characters and certain levels. In order for the player to keep Bandages, they must collect them and successfully reach the exit in one attempt. Some bandages require specific characters and all are difficult to collect, especially in the purple Warp Zones, where players must not only collect the Bandage, but clear each of the three levels with a limited number of lives.

Levels

Super Meat Boy features five main worlds, each with forty regular levels. The initial twenty levels are referred to as the "Light World". If the player is able to clear a Light World level under its par time, they will be able to access the "Dark World" counterpart (which shares the same basic geometry, but has a different appearance and increased difficulty). Each Light World version of the five main worlds also include a boss level, which must be completed in order to progress to the next world. Boss levels are unlocked after the player beats 17 out of the 20 Light World levels.

Along the way, players can also find purple Warp Zones within certain levels. These portals vanish after a set period of time during the level attempt, though reaching these portals makes the Warp Zone available in the level selection screen. Entering a Warp Zone will transport Meat Boy (regardless of which character reaches the warp zone) to a retro-themed zone which is notably difficult. Each zone comes with three levels that must be completed consecutively with a special version of Meat Boy. Bandages are found within these warp zones, but the player will only have three attempts per level to collect them and clear the Warp Zone. If Meat Boy dies during the final attempt at any level, all bandages found during the Warp Zone attempt will be reset, and the player will be kicked back to the level selection screen. Replays and par times are unavailable for Warp Zones.

Red Warp Zones function similarly to purple Warp Zones but are played instead with a secret character. There are no bandages in red warp zones but there are also unlimited lives. There are only five red warp zones, one in each of the main Light Worlds. Each main world also has a special "glitch zone", reached by getting to Bandage Girl while she is in a randomly occurring "glitch state". Glitch zones feature no bandages and only one level, which is typically longer and more difficult than any of the world's Warp Zones.

Chapter 1: The Forest

Intro Cutscene Tribute: Street Fighter II: The World Warrior

Boss: Lil' Slugger (giant walking chainsaw driven by Dr. Fetus)

The Forest introduces buzzsaws, static sawblade launchers, and impassable tiles that crumble away soon after the player touches it.

Chapter 2: The Hospital

Intro Cutscene Tribute: Castlevania

Boss: C.H.A.D. (mutated living abomination of blood and tissue)

The Hospital introduces fans, crawling slimes that stick to surfaces, floating enemies that bounce around aimlessly, piles of deadly needles, keys that unlock certain tiles, and timed laser beams.

Chapter 3: The Salt Factory

Intro Cutscene Tribute: The Adventures of Lolo

Boss: Brownie

The Salt Factory introduces harmful salt, homing missile launchers, moving platforms, tiles that only crumble away after coming in to contact with a missile, and high-speed conveyor belts.

Chapter 4: Hell

Intro Cutscene Tribute: Ninja Gaiden

Boss: Little Horn (monster made of Meat Boy corpses)

Hell introduces lava pits (that sometimes rise), moving lava rocks, portals, rotating eyes that slowly lock on to the player while shooting laser beams, and demon homing missiles that split in to separate small missiles on impact.

Chapter 5: Rapture

Intro Cutscene Tribute: Mega Man 2

Boss: Larrie's Lament (a group of enormous carnivorous worms)

Rapture introduces orbs that repulse the player, abominations (both running and flying) that head towards the player, and homing sawblade launchers.

Chapter 6: The End

Intro Cutscene Tribute: Pokémon Red/Blue

Boss: Dr. Fetus

Unlocked after completing Chapter 5, The End includes five regular levels (with both Light World and Dark World variations) that can only be played by Meat Boy and are designed to test the player's mastery of previous concepts. After completing all five levels, the player can face Dr. Fetus in a boss level. The boss level is divided in to two parts, featuring a halfway checkpoint and a Dark World variant unlocked after completing 85 Dark World levels.

Chapter 7: Cotton Alley

Intro Cutscene Tribute: Ghosts 'N Goblins

Unlocked after completing Chapter 6, Cotton Alley is a special 40-level world that can only be played by Bandage Girl (who is, ironically, rescuing Meat Boy from Dr. Fetus). Despite the pink and cheery atmosphere, the levels are extremely difficult. There are no bandages in this world; the obstacles are mainly limited to giant buzzsaws.

Downloadable Chapters

Intro Cutscene Tribute: Bubble Bobble

After collecting 20 Bandages, a bonus chapter (known as "TEH INTERNETS" in the Xbox 360 version and "Super Meat World" in the PC, Mac, and Linux versions) is unlocked that provides free downloadable chapters. This feature is not included in the PlayStation Network version.

Each downloadable chapter can contain up to 20 levels (with both par times and separate leaderboards) and an option to restrict the character chosen. While the "Super Meat World" version is populated by user-generated maps, the "TEH INTERNETS" version is developer-curated only.

Due to a problem with the map-uploading system, users cannot add any chapters to the PC, Mac, and Linux versions.

Playable Characters

Each version of the game comes with around twelve unique playable characters to choose from, half of them being platform-exclusive characters. They can either be unlocked by collecting bandages, reaching certain Warp Zones, or entering secret cheat codes in the character selection screen.

Each character has his/her own unique abilities that differentiate them from Meat Boy, such as the ability to double jump, perform unique jumps, or act differently around map tiles.

Boss fights, standard warp zones, and Chapter 6 can only be played as Meat Boy. Chapter 7 can only be played as Bandage Girl. Warp Zones that unlock new characters can only be played as their respective characters.

Standard Characters

Meat Boy

• Available by default. Made of meat. Heroic by nature.
• Also unlockable in 8-bit form (40 bandages), 4-color form (60 bandages), and 4-bit form (80 bandages).
• Achieving 106% completion unlocks Meat Ninja, who sacrifices the ability to be ranked on the leaderboards for the power to temporarily teleport out of existence right before he dies.
• The Steam version has a secret re-skin of Meat Boy (named Potato Boy) that is only used for one downloadable chapter (tying into a Steam promotion for Portal 2).
• The default character, he is the fastest in the game with the most pinpoint control.

Bandage Girl

• Only playable in Chapter 7. Made of bandages. Only has eyes for Meat Boy.
• Bandage Girl plays exactly like Meat Boy, only swapping his red blood trail for a pink trail of calamine lotion.
• Known as "Band-Aid Girl" in the original Meat Boy Flash game. Her name was changed to avoid copyright issues.

Brownie

• Only playable via cheat code after completing Chapter 3. Made of feces and corn. One of Dr. Fetus's evil creations.
• Brownie plays exactly like Meat Boy, only swapping his red blood trail for a brown fecal trail.
• On the character select screen, quickly enter RB, RB, RB, B, B, B, X (when using the Xbox 360 controller), then choose any character.

Commander Video

• Cameo from the Bit.Trip series. 8-bit rainbow runner.
• Unlockable in the chapter 1-12 Warp Zone.
• Although the Commander is the slowest character in the game, he has the ability to stop his fall and float horizontally in mid-air for a limited amount of time by holding down the jump button.

Jill

• Cameo from Mighty Jill Off. Masochistic lesbian shoe fetishist who will do anything to please the Queen.
• Unlockable in the chapter 2-8 Warp Zone.
• By pressing the jump button multiple times, Jill can slow her descent.

Ogmo

• Cameo from the Jumper series. Failed experiment longing for freedom.
• Unlockable in the chapter 3-16 Warp Zone.
• Ogmo has the ability to double-jump horizontally, despite his weak wall jumping.
• Resemblance to Meat Boy coincidental.

Flywrench

• Cameo from Flywrench. Abstract wing-flapping spacecraft.
• Unlockable in the chapter 4-18 Warp Zone.
• Flywrench is very heavy and very unruly, but has a strong triple-jump and can slide up walls with a very thin frame.

The Kid

• Cameo from I Wanna Be The Guy. He wants to be The Guy.
• Unlockable in the chapter 5-7 Warp Zone.
• Sacrifices speed and jump height for the ability to double jump.

Alien Hominid

• Cameo from Alien Hominid. Fragile alien invader; friend to children, enemy to the government, connoisseur of heads.
• Unlockable by collecting 30 Bandages. Formerly exclusive to the Xbox 360 version.
• Pressing the run/action button while jumping allows the Alien Hominid to fire his gun downwards, slowing his falling speed slightly or increasing his jump height and wall-climbing speed.

Tim

• Cameo from Braid. Gentlemanly sort, seeks to rescue the princess. Has that time-rewinding potion.
• Unlockable by collecting 50 Bandages (Console versions only). Playable in the Steam version by inputting "outtatime" in the character selection screen, then picking any character.
• Holding the run/action button rewinds Tim's position for up to three seconds and doubles as an invincible force field. Unlike in Braid, this cannot be used directly after dying.
• To play as Tim on PC, type "outtatime" on the character select screen and select a character.

Console-Exclusive Characters

Gish

• Cameo from Gish. Sentient glob of tar; seeks to rescue his human girlfriend.
• Unlockable by collecting 10 Bandages.
• Just like the Headcrab and Goo Ball, Gish is able to stick to walls (by holding down the run/action button) and slide along ceilings (by holding both run/action and jump buttons down).

Spelunky

• Cameo from Spelunky. Adventurer by trade. Never-ending cave explorer.
• Unlockable by collecting 70 Bandages.
• Pressing the jump button while in the air causes an explosion, propelling Spelunky horizontally in a chosen direction. Then, while still in mid-air, pressing the jump button again causes another explosion, propelling Spelunky downward.

The Pink Knight

• Cameo from Castle Crashers. Heroic knight with a sweet tooth.
• Unlockable by collecting 90 Bandages.
• While fairly weak in speed and jumping ability, pressing the jump button in the air causes the Pink Knight to flail his arms ("flutter jumping"), granting him extra height and distance based on the point during the jump it is used. He can also jump in mid-air if he runs over the edge.

N

• Cameo from the N series. Skilled ninja. Very fast. Limited lifespan.
• Unlockable by collecting 100 Bandages.
• N is much lighter than the other characters, allowing precision air control. Pressing and holding the run/action button will cause N to start sprinting for two seconds, greatly increasing his run speed and potential jumping distance.

PC-Exclusive Characters

Headcrab

• Cameo from the Half-Life series. Alien parasite. Seeks heads; create zombies.
• Unlockable only in the Steam version by collecting 10 Bandages.
• Just like Gish and the Goo Ball, the Headcrab can stick to walls (by holding down the run/action button) and slide along ceilings (by holding both run/action and jump buttons down).

Goo Ball

• Cameo from World of Goo. Incredibly unintelligent blobs of goo; like to become structures.
• Unlockable only in the DRM-free version by collecting 10 Bandages. Playable in the Steam version by inputting "ballgoo" in the character selection screen, then picking any character.
• Just like Gish and the Headcrab, the Goo Ball can stick to walls (by holding down the run/action button) and slide along ceilings (by holding both run/action and jump buttons down).

Josef

• Cameo from Machinarium. Confused for trash, wants to find his way home.
• Unlockable by collecting 30 Bandages.
• Josef has the ability to perform a helicopter spin, which increases his jump height, or jump in mid-air should he run off an edge.

Naija

• Cameo from Aquaria. Lone mermaid seeking the history of her lost people.
• Unlockable by collecting 50 Bandages.
• Naija has the ability to transform into her Energy Form and fling herself at high speed through the air.

RunMan

• Cameo from RunMan: Race Around the World. Amazingly enthusiastic, nothing can keep him down.
• Unlockable by collecting 70 Bandages.
• Runman can use his signature Star Dive to hurl himself long distances horizontally very quickly.

Captain Viridian

• Cameo from VVVVVV. Gravity-defying. Courageous. Cyan.
• Unlockable by collecting 90 Bandages.
• Viridian has the ability to reverse his own personal gravity.

Mr. Minecraft

• Cameo from Minecraft. Loves to build. Hates hissing green things.
• Unlockable by collecting 100 Bandages.
• Mr. Minecraft can build solid tiles out of thin air and destroy tiles in front of him, allowing him to easily bypass almost all challenges.

Tofu Boy

• "Cameo" from Super Tofu Boy, a parody game by the militant animal rights group PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). Wishes he were Bandage Girl's boyfriend. As if.
• Playable only in the Steam version by inputting the code "petaphile" in the character selection screen and picking any character.
• Tofu Boy, being malnourished due to iron deficiency, cannot run or jump as well as the other characters, making it impossible for him to clear the vast majority of levels.

Soundtrack

Super Meat Boy's old school soundtrack was engineered by Danny Baranowsky of dB Soundworks. Composed of 34 tracks, it is available at meatboymusic.com.

A two-disc soundtrack titled "NICE TO MEAT YOU" has also been released, with an additional 39 songs for a total 73 tracks. It contains new remixes, menu and cutscene music, and some unused songs. The CDs feature the sawblade motif seen on the retail install disc.

Playable Rock Band 3 remixed tracks are available for download via Rock Band Network:

• The Battle of Lil' Slugger (Remix) ( XBL & PSN)
• Betus Blues (Retro Remix) (XBL & PSN)
• Can o' Salt (Remix) (XBL)

Super Meat Boy OST Track List

"Nice to Meat You" Track List

Disc One (Soundtrack)

Identical to the first 28 tracks of the OST

Disc Two (Extras)

System Requirements (PC)

System Requirements (Mac)

External links

• Official website
• Meat Boy Prototype