Super Meat Boy (XBLA)

[Charlie]

This is the first Arcade game I've bought in months and I think it's decent enough. But no more.

Watching Super Kalo and Mister Pointy Head playing/reviewing it on last week's NExUS I was quite excited about this but, hands-on, there are elements I don't like - not least the 'floaty' jump mechanics which to my mind don't feel instinctive. Then there's the temperamental auto save which doesn't always record which levels have been beaten/bandages have been collected and, given how difficult some of the stages are, that's bloody annoying.

And then, on an entirely subjective matter, I concur with the earlier comment claiming it looks like a flash game. It really does. Indeed it's plain ugly. 'Meat Boy', in my opinion, is a **** character and the presentation and cut scenes (if you can call 'em that) are equally ****. Visually the whole thing feels cheap and childish (like some second-rate cartoon) and, artistically, devoid of any style, charm or beauty. I do applaud developers who put gameplay before graphics but that's no excuse for producing ugly games. When I'm sat down staring at a screen for an hour or two I want it to be pretty, I want it to be stylish, I want to like what I'm looking at.

So, yeah, to conclude, I think the gameplay coupled with the decent 8-bit esque music just about see it through. Much like Trials HD, it's a good game to play when you have 15 minutes to kill but, really, 8-bit platformers were doing this sort of precision gameplay 25 years ago and doing it with considerably more charm and gaiety.

[rmoxon]

Yeah all these really high ratings its getting are a bit much, I probabaly like it a bit more than you do, but its nowhere near perfect and most of what you have said I absolubtley agree with.

Also, I'm glad someone else has pointed out how it dosent always save properly, was starting to think it was just me.

[Charlie]

I do like it (wouldn't have bought it otherwise). The gameplay's demanding and challenging and a throwback to halcyon days, and I applaud that, but, yeah, the game's a long way from brilliant in my book. But, then, I can see how those who feel right at the home with 'floaty' controls and like the look and style might regard it as 'perfect'.

[Synthesthesia]

I don't agree what so ever. I love meat boy as a character, and I love the graphics. And how would you do a game like this and have it not "look like a flash game". Exactly the same criticism was landed on N+ and I loved that too.

[Synthesthesia]

I was up until gone 1am unlocking him. I started at 1030pm.

How do you do the second level?! Is there any trick to the 3rd set of spikes? I've been trying for ages, it feels like it should be exactly the same as the first 2, and I've managed to get right to the end of it bar 1, and died .

Edit: Nevermind, done it

[Charlie]

I don't agree what so ever. I love meat boy as a character, and I love the graphics. And how would you do a game like this and have it not "look like a flash game". Exactly the same criticism was landed on N+ and I loved that too.

Personally, I'd have gone for a cleaner, brighter, more stylised look. Maybe something abstract that sets itself apart, a bit like Limbo perhaps.

[Synthesthesia]

Personally, I'd have gone for a cleaner, brighter, more stylised look. Maybe something abstract that sets itself apart, a bit like Limbo perhaps.

So like, you mean use something like the vector art for meat boy from the menu etc?

That could work I guess, I like these visuals too though

[merf]

i've just realised how I feel playing this, kind of like a 14y old having his first alcoholic drink, I keep sipping convincing myself that I should like it but in reality the taste isn't that good and I'm not enjoying it.

I keep going back for further tries attempting to convince myself I like the taste, at the moment though in reality I'd rather be drinking something else that I actually enjoy.

[toythatkills]

How do you do the second level?! Is there any trick to the 3rd set of spikes? I've been trying for ages, it feels like it should be exactly the same as the first 2, and I've managed to get right to the end of it bar 1, and died .

The one where you're going down on the lift? Yeah, it's the same as the second, but it's just slightly harder to get the timing right in your head. When you're going up through the second set of spikes, really pay attention to the timing, to what you're doing with your hands. The downwards set require exactly the same timing, and it's easier to just learn the timing and trust that you've got it than to actually react to what you're seeing. Gotta get in the zoooone.

Personally, I'd have gone for a cleaner, brighter, more stylised look. Maybe something abstract that sets itself apart, a bit like Limbo perhaps.

There are LOADS of different looks in this game. They all have the same basic look, but shift the palette around, etc. There are levels that are reminiscent of LIMBO in colour if not overall style. The Canabalt level is funny too. Then all the warp zones. Style after style.

Also, I'm glad someone else has pointed out how it dosent always save properly, was starting to think it was just me.

There's a patch on the way for that ASAP.

... there are elements I don't like - not least the 'floaty' jump mechanics which to my mind don't feel instinctive.

To each his own, I guess. I love them and I have no idea what you mean by them not feeling "instinctive."

And then, on an entirely subjective matter, I concur with the earlier comment claiming it looks like a flash game. It really does. Indeed it's plain ugly. 'Meat Boy', in my opinion, is a **** character and the presentation and cut scenes (if you can call 'em that) are equally ****. Visually the whole thing feels cheap and childish (like some second-rate cartoon) and, artistically, devoid of any style, charm or beauty. I do applaud developers who put gameplay before graphics but that's no excuse for producing ugly games. When I'm sat down staring at a screen for an hour or two I want it to be pretty, I want it to be stylish, I want to like what I'm looking at.

That's rubbish. It looks like a Flash game? So what if it does? It's its heritage, after all. The graphics are completely perfect for the game, they're clean, crisp, and CLEAR. As soon as you start adding unnecessary crap just so people like you approve, the game becomes less playable. All of a sudden the precision gameplay becomes impossible because there's some needless graphical effect obscuring what you need to do. Everything's at 45/90 degree angles for a reason.

It's certainly not devoid of charm and style. You just don't like them.

[Charlie]

So like, you mean use something like the vector art for meat boy from the menu etc?

That could work I guess, I like these visuals too though

I just find it visually messy. And, personally, staring at messyness for long periods of time leads to my producing messy thoughts, where as pretty things produce pretty thoughts in my head. But that's just me. It's a psychological thing.

[Charlie]

toythatkills, no sense in arguing about it or labelling my comments as rubbish. Before criticising it's style I purposely stated it was an entirely subjective thing, and it is. I'm not saying the style is ****. I'm saying I think it's ****.

[EvilBoris]

I'm loving this, it has me constantly screaming and for the first time in a long time I had the gaming claw.

[Charlie]

It's certainly satisfying (not to mention relieving) completing the more difficult stages. It's funny but I found the Chapter 2 (the Hospital) much harder than Chapter 3 (the Salt Factory). Can't stand the warp stages, my gaming ability simply isn't up to their demands, they cross the line from fun into infuriating as far as I'm concerned and enduce swearing aplenty.

[Synthesthesia]

I'm loving this, it has me constantly screaming and for the first time in a long time I had the gaming claw.

Me too, I haven't had it for YEARS. And I play a lot of games.

My thumb/ index finger on my right hand were killing after the levels I was talking about earlier.

I'm not sure why people are trying to like it if they don't though? I love this game, I've got Mafia 2, Fallout: New Vegas, Medal of Honor and Medal of Honor: Airborne to play, and all I can play is this .

I'm wondering if the people who say they don't really like this, liked N+? I'm guessing not.

86% Complete

[Synthesthesia]

The one where you're going down on the lift? Yeah, it's the same as the second, but it's just slightly harder to get the timing right in your head. When you're going up through the second set of spikes, really pay attention to the timing, to what you're doing with your hands. The downwards set require exactly the same timing, and it's easier to just learn the timing and trust that you've got it than to actually react to what you're seeing. Gotta get in the zoooone.

Thanks for the tips, but I'd already done it by the time you posted

Felt damn good. And that is perhaps one of the truest "achievements" ever labelled as such in a game!

(Damnit, I keep double posting instead of selecting it and editing in...sorry mods)