Super Meat Boy (XBLA, WiiWare, PC)

[Zaarock]

Anyone else playing this?

I remember not liking the original flash game much, probably because I couldn't get used to the physics. Once you get used to the run button and such the game plays really fast though, feels more intense than N+ for me at least.

The level design is also really polished, and the light world/dark world thing works well: you have to get good times on light world levels to unlock their dark world counterparts so that time trialing will prepare you for the difficulty of the dark levels. I've seen some really clever level designs on dark world so far, especially on chapter 3.

You can unlock multiple characters that play very different like the character from BIT.TRIP RUNNER who can float in the air, Gish who can stick to walls and slide on ceilings, etc. Meat Boy is really fast though and the levels are balanced for him. Lots of secrets as well and it seems there are three secret chapters you can unlock through hidden levels.

The game also has a bunch of references to classic games, other games by the developers, etc. which are pretty well done.

Apparently the price of the XBLA version will be raised from 800 to 1200msp once october ends.

[Rob]

Yeah, bought it last night but only had a chance to play the demo levels. Strongly reminded me of Kid Chameleon (wall jumping Micromax power-up), which is awesome. It even has the meat grinder wall from KC.

[Ghegs]

I played through the original flash game way back when so I was looking forward to this. Got it today and I'm only almost done with the first world, I'm trying to 100% them as I go. Not terribly hard yet, even on the dark levels, but very fun. I found it rather addicting to replay stages trying to get a better time. For some reason I can't find the last two bandages in the first world...stuck at 98% due to that. Need to check all the stages once more for 'em.

I actually got thumbache from playing the game, it's been ages since I've had that happen. Reminds me of good ol' times.

[Zaarock]

I can't find the last two bandages in the first world...stuck at 98% due to that. Need to check all the stages once more for 'em.

There are usually bandages on the hidden "warp zone" levels, but you probably wont have much trouble finding those.

edit: I wish you could set the run button yourself, pulling RT all the time is pretty painful

[Rob]

Use x to run.

[DJ Incompetent]

Got to the final area in an hour-something. The last world sucks because it relies on a lot of leap-of-faith physics jumps. Thank god dark world is in there.

Good game.

[Zaarock]

DJI: You'll probably enjoy the bonus chapter you get after the last world. It's just fun, hard level design with music that sounds like its from Bubble Bobble and nice simplistic visuals. (trying to not spoil more)

[subcons]

Are you guys playing on the 360? I noticed that using the RT as run, you can take advantage of the analogue feature and kind of feather it to get more control over your run.

Only played it for a bit, but I bought it on the spot. I still need to finish up DR2 and move onto Vanquish which I have ready and waiting. Too much stuff coming out to play between now and the new year.

[Rob]

Got to the final area in an hour-something.

Ah man, the game is too good to blow through like that.

[Zaarock]

Well, Dark World will probably take anyone more than 6 hours to complete. The last chapter on light world was harder than I had expected though. And the bonus chapter is hard even on light world.

I'm already up to 5-17x on Dark World so far so just ~10 levels left for me. It gets really hard at chapter 5. I think I'll limit myself to doing a few levels per day though, getting way too addicted to dying hundreds of times

[Rob]

What's your death count up to?

[Drum]

How is this on the 360 pad? Currently wondering what platform to get it on.

[cools]

How is this on the 360 pad? Currently wondering what platform to get it on.

In all honesty, I didn't enjoy the trial on XBLA at all. That's the game in general though (played on a stick). Should be fine to get a feel for it though

[subcons]

How is this on the 360 pad? Currently wondering what platform to get it on.

I didn't even try the d-pad. The 360's d-pad seems like it would be way too inaccurate due the pace of this game. It's so twitchy feeling. Analogue was working fine for me.

[Zaarock]

360 pad dpad is just fine for this, upwards and downwards input doesnt do anything so the diagonals etc. dont matter.

edit: Rob: I've got 5600 deaths, would be fun to compare that to play time but there isnt a meter for that :p

[Ghegs]

Curiously, I've been playing on the standard 360 d-pad, haven't had any problems and none of my deaths have been the d-pad's fault. The few times I did try the analog stick it felt way too inaccurate.

[subcons]

Misinformation on my part guys. I hadn't even tried the d-pad in the little time I had spent with it, but the game felt twitchy with the analogue when I was playing it and seemed like the shitty d-pad on the 360 wouldn't be good for this. I had some time to sit down with it for a couple hours this morning and I can go either way with it really. So d-pad does indeed play fine on this.

I've become a bit more used to it control wise. It's so fast paced with Meat Boy, and you just can't help but rush through a level for that A+. Love the different characters though. They really change up how the game plays. These warp levels and dark levels are really fucking tough, but it's never frustrating (not yet anyways). Takes a unique balance to achieve that and they've pulled that off here. Great purchase for a measly $10.

[Rob]

Has anyone found a use for Gish in any of the stages? Poor dude.

Something I noticed and not sure how to recreate: (fast) upwards slide against a wall while landing in an downward arc. Anyone? Trying to trim some seconds on some stages.

[subcons]

Has anyone found a use for Gish in any of the stages? Poor dude.

I've found him very useful in getting some of the bandages with his wall sticking ability.

[Kyper]

Something I noticed and not sure how to recreate: (fast) upwards slide against a wall while landing in an downward arc.

Also noticed this. One theory I have is it might be strict timing where you have to press jump and the opposite direction at the exact moment you touch the wall. And an upward slide seems to happen more often if you hit a slant

[kengou]

So for those who played the flash game, is this actually a lot different/better? Because I remember not liking the flash game at all but everyone's raving about this thing.

[subcons]

So for those who played the flash game, is this actually a lot different/better? Because I remember not liking the flash game at all but everyone's raving about this thing.

I never played the Flash version. I went ahead and looked it up real quick just out of curiosity and gave it a go. Now, I'm playing this with a keyboard mind you, but it really doesn't compare to playing it with a controller. If this was your main gripe, then definitely check out the demo for console. The controls are pretty spot on and level design is pretty creative.

[maxlords]

Definitely better than the flash game....better control IMO.

I just grabbed this...saw it was on sale for 800 points till the end of Oct. Well worth it IMO, especially since the XBL version is gonna have free DLC that's exclusive to the XBox.....won't be on the PC or Wiiware versions. Great game, great devs....for an indy game it's pretty damned good.

[Rob]

Anybody working the leaderboards? Would be cool to have some more shmups names to compete with.

There's no easy replay sharing, is there?

[DJ Incompetent]

DJI: You'll probably enjoy the bonus chapter you get after the last world. It's just fun, hard level design with music that sounds like its from Bubble Bobble and nice simplistic visuals. (trying to not spoil more)

You are right sir. This game got all kinds of awesome kick my ass.

Better than any 2D mario pretty much.

[core]

Anybody working the leaderboards? Would be cool to have some more shmups names to compete with.

There's no easy replay sharing, is there?

I have on a couple of levels that I find fun. Managed to crack the top 20 on a few of them.

Mostly been going for 100%. 15% to go!

[Rob]

About the same for me. Doing pretty well on the internet stages (10th). Wish there were individual boards for those. Top 5 on a few Cotton Alley stages (Pepto/Bleach), but there aren't many people on those charts yet.

Love the stages with lots of manic bouncing around saw blades. Loathe any stage with a fan, those gravity orbs and vertical conveyor belts. Clearing some of those is going to be a hassle.

[core]

Yeah my favourite stages are the ones with more spikes and saws than humanly possible. I Kind of like the rocket launcher stages but hate the black spike cannon thing.

I tried the world 1 glitch level when I first started, thought it was impossible, came back to it after beating the game and finished the level on my second try, so satisfying. Thems some tight controls I tell you.

[Rob]

hate the black spike cannon thing.

Top 5 worst stage: Patience. The light world version wasn't too bad.

287 cleared and some real bad shit remaining. In Line might be the most maddening stage in the game. Going back under the wall feels nearly impossible with the huge enemy hitboxes. Salt Shaker? Gah.

[Zaarock]

287 cleared and some real bad shit remaining.

Nice.. I've been too busy playing Vanquish, gotta catch up