Super Meat Boy 3D (somewhat obviously) brings the cult-classic 2D platformer into the 3D realm. Many of its 2D charms translate well, but others can have you biting your tongue to stop a string of swears echoing around the house!
QD’s Speedrun Review:
Super Meat Boy 3D is a brutal platformer that asks you to navigate deadly gauntlets to save your girlfriend from a sinister villain. Its cartoonish visuals pop with colour, especially bloody red, when Meat Boy gets sliced, crushed, and minced to death.
Beating a level under a certain time earns you an A+ rating and unlocks a harder ‘dark world’ version of that level. Beat 10 out of 15 levels in an area and you’ll unlock the stage boss. There’s no combat, you just need to survive the boss’s attacks — easier said than done.
Some of the level design can border on sadistic, asking for pinpoint platforming accuracy with no room for error. The precision needed is lost somewhat in the shift to 3D, the extra dimension making it much harder land exactly where you want to. One rage-inducing level took me 142 tries to just finish! Thankfully, you don’t have to beat every level to advance, and when you do get in the zone — avoiding becoming mincemeat by mere pixels — it feels so damn good.
Hidden throughout the stage are collectible bandages that unlock new characters. And they’re not all just skins, characters can have different traits, like the goofy Meatball Boy that constantly bounces. This adds its own level of challenge to an already ruthless game.
The best part though is the instant replays after you beat a level. You simultaneously see your successful run alongside a dozen or so failed runs in all their bloody glory, similar to ghost cars in a racing game.
Things I love about Super Meat Boy 3D:
- Instant run replays.
- Cartoon art style.
- Cool environments, like toxic waste plants and autonomous factories.
- Secret levels, like a homage to Super Mario 64.
- Replayability.
Things I don’t love about Super Meat Boy 3D:
- 3D platforming is not as accurate as it needs to be at times.
- Not enough connective tissue linking the assortment of gauntlets.
- Some abilities, like double jump, tied to specific characters.
Is Super Meat Boy 3D worth your time?
Meat Boy’s first 3D outing has some meaty bites topped with a tasty visual sauce. However, the platforming can feel undercooked at times and some of the level design is a bit too tough and chewy for my liking.
If you love brutal precision platformers or are just an absolute sadist, you’ll probably enjoy this meal. If not, you might want to order something else from the menu.
Super Meat Boy 3D is out now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Access to Super Meat Boy 3D was supplied to Quest Daily.
