Parents' Guide to Super Meat Boy Forever

It's been ten years since gamers were introduced to a perpetual deathtrap platformer and instant cult classic, and for the sequel, all the things that made the first game a fan favorite essentially returns. The biggest change from the original release in Super Meat Boy Forever is that its an endless runner. Meat Boy (or whichever other character you choose) is constantly moving, running, jumping, ducking, and otherwise deftly maneuvering to make their way through each stage's lethal layout. This adds a new layer of difficulty to an already challenging formula by forcing players to rely as much on quick reflexes as smart thinking. It also leads to a lot more trial and error when it comes to sorting out the best way through. There are some moments that can be particularly frustrating, such as when Meat Boy respawns right in front of a series of hazards and charges right in like he's got some kind of death wish. Still, with an infinite number of lives at your disposal, trial and error isn't such a bad thing. Besides, even at its most challenging, the game never feels impossible.

Super Meat Boy Forever also adds an interesting new procedural level design mechanic that mixes things up a bit. When players start a new game, they're initially greeted with a sequence of random "seeds" which serve as the foundation for level creation. So while no two playthroughs will be the same, adding lots of replay value, it also means that the level of challenge between stages can fluctuate wildly at times. Again, no stage ever quite feels impossible, but the difficulty curve can occasionally feel more like a roller coaster than a steady climb. Finally, the game's story, told via a series of well-animated cutscenes, is a warped combination of cute and twisted. But it also feels more like an afterthought, akin to commercial breaks between gameplay. It doesn't take long to stop caring about the plot and just want to dive back into the action and race the clock one more time.