MaybeMusic

Super Meat Boy

Year: 2010
Type: Original Soundtrack (OST) / Digital Special Edition / 5th Anniversary
Composer(s): Danny Baranowsky
Number of tracks: 34 / 80 / 43


Meat and greet

A young lad who has to rescue either his kidnapped girlfriend or a princess from the clutches of an evil adversary ... there could hardly be a more classic beginning to a (video game) hero story. Many Nintendo games follow this pattern to this day - successfully! Based on this, a Flash game called Meat Boy, that, like many indie-games, was published on the Newgrounds website. In it, a box-shaped lump of meat hops through increasingly difficult levels to free his girlfriend Bandage Girl from the clutches of Dr. Fetus. Sounds silly, and it was, but it was just as entertaining.

Two years later, the developer duo Team Meat, consisting of Edmund McMillen and Tommy Refenes, released the official Super Meat Boy game. This played much more smoothly than the online version, but was also much more difficult as a result. I myself had a few entertaining hours with the slippery Meat Boy, but the frustrating trial-and-error concept didn't keep me hooked in the long run. With Celeste , I was able to put up with the Kaizo approach - the official name for deliberately difficult platformers/jump-'n'-runs - largely because of the game's story. What was cool, however, was that after completing a level we could see all the previous failed attempts, a kind of visualized learning curve.

The wall-jumping and chainsaw-dodging was already musically decorated in its web version by Danny Baranowsky. The American is probably best known for his work on The Bindig of Isaac and Crypt of the NecroDancer , but has an impressive list of compositions for smaller indie projects, none of which I know. For Super Meat Boy , Baranowsky composed a 34-track OST as well as a Digital Special Edition with 46 additional tracks.

Anyone familiar with his style will quickly recognize elements from other scores such as The Binding of Isaac . In general, the album leans towards fast electro beats and driving synths, which seems to make perfect sense given the idea of the game. To my ears, the music remains a little too uniform and lacking in highlights in terms of scope. If you compare what you hear with genre relatives such as Celeste or the fantastic composition for The Messenger, Baranowsky's work feels a little trivial.

Rock/metal influences such as in “Hot Damned (Ch 4 Light World)”, “Meat Golem (Ch 4 Boss)” or “End Credits” add some variety to the electro party, but despite the charming retro magic (“RETRO” tracks), the album is not a hit for me. The additional songs from the Digital Special Edition, along with a few remixes by other artists, hardly make any noteworthy contributions either. Nevertheless, these small complements show that there are advantages to having several artists working on one score: less coherence, but a little more variety. The anarchic Castle Crashers, which also originated on Newgrounds, has already shown that this works.

However, that's not to say that there aren't a few smaller gems like the very dramatic “It Ends (Ch 5 Light World)”. Its combination of drums, electric guitars and piano intermezzo evokes memories of the over-the-top pathos of Broforce and works better for me than the rest of the score due to its structure, as it goes less in the usual repetitive, loopable direction. Unfortunately, it remains the only 5-star track for me.

So is that it? Basically, yes, if we leave out the 5th Anniversary Soundtrack released in 2015. This celebrates, unsurprisingly, the fifth anniversary of the game with 43 additional tracks, this time not by Baranowsky but by several composers. These include the duo Ridiculon, consisting of Matthias Bossi & Jon Evans (The Binding of Isaac), David 'Scattle' Scattliffe (Furi / Hotline Miami: The Takedown) and Laura Shigihara (Plants vs. Zombies).

As with the actual OST, there's nothing really remarkable here, but the artists add their own flair to the Super Meat Boy style. Nice to have, but for me it's probably only a recommendation for fans of the game or genre.


Nostalgia warning

The rating of the individual tracks is purely subjective and clearly colored by my own experience with the game. You can find out more in the article About Nostalgia.

Super Meat Boy

Nr.TitleInterpret(en)Ratings
01Boy Meats Girl (Intro Movie)Danny Baranowsky33/5
02Super Meat Boy!Danny Baranowsky33/5
03Forest Funk (Ch 1 Light World)Danny Baranowsky44/5
04Ballad of the Burning Squirrel (Ch 1 Dark World)Danny Baranowsky33/5
05The Battle of Lil' Slugger (Ch 1 Boss)Danny Baranowsky44/5
06Betus Blues (Ch 2 Light World)Danny Baranowsky44/5
07C.H.A.D.'s Broken Wind (Ch 2 Dark World)Danny Baranowsky44/5
08C.H.A.D.'s Lullaby (Ch 2 Boss)Danny Baranowsky44/5
09Can o' Salt (Ch 3 Light World)Danny Baranowsky44/5
10Rocket Rider (Ch 3 Dark World)Danny Baranowsky44/5
11Fast Track to Browntown (Ch 3 Boss)Danny Baranowsky33/5
12Hot Damned (Ch 4 Light World)Danny Baranowsky44/5
13Devil N' Bass (Ch 4 Dark World)Danny Baranowsky44/5
14Meat Golem (Ch 4 Boss)Danny Baranowsky33/5
15It Ends (Ch 5 Light World)Danny Baranowsky55/5
16Dr. Fetus' Castle (Ch 5 Dark World)Danny Baranowsky44/5
17Larries' Lament (Ch 5 Boss)Danny Baranowsky44/5
18It Ends 2: End Harder (Ch 6 Levels)Danny Baranowsky44/5
19Carmeaty Burana (Ch 6 Boss)Danny Baranowsky33/5
20Escape!Danny Baranowsky44/5
21End CreditsDanny Baranowsky33/5
22McLarty Party People (Ch 7 Levels)Danny Baranowsky33/5
23Meat Spin (Teh Internets Levels)Danny Baranowsky33/5
24Forest Funk RETRO (Ch 1 Warp Zone)Danny Baranowsky33/5
25Betus Blues RETRO (Ch 2 Warp Zone)Danny Baranowsky44/5
26Can o' Salt RETRO (Ch 3 Warp Zone)Danny Baranowsky33/5
27Hot Damned RETRO (Ch 4 Warp Zone)Danny Baranowsky44/5
28It Ends RETRO (Ch 5 Warp Zone)Danny Baranowsky44/5
29Mattias' Manmeat Mix [Remix]Mattias Häggström Gerdt33/5
30Metal Meat [Remix]Android-Music [George Dziov]33/5
31Boss Burger N' Chips [Remix]Inverse Phase33/5
32Meatcraft [Remix]C418 [Daniel Rosenfeld]33/5
33Power of the Meat (feat. Melinda Hershey)[Remix]Josh Whelchel33/5
34It Ends with a WhimperDanny Baranowsky33/5

Super Meat Boy [Digital Special Edition]

Nr.TitleInterpret(en)Ratings
01Boy Meats Girl (Intro Movie)*Danny Baranowsky33/5
02Super Meat Boy!*Danny Baranowsky33/5
03Forest Funk (Ch 1 Light World)*Danny Baranowsky44/5
04Ballad of the Burning Squirrel (Ch 1 Dark World)*Danny Baranowsky33/5
05The Battle of Lil' Slugger (Ch 1 Boss)*Danny Baranowsky44/5
06Betus Blues (Ch 2 Light World)*Danny Baranowsky44/5
07C.H.A.D.'s Broken Wind (Ch 2 Dark World)*Danny Baranowsky44/5
08C.H.A.D.'s Lullaby (Ch 2 Boss)*Danny Baranowsky44/5
09Can o' Salt (Ch 3 Light World)*Danny Baranowsky44/5
10Rocket Rider (Ch 3 Dark World)*Danny Baranowsky44/5
11Fast Track to Browntown (Ch 3 Boss)*Danny Baranowsky33/5
12Hot Damned (Ch 4 Light World)*Danny Baranowsky44/5
13Devil N' Bass (Ch 4 Dark World)*Danny Baranowsky44/5
14Meat Golem (Ch 4 Boss)*Danny Baranowsky33/5
15It Ends (Ch 5 Light World)*Danny Baranowsky55/5
16Dr. Fetus' Castle (Ch 5 Dark World)*Danny Baranowsky44/5
17Larries' Lament (Ch 5 Boss)*Danny Baranowsky44/5
18It Ends 2: End Harder (Ch 6 Levels)*Danny Baranowsky44/5
19Carmeaty Burana (Ch 6 Boss)*Danny Baranowsky33/5
20Escape!*Danny Baranowsky44/5
21End Credits*Danny Baranowsky33/5
22McLarty Party People (Ch 7 Levels)*Danny Baranowsky33/5
23Meat Spin (Teh Internets Levels)*Danny Baranowsky33/5
24Forest Funk RETRO (Ch 1 Warp Zone)*Danny Baranowsky33/5
25Betus Blues RETRO (Ch 2 Warp Zone)*Danny Baranowsky44/5
26Can o' Salt RETRO (Ch 3 Warp Zone)*Danny Baranowsky33/5
27Hot Damned RETRO (Ch 4 Warp Zone)*Danny Baranowsky44/5
28It Ends RETRO (Ch 5 Warp Zone)*Danny Baranowsky44/5
29Mattias' Manmeat Mix [Remix]*Mattias Häggström Gerdt33/5
30Spoiled R0TT3N [Remix]Benjamin Briggs33/5
31mAEt b0y [Remix]A_Rival [Alex Esquivel]33/5
32Metal Meat [Remix]*Android-Music [George Dziov]33/5
33Boss Burger N' Chips [Remix]*Inverse Phase33/5
34Meatcraft [Remix]*C418 [Daniel Rosenfeld]33/5
35Power of the Meat (feat. Melinda Hershey)[Remix]*Josh Whelchel33/5
36Trailer IntroDanny Baranowsky22/5
37Meat Boy (Flash) - TitleDanny Baranowsky33/5
38World Map ThemeDanny Baranowsky22/5
39Meat Fighter IIDanny Baranowsky33/5
40Dun Dun Dun!!!Danny Baranowsky33/5
41Chapter 1 MenusDanny Baranowsky22/5
42Meat Boy (Flash) - ForestDanny Baranowsky44/5
43The Tragic SquirrelDanny Baranowsky33/5
44Wups!Danny Baranowsky22/5
45MeatroidvaniaDanny Baranowsky33/5
46Chapter 2 MenusDanny Baranowsky33/5
47...And PotatoesDanny Baranowsky33/5
48Chapter 2 Cutscene ScoreDanny Baranowsky22/5
49Chapter 3 MenusDanny Baranowsky33/5
50Meat Boy (Flash) - Salt FactoryDanny Baranowsky33/5
51Chapter 3 Cutscene ScoreDanny Baranowsky44/5
52Chapter 4 MenusDanny Baranowsky33/5
53Chapter 4 Cutscene ScoreDanny Baranowsky33/5
54Chapter 5 MenusDanny Baranowsky44/5
55Meat Boy (Flash) - HellDanny Baranowsky44/5
56It Ends with a Whimper*Danny Baranowsky33/5
57???Danny Baranowsky22/5
58Chapter 5 Cutscene ScoreDanny Baranowsky33/5
59Chapter 6 MenusDanny Baranowsky33/5
60Chapter 6 Cutscene ScoreDanny Baranowsky22/5
61The End Cutscene ScoreDanny Baranowsky33/5
62Cotton Alley MenusDanny Baranowsky33/5
634-bit Meat Boy ThemeDanny Baranowsky33/5
64Internets MenusDanny Baranowsky33/5
654-bit Internets MenusDanny Baranowsky33/5
668-bit Internets LevelsDanny Baranowsky33/5
6790's Ad TrackDanny Baranowsky44/5
68World Map Theme [Unused]Danny Baranowsky33/5
69World Map Theme 2 [Unused]Danny Baranowsky33/5
70Character Select Theme [Unused]Danny Baranowsky22/5
71Character Select Theme 2 [Unused]Danny Baranowsky33/5
72Demo Cutscene ScoreDanny Baranowsky33/5
73Dun Dun Dun? [Unused]Danny Baranowsky22/5
74The Battle of Lil' Slugger (Ch 1 Boss)[Extended Cut]Danny Baranowsky44/5
75Betus Blues RETRO (Ch 2 Warp Zone)[Extended Cut]Danny Baranowsky44/5
76Can o' Salt (Ch 3 Light World)[Extended Cut]Danny Baranowsky44/5
77Tetanus Blues [Remix]FamilyJules7X [Jules Conroy]44/5
78Just Love [Remix]Souleye [Magnus Pålsson]33/5
79Big Giant Throbbing Rocket [Remix]Big Giant Circles [Jimmy Hinson]22/5
80Acapella Rockapella Soundtrack MedleyDanny Baranowsky11/5

*Track contained in the Original Soundtrack

Super Meat Boy [5th Anniversary]

Nr.TitleInterpret(en)Ratings
01Bologna Pogna (Title Intro)Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]22/5
02Coming to a Deli Near You (Title Screen)Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]33/5
03SMB World LoopRidiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]33/5
04GristleToe (Light)Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]33/5
05GristleToe (Dark)Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]33/5
06Jam Banjovi (Forest Light)Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]44/5
07Dark Meat (Forest Dark)Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]33/5
08Meat Rainbow - Get on the Dancefloor (Forest Retro)Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]33/5
09Throw Another Banjo on the Fire (Forest Boss)Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]44/5
10Amputation (Hospital Menu Light)Scattle [David Scattliffe]33/5
11Overdose (Hospital Menu Dark)Scattle [David Scattliffe]22/5
12Bedside Manner (Hospital Light)Scattle [David Scattliffe]33/5
13Lights Out (Hospital Dark)Scattle [David Scattliffe]33/5
14Doctor's Orders (Hospital Retro)Scattle [David Scattliffe]33/5
15165° (Hospital Boss)Scattle [David Scattliffe]44/5
16The Red Sea (Salt Factory Menu Light)Scattle [David Scattliffe]33/5
17Dry Rub (Salt Factory Menu Dark)Scattle [David Scattliffe]33/5
18Hypertension (Salt Factory Light)Scattle [David Scattliffe]33/5
19The Seasoning (Salt Factory Dark)Scattle [David Scattliffe]33/5
20White Gold (Salt Factory Retro)Scattle [David Scattliffe]33/5
21Dash Assault (Salt Factory Boss)Scattle [David Scattliffe]44/5
22Hellway to Hell (Light)Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]44/5
23Hellway to Hell (Dark)Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]33/5
24Secret Santana (Hell Light)Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]33/5
25Hell Toupé (Hell Dark)Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]44/5
26Mintz MeatRidiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]33/5
27Fasten Your Meatbelts (Hell Boss)Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]44/5
28Meat You in Hell (Light)Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]33/5
29Meat You in Hell (Dark)Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]33/5
30Steak Thru the Heart (Rapture Light)Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]33/5
31Dream Meater (Rapture Dark)Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]33/5
32Meat Me in Compton (Rapture Retro)Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]33/5
33Meat Yer Maker (Rapture Boss)Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]33/5
34Leather Glove - Well Done (End Menu Light/Dark)Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]44/5
35Well DoneRidiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]33/5
36Meat Continuum (End Light)Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]33/5
37Ashes to Ashes (End Dark)Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]33/5
38Meatal Acropolis (End Boss)Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]44/5
39Track Meat (Dark World Escape)Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]33/5
40Cotton Alley Light MenuLaura Shigihara33/5
41Cotton Alley Dark MenuLaura Shigihara33/5
42Cotton Candy (Cotton Alley Light)Laura Shigihara44/5
43Bandage Girl Boogie (Cotton Alley Dark)Laura Shigihara33/5

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