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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.

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Super Meat Boy

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

Super Meat Boy [Digital Special Edition]

Nr.	Title	Interpret(en)	Ratings
01	Boy Meats Girl (Intro Movie)*	Danny Baranowsky	3
02	Super Meat Boy!*	Danny Baranowsky	3
03	Forest Funk (Ch 1 Light World)*	Danny Baranowsky	4
04	Ballad of the Burning Squirrel (Ch 1 Dark World)*	Danny Baranowsky	3
05	The Battle of Lil' Slugger (Ch 1 Boss)*	Danny Baranowsky	4
06	Betus Blues (Ch 2 Light World)*	Danny Baranowsky	4
07	C.H.A.D.'s Broken Wind (Ch 2 Dark World)*	Danny Baranowsky	4
08	C.H.A.D.'s Lullaby (Ch 2 Boss)*	Danny Baranowsky	4
09	Can o' Salt (Ch 3 Light World)*	Danny Baranowsky	4
10	Rocket Rider (Ch 3 Dark World)*	Danny Baranowsky	4
11	Fast Track to Browntown (Ch 3 Boss)*	Danny Baranowsky	3
12	Hot Damned (Ch 4 Light World)*	Danny Baranowsky	4
13	Devil N' Bass (Ch 4 Dark World)*	Danny Baranowsky	4
14	Meat Golem (Ch 4 Boss)*	Danny Baranowsky	3
15	It Ends (Ch 5 Light World)*	Danny Baranowsky	5
16	Dr. Fetus' Castle (Ch 5 Dark World)*	Danny Baranowsky	4
17	Larries' Lament (Ch 5 Boss)*	Danny Baranowsky	4
18	It Ends 2: End Harder (Ch 6 Levels)*	Danny Baranowsky	4
19	Carmeaty Burana (Ch 6 Boss)*	Danny Baranowsky	3
20	Escape!*	Danny Baranowsky	4
21	End Credits*	Danny Baranowsky	3
22	McLarty Party People (Ch 7 Levels)*	Danny Baranowsky	3
23	Meat Spin (Teh Internets Levels)*	Danny Baranowsky	3
24	Forest Funk RETRO (Ch 1 Warp Zone)*	Danny Baranowsky	3
25	Betus Blues RETRO (Ch 2 Warp Zone)*	Danny Baranowsky	4
26	Can o' Salt RETRO (Ch 3 Warp Zone)*	Danny Baranowsky	3
27	Hot Damned RETRO (Ch 4 Warp Zone)*	Danny Baranowsky	4
28	It Ends RETRO (Ch 5 Warp Zone)*	Danny Baranowsky	4
29	Mattias' Manmeat Mix [Remix]*	Mattias Häggström Gerdt	3
30	Spoiled R0TT3N [Remix]	Benjamin Briggs	3
31	mAEt b0y [Remix]	A_Rival [Alex Esquivel]	3
32	Metal Meat [Remix]*	Android-Music [George Dziov]	3
33	Boss Burger N' Chips [Remix]*	Inverse Phase	3
34	Meatcraft [Remix]*	C418 [Daniel Rosenfeld]	3
35	Power of the Meat (feat. Melinda Hershey)[Remix]*	Josh Whelchel	3
36	Trailer Intro	Danny Baranowsky	2
37	Meat Boy (Flash) - Title	Danny Baranowsky	3
38	World Map Theme	Danny Baranowsky	2
39	Meat Fighter II	Danny Baranowsky	3
40	Dun Dun Dun!!!	Danny Baranowsky	3
41	Chapter 1 Menus	Danny Baranowsky	2
42	Meat Boy (Flash) - Forest	Danny Baranowsky	4
43	The Tragic Squirrel	Danny Baranowsky	3
44	Wups!	Danny Baranowsky	2
45	Meatroidvania	Danny Baranowsky	3
46	Chapter 2 Menus	Danny Baranowsky	3
47	...And Potatoes	Danny Baranowsky	3
48	Chapter 2 Cutscene Score	Danny Baranowsky	2
49	Chapter 3 Menus	Danny Baranowsky	3
50	Meat Boy (Flash) - Salt Factory	Danny Baranowsky	3
51	Chapter 3 Cutscene Score	Danny Baranowsky	4
52	Chapter 4 Menus	Danny Baranowsky	3
53	Chapter 4 Cutscene Score	Danny Baranowsky	3
54	Chapter 5 Menus	Danny Baranowsky	4
55	Meat Boy (Flash) - Hell	Danny Baranowsky	4
56	It Ends with a Whimper*	Danny Baranowsky	3
57	???	Danny Baranowsky	2
58	Chapter 5 Cutscene Score	Danny Baranowsky	3
59	Chapter 6 Menus	Danny Baranowsky	3
60	Chapter 6 Cutscene Score	Danny Baranowsky	2
61	The End Cutscene Score	Danny Baranowsky	3
62	Cotton Alley Menus	Danny Baranowsky	3
63	4-bit Meat Boy Theme	Danny Baranowsky	3
64	Internets Menus	Danny Baranowsky	3
65	4-bit Internets Menus	Danny Baranowsky	3
66	8-bit Internets Levels	Danny Baranowsky	3
67	90's Ad Track	Danny Baranowsky	4
68	World Map Theme [Unused]	Danny Baranowsky	3
69	World Map Theme 2 [Unused]	Danny Baranowsky	3
70	Character Select Theme [Unused]	Danny Baranowsky	2
71	Character Select Theme 2 [Unused]	Danny Baranowsky	3
72	Demo Cutscene Score	Danny Baranowsky	3
73	Dun Dun Dun? [Unused]	Danny Baranowsky	2
74	The Battle of Lil' Slugger (Ch 1 Boss)[Extended Cut]	Danny Baranowsky	4
75	Betus Blues RETRO (Ch 2 Warp Zone)[Extended Cut]	Danny Baranowsky	4
76	Can o' Salt (Ch 3 Light World)[Extended Cut]	Danny Baranowsky	4
77	Tetanus Blues [Remix]	FamilyJules7X [Jules Conroy]	4
78	Just Love [Remix]	Souleye [Magnus Pålsson]	3
79	Big Giant Throbbing Rocket [Remix]	Big Giant Circles [Jimmy Hinson]	2
80	Acapella Rockapella Soundtrack Medley	Danny Baranowsky	1

*Track contained in the Original Soundtrack

Super Meat Boy [5th Anniversary]

Nr.	Title	Interpret(en)	Ratings
01	Bologna Pogna (Title Intro)	Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]	2
02	Coming to a Deli Near You (Title Screen)	Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]	3
03	SMB World Loop	Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]	3
04	GristleToe (Light)	Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]	3
05	GristleToe (Dark)	Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]	3
06	Jam Banjovi (Forest Light)	Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]	4
07	Dark Meat (Forest Dark)	Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]	3
08	Meat Rainbow - Get on the Dancefloor (Forest Retro)	Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]	3
09	Throw Another Banjo on the Fire (Forest Boss)	Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]	4
10	Amputation (Hospital Menu Light)	Scattle [David Scattliffe]	3
11	Overdose (Hospital Menu Dark)	Scattle [David Scattliffe]	2
12	Bedside Manner (Hospital Light)	Scattle [David Scattliffe]	3
13	Lights Out (Hospital Dark)	Scattle [David Scattliffe]	3
14	Doctor's Orders (Hospital Retro)	Scattle [David Scattliffe]	3
15	165° (Hospital Boss)	Scattle [David Scattliffe]	4
16	The Red Sea (Salt Factory Menu Light)	Scattle [David Scattliffe]	3
17	Dry Rub (Salt Factory Menu Dark)	Scattle [David Scattliffe]	3
18	Hypertension (Salt Factory Light)	Scattle [David Scattliffe]	3
19	The Seasoning (Salt Factory Dark)	Scattle [David Scattliffe]	3
20	White Gold (Salt Factory Retro)	Scattle [David Scattliffe]	3
21	Dash Assault (Salt Factory Boss)	Scattle [David Scattliffe]	4
22	Hellway to Hell (Light)	Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]	4
23	Hellway to Hell (Dark)	Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]	3
24	Secret Santana (Hell Light)	Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]	3
25	Hell Toupé (Hell Dark)	Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]	4
26	Mintz Meat	Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]	3
27	Fasten Your Meatbelts (Hell Boss)	Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]	4
28	Meat You in Hell (Light)	Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]	3
29	Meat You in Hell (Dark)	Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]	3
30	Steak Thru the Heart (Rapture Light)	Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]	3
31	Dream Meater (Rapture Dark)	Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]	3
32	Meat Me in Compton (Rapture Retro)	Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]	3
33	Meat Yer Maker (Rapture Boss)	Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]	3
34	Leather Glove - Well Done (End Menu Light/Dark)	Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]	4
35	Well Done	Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]	3
36	Meat Continuum (End Light)	Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]	3
37	Ashes to Ashes (End Dark)	Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]	3
38	Meatal Acropolis (End Boss)	Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]	4
39	Track Meat (Dark World Escape)	Ridiculon [Matthias Bossi; Jon Evans]	3
40	Cotton Alley Light Menu	Laura Shigihara	3
41	Cotton Alley Dark Menu	Laura Shigihara	3
42	Cotton Candy (Cotton Alley Light)	Laura Shigihara	4
43	Bandage Girl Boogie (Cotton Alley Dark)	Laura Shigihara	3