Skip to content

THE END IS NIGH

Written By:

Callum Shephard
the-end-is-nigh

Super Meat Boy has always stood as one of the most famed of indie icons. The mere mention of the name brings to mind boundless frustration and the sort of macabre cartoony gore which manages to be as hilarious as it is disturbing. It seemed to be a lightning in a bottle experience, but one half of the creative team behind it (Hello again, Mr. McMillen) has returned to refine the mechanics with this latest release: The End is Nigh.

 

Anyone who has played Super Meat Boy will feel immediately at home. As before, you’re left racing towards the end, hurling your character over serrated obstacles and trying desperately to make that one perfect jump. Yet what separates these games is how The End is Nigh proves to add a deeper connection to its core gameplay, and offers more of an addictive edge.

 

Compared to the world-by-world set-up you might expect, every level present here flows from one to the next, giving more of a sense of continuity and exploration. You’ll often find yourself looping around and backtracking Metroidvania style, with many previous environments retaining hidden passages and secrets needed to help you progress. While this could have easily piled busywork atop of an otherwise streamlined experience, it instead enhances it. The extremely rich designs of the dystopian wastes around you means you’re always keeping one eye open for secrets, and it encourages you to revisit older environments. As a result, it reduces the feeling that you’re simply bashing your head against a brick wall, and instead gives a real sense of progressing forwards even while repeating the same area time and again.

 

The story – what little there is of it – is also tied much, much closer to the mechanics this time; notably in how a few late-game twists only come about. With this said, a few very entertaining elements are notably absent. While the world itself is fun, there’s no denying a disappointing lack of challenges via boss battles to keep your heart pounding or to break up the levels. Creative as they are, one or two would have massively enhanced the game. Furthermore, the dreary Binding of Isaac level of hopelessness can understandably put off a few fans. Without any moments of true joy to reward you, your constant failures can be that much harder to push past.

 

While it’s clear this will have no happy ending, there’s no denying the mechanical strength behind The End is Nigh and the incredible creativity on display. Give it a look if you’re after a fantastic adventure platformer, but just be sure to watch the trailer first.

 

THE END IS NIGH / DEVELOPER AND PUBLISHER: ED MCMILLEN AND TYLER GLAIEL / PLATFORM: PC / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW


Callum Shephard

You May Also Like...

chinese remake of anaconda drops trailer

ANACONDA Trailer Grants First Look At Remake Of 1997 Horror Flick

Three sequels and a spinoff-crossover film wasn’t enough for the 1997 creature feature Anaconda, which not only has a new movie in development, but is getting a Chinese remake! From
Read More
black widow star scarlett johansson in talks to lead new universal jurassic world film

Scarlett Johansson In Talks To Join JURASSIC WORLD Film

Another MCU star appears to be taking up the reins for Universal’s new Jurassic World movie: two-time Oscar nominee Scarlett Johansson is reportedly in talks to lead the franchise that
Read More

Exclusive Reveal! Titan Comics to Deliver Prehistoric Hysterics in First 2 DUMB DINOS Collection

Titan Comics have exclusively revealed to STARBURST that they’re gearing up to publish the first-ever collection of the hilarious cult digital comic strip 2 Dumb Dinos, and we’re not the
Read More

New Dates For Lovecraftian Key of Dreams

Key of Dreams has announced new spaces for its titular immersive luxury horror event. The critically acclaimed company is known for its overnight experiences that dunk you into a strange
Read More

FAB Café to Host Free Film Screening of New Indie Comedy SECRETS OF A WALLABY BOY

We’re well known for our championing of truly independent filmmakers here at STARBURST, so it’s doubly exciting to be writing about one of our own! After joining the crew in
Read More
colin farrell returns as oswald cobblepot in the penguin series trailer

Colin Farrell Returns In THE PENGUIN Trailer

Colin Farrell returns as Gotham City’s answer to Tony Soprano in the first trailer for Max series The Penguin, which spins out of the world of the 2022 DC film
Read More