The End Is Nigh

A worthwhile, if familiar, successor to Super Meat Boy.

I can't talk about The End Is Nigh without comparing it to Super Meat Boy because in so many ways it feels like a conscious alternative to some of the defining properties of that rapid, colourful, classic game. But measured on its own qualities, The End Is Nigh is a good game, but not a memorable one.

Edmund McMillen's newest platformer is one of the most difficult and frustrating you'll play -- but also one of the most enjoyable.

At the end of the day, you probably already know if this game is right for you. If you couldn’t get enough of Super Meat Boy and have spent the past seven years fiending for more punishing platformers, than The End of Nigh is something you should immediately inject into your veins. If you are usually iffy on super-challenging platformers, but curious if this is the one that will turn you around, keep on walking.

The End Is Nigh is a grotesque, brutal platformer that can infuriate you with demanding gameplay, then reward you with the high of conquering a seemingly impossible gauntlet. That formula probably sounds familiar to fans of 2010’s Super Meat Boy, and that’s intentional. Many of those basics remain in place for this spiritual sequel, but it’s an interesting departure in structure that hopes to evolve what made Super Meat Boy such a fun surprise – though it doesn’t always succeed.

In the end, The End is Nigh is one of the premiere indie gems on Nintendo Switch. Difficulty and rewards issues aside, this one’s immensely replayable, hilarious, and genuinely well designed in both sound, visuals, and gameplay. It’s the kind of game that may drive you nuts with its difficulty, but only because you know that you’re the one making the mistakes. Failure is only present because you didn’t do the right thing, and not because the game’s cheating the player. It’s a fun ...

Some games release and are immediately applauded merely because of who made them. The question is; is that ovation warranted for Edmund McMillen and his latest tough-as-nails 2D platformer?