Review: Mutant Mudds Super Challenge

In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, titles like Battletoads and Ninja Gaiden were born to raise the blood pressure of many. Now, 28 years later, Mutant Mudds Super Challenge is here and it seems to have the same objective. With its unique level-design, and bone-crunching gameplay, Mutant Mudds Super Challenge pays tribute to the former and serves up a great experience on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS.

Mutant Mudds Super Challenge places individuals into the role of Max, a blond, four eyed-hero, who must rid the earth of alien mutants named, Mudds. Armed with only a blaster, jet-pack, and jumping ability, Max must travel through 40 difficult stages and save the world.

In this day and age, 2D platformers have become somewhat common – especially on the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. But Mutant Mudds Super Challenge is anything but common as developer, Renegade Kid, manages to implement its trademark level-design which allows users to jump between foreground and background. This allows each stage to open-up and screams exploration once noticed. For instance, should one stumble upon a secret doorway, he or she may adventure through an entirely new stage, decorated in one solid color that resembles the aesthetic of an original Game Boy title. Although these instances were pleasant – and tickled my nostalgic bone, that’s right I said nostalgic bone -, reaching these stages were a difficult task to accomplish considering the intense level of difficulty.

Although painfully frustrating – and even the word frustrating is a bit of an understatement considering I died over 200 times -, Mutant Mudds Super Challenge provides a rewarding experience to those who stick it out. Each stage is challenging and filled with enemies, both airborne and mobile, who are repetitive in nature and fire projectiles at you every chance they get. But fear not as these mutants move similar to those of Mega Man which are easily defeated should you memorize their attack-patterns. In order to destroy mutants, Max utilizes his handy-dandy blaster against these monsters as if their rebel scum, however, should the hero be hit three-times, he’s out for the count. Thankfully, Super Challenge loosens its tight leash as it has done away with traditional lives and has instead integrated a wonderful checkpoint system. When reached, it provides the individual with a slice of hope and encouragement as its placed at the half-way point of each stage.

Mutant Mudds Super Challenge’s incredible level-design was created to inspire individuals towards exploration and curiosity, and it does the trick. The bone-crunching gameplay is certainly intended to frustrate and challenge the user, but should one decide to take things slow, it can serve as a rewarding experience. Even though the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U is littered with a variety of typical, boring, 2D platformers, Mutant Mudds Super Challenge is anything but that, and happens to be an amazing experience on the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U.