No release date yet

I love going back into Mutant Mudds and trying to tackle any given level. Over the years (the now defunct) Renegade Kid added in some really challenging levels, all of which were compiled for the Deluxe edition of the game -- the same ??version that was just con?firmed for Switch.

Yep, Atooi founder Jools Watsham (who was one half of the split) just ??re-confirmed it on Twitter (it was announced a while ago but we've seen no real progress since then), though we don't have a release date yet. It's another testament to the Siren's song of the Switch is ?for indies, as nearly everyone is porting over their Wii U projects to it.

There's plenty of incentive as the Switch is one of the hottest machines out ?at the moment, and is set to possibly surpass the Wii U as early as next year. I'm still very curious to see where it goes and if it can keep these sales figures up -- and what will happen if it doesn't reach the rip-roaring success that Nintendo has planned for it.

For now, we can chill and enjoy thi??s bounty of indies.

Jools Watsham [Twitter]

The post Mutant Mudds Deluxe re-confirmed for Switch appeared first on Destructoid.

With Cross-Buy support

Mutant Mudds Super Challenge will launch in North America, Australia, and Euro??pe on March 17.

The Wii U and Nintendo 3DS game features boss fights, 40 new levels, and 20 unlockable characters. It will also support Cross-B?uy so players with both consoles will only need to purchase the game once.

According to Nintendo Life, Super Challenge will retail for £8.99 / €9.99 / $9.99, and be available at a 15 percent discount through April 16 to anyone that the original game on Wii U or 3DS, and people that downloaded the Nintnies@Home preview demo.

The original Mutant Mudds was released for 3DS in 2012 and has since come to Windows PC, iOS platforms, Wii U, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita in various forms.

Jools Watsham [Twitter, Nintendo Life]

The post Mutant Mudds sequel leaps to Wii U, 3DS next week appeared first on Destructoid.

Portabliss

Mutant Mudds: Deluxe is great. It's really great. And now it's great on Sony platforms. Great! Renegade Kid's 12-bit platformer made the jump to PlayStation 3 and Vita this week, offering Cross-Buy and Cross-Save functionality alongside myriad of trophies to collect for $9.99.Like the Wii U and Steam versions of Deluxe, the PlayStation release features an additional 20 ghost-theme??d stages, several unlockable characters, and welcome (but entirely optional) mid-level che??ckpoints. 

I've had some time to test Mutant Mudds: Deluxe out on both PS3 and Vita. And the game looks and plays as lovely as ever -- especially on Vita. Man, is this game gorgeous on that little OLED screen. Unfortunately, it's not all good news. I've had some troubles getting the Cross-Save feature to work and I'm not alone in that. While I'm more than happy to just keep plugging away on the portable for the time being, Renegade Kid boss Jools Watsham says the Cross-Save issue is being sorted out.

Watsham has also indicated "there’s definitely a ??chance of the game coming to PS4 in the future." So make sure to pester the folks at Renegade Kid if you want to see Max and the muddy invaders go next-gen.

The post Mutant Mudds is all kinds of wonderful on PS Vita appeared first on Destructoid.

Intimidation

Mutant Mudds has been slowly creeping its way around to platforms for nearly two years now, starting life as a Nintendo 3DS title, followed by releases on PC and Wii U. You can now add PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita to that list, as Mutant Mudds Deluxe has become ??available today on the PlayStation Store.&nbs??p;

While 2D platform games are probably my favorite to play, I've still not tried Mutant Mudds. I was watching Jordan play it the other week, however, and the?? screams of frustration as I watched him struggle with the exceeding challenge have made me qu?estion whether or not I'm man enough for it. It scares me, frankly.

Mutant Mudd??s Deluxe Make?s a Splash on PS3 and PS Vita Today [PlayStation Blog]

The post Mutant Mudds Deluxe arrives on PS3 and PS Vita appeared first on Destructoid.

Get to know the people that make great videogames

Last Sunday's Sup Holmes (now on iTunes) was another example of how quickly things can escalate with a returning guest. Though I've onl??y spoken to Jools Watsham on a couple of occasions, it felt like settling in with an old friend from the moment Sinistar said "go."

Jools was kind enough to grant us with all kinds of exclusive information regarding both the business and development sides of Renegade Kid. We learned that Mutant Mudds sold best on 3DS, less well on iOS, and how the game changed the way Renegade Kid looked at the world of self-publishing. We also got deep into the psychology behind the upcoming Renegade Kid titles Cult County and Treasurenauts. The dark side of religion, the perks of multiplayer, the influence of Silent Hill 2, and ways to give the player a? sense of constant discovery were just a few of? the subjects on hand.

We also got into the dynamics of working on with various platforms and publishers. Jools was pretty clear that for both personal and professional reasons, working on Nintendo platforms means a lot to him, but that doesn't mean he's bound to them. Mutant Mudds is officially on its way to PS3 and PS Vita. It'll be one purchase for both consoles, with the potential for cross??-play. Very exciting news for Sony console only owners out there who love a go?od platformer.

The we got exclusive word on some plans for Mutant Mudds 2 (bosses confirmed!), the secret back story of Granny (she's the Obi Wan Kenobi of the Mudds-verse) and so much other stuff. It's required listening for fans of any game that Jools has ever put out (especially Rod-Land). Thanks again to Jools for being such an amazing guest, and tune in this Sunday at 1:00pm Pacific / 4:00pm Eastern when we welcome Matt Thorson (Towerfall, Give Up Robot) to the program. 

The post Mutant Mudds coming to ??PS3/PS Vita and more with Jools appeared first on Destructoid.

Mutilate those Mudds

Mutant Mudds Deluxe is out for the Wii U, and alongside of its retro charm, it brings a fairly hefty challenge when you get down to the later levels. In addition to the already formidable Grannie stages from the PC version of the game, all new ghost levels? have been incorporated into the fray, featuring invulnerable enemies.

Here's a few quick tips to get you on the right track to earning 10??0%.

General tips:

• In order to unlock Grannie mode, you have to complete everything in the original game (the first world map you're standing in when the game starts) -- including 100% of the game's secret doors (below). After you finish that task, quit back to the title screen and press "up" to switch to Grannie. You'll find that you can use her in the new Ghost levels as well, so if those are giving you trouble, beat the original game first.

• Keep in mind that Grannie can use all three power-ups at once. Each stage has a Grannie level hidden inside of it (CGA-Land), and you'll need to use two to three power-ups each to reach it.

• Attempt to get as many of the 100 collectibles in each stage as early as possible. You'll unlock upgrades that will make the later stages easier -- specifically, the last high-jump ability (press up and jump at the same time).

• Get used to hover-canceling. Sometimes hovering even a few inches off the ground and tapping to descend can be beneficial when traversing gaps.

• If you jump up and hover at the peak of your jump you'll be slightly higher than a normal jump peak. This enables you to shoot some otherwise "unshootable" enemies on high platforms. [Contributed by Renegade Kid's Jools Watsham]

• The new real estate provided in the HD version of the game is beneficial when sniping projectile-based foes. Use the full TV to your advantage, as you slightly out-range the Mudds that fire at you from afar.

• Take advantage of the checkpoints from the PC version. Get every collectible up until that point, so it "saves" your collectible progress.

The secret doors:

In order to access the secret doors in each level (such as V-Land), you need to utilize the following power-ups in each stage. You can only use one pow?er-up at a time, hence this list of what to bring. For reference, "1" is on the top left of each level set, "2" is on the top right, "3" is on the bottom left, and "4" is on the bottom right.

1-1 Nothing
1-2 Nothing
1-3 High-jump
1-4 Bullet power-up

2-1 High-jump
2-2 High-jump or hover power-up
2-3 High-jump
2-4 Bullet power-up

3-1 Hover power-up
3-2 Nothing
3-3 Nothing
3-4 High-jump or hover power-up

4-1 Bullet power-up
4-2 High-jump or hover power-up
4-3 Bullet power-up
4-4 High-jump or hover power-up

5-1 High-jump or hover power-up
5-2 Bullet power-up
5-3 Bullet power-up
5-4 High-jump

The post Very quick tips for Mutant Mudds Deluxe appeared first on Destructoid.

Bustin' makes me feel good

Last year, Renegade Kid released Mutant Mudds on the 3DS eShop, where the "12-bit" throwback platformer became an immediate hit. Since then, ports have appeared on PC and iOS, each version introducing new levels and features. Now the game arrives on Wii U as Mutant Mudds Deluxe, having achieved its "perfect form."

In my original original review, I praised Mutant Mudds for its singular focus of delivering rock-solid platforming without any unecessary fluff. Those who disregard it because it doesn't "push the envelope" are sadly missing the point of its simple purity. If a game is going to do one thing and one thing only, it better do it well -- and Mutant Mudds does it very well.

If you've already played Mutant Mudds before, I doubt there's enough fresh content in Deluxe to warran??t an additional pla??ythrough. However, if you've never taken the plunge, the new levels and other subtle tweaks make Deluxe the definitive experience.

Mutant Mudds Deluxe (Wii U)
Developer: Renegade Kid
Publisher: Renegade Kid
Released: June 13, 2013 (US) / TBD (EU)
MSRP: $9.99

Once more, you assume the role of Max, a young boy with a water cannon and jet pack combo who must rid the planet of the vile alien Mudds. As you hop from platform to platform and between the fore, middle, and background planes akin to Wario Land on Virtual Boy, you must also collect diamonds to purchase equipment upgrades. Using these upgrades, you can then return to the 20 main levels and? seek out hidden doors leading ?to 20 tougher stages.

Everything I said in my original review regarding the core game holds true in Deluxe, from the masterful level design to the pleasant chiptune soundtrack. But thanks to all the new t?weaks and additions, the package is even better than before.

The most noticeable change from its predecessors is the much wider view of the landscape. Mutant Mudds never had a habit of surprising players wit?h unavoidable off-screen obstacles, although there might have bee??n one or two blind jumps. But with this pulled-back camera, you have even more opportunity to react to oncoming dangers -- blind jumps are no longer a concern.

You can use the GamePad for off-TV play, but in an unusual twist, the view isn't 100% identical to what appears on the television. It instead presents ?a zoomed-in view similar to that of the 3DS version, only with a slightly expanded horizontal view thanks to the GamePad's widescreen aspect ratio. This caught me off guard at first, but it comes in handy whenever Max is running along the background plane. Popping your head down to glance at the GamePad is like looking through a pair of binoculars, allowing for improved precision platforming.

Introduced in the PC version of Mutant Mudds were 20 new "CGA-Land" bonus levels, named for the old-school IBM graphical color scheme. An update brought these levels to the 3DS, and they resurface once more in Deluxe. They are accessible from the main stages only after you've unlocked the Grannie character, who is able to simultaneously use all three item upgrades -- a powered-up shot, extended jet pack hover time, and a super rocket ??jump. And you will need to use all these abil??ities in perfect sync if you wish to navigate these spike-laden death mazes.

The 3DS and PC games lacked checkpoints, so levels had to be cleared in one straight shot. While the levels aren't so long that you would lose a significant amount of progress should you die, later levels become extremely frustrating without a safety net. The iOS port planted checkpoint signs in all the levels, and they appear in Deluxe as well. You can toggle checkpoint??s fr??om the main level select hub for a more hardcore expedition, however. You don't receive any special bonus for clearing a stage unassisted, just your own twisted satisfaction.

Exclusive to Deluxe are 20 "ghost" levels, bringing the total stage count to 80. By passing through the mirror in the stage select hub, you can tackle remixed versions of any main stage currently open. In these levels, you'll encounter s??pectral versions of familiar Mudds as well as new enemies, none of which you can damage with your standard weapon. Instead, you'll need to track down a ghost gun power-up that contains 10 rounds -- these shots won't kill enemies, rather they will temporarily dissipate them and allow you to run past safely.

Since you typically can't harm ghost Mudds??, levels have been constructed around this element. You have to time your jumps and hovers to avoid marching baddies, and you sometimes have to jump to a separate plane and jump back to maneuver around walls of flying specters. Merely by eliminating your ability to kill, the game takes on an entirely new dimension, forcing you to play defensively rather than offensively. It's a fi??tting final ordeal for a game that has otherwise done nothing major to challenge expectations.

But having played through Mutant Mudds three times before, I'm not sure these additions warrant a revisit. I mean, if the CGA-Land stages were brought to the 3DS original via update, what's stopping the ghost levels from likewise appearing as a free 3DS update later down the line? What would be incentive for ?a home console version then other than the larger screen real estate? Furthermore, the depth-of-field effect that replaces the stereosc??opic 3D simply lacks the same punch. This was a game built for the 3DS, after all, so some loss in translation was to be expected.

Don't take this as a slight against Mutant Mudds Deluxe, which is definitely the most complete Mutant Mudds yet -- until the next more complete version arrives, that is. Mutant Mudds has served its purpose as an unapologetic retro celebration, but at this point, I'm ready for Renegade Kid to build upon this foundation and pursue?? something truly original.

The post Review: Mutant Mudds Deluxe appeared first on Destructoid.

Renegade Kid's Jools Watsham 'loves' the eShop's flexibility

Mutant Mudds Deluxe, now coming to the Wii U eShop in the second quarter of 2013, is looking great so far, based on my hands-on time with it earlier today at PAX East. The game is setup to run on both the TV and the Wii U GamePad, and for all intents and purposes, plays just like the original.

Renegade Kid's Jools Watsham was readi?ly available, and took the time to spend a bit explaining a bit of his design philosophy on the game, and the theme of the franchise in general. He noted that the GamePad gives you "roughly a bit more than the 3DS" in terms of screen real estate, but if you want, you can look up at the TV for a much more full view of the action.

Although the GamePad was zoomed in a little too much for my tastes, Jools stated that he wanted the game to be "pixel perfect," and didn't want to compromise the gra?phics in any way, which I respect.

There will be 20 new Ghost levels in this version of the game, in addition to the previous Granny levels from the PC version. Watsham noted how the ghost levels would be more seamlessly integrated in the experience from the beginning, allowing player?s to immediately jump into the ghost world if they wish.

These new stages will feature spectres that are otherwise impervious outside of being hit with the "ghost shot," a new limited ammo gun found only in Deluxe, and only in these new levels. The ghost shots are pretty few and far between, so these stages will test your skills, as you'll have to dodge a ton of invulnerable enemies -- plus, if you kill them with the ghost shot,? they'll reform and come back within a few seconds anyways!

When I asked him about possibly unlo?cking the Granny stages earlier as well, he said that he thought about it, but wanted "something special" for players to unlock after completing the game, so he kept that mechanic in.

He noted the reflection on the mirror that you use to traverse into the world of the ghosts, and how he was going for little details like that, citing "oldschool Capcom games" as a reference point. From what I can tell, he's really going all-out to make sure that this upholds that classic  platformer feel of old, which is what I really liked about the original Mutant Mudds.

Jools was really passionate about the game, and it shows right on the screen. I have high hopes for the Wii U version of Mudds, and I hope it brings the franch?ise?? to a larger audience.

The post PAX: Mutant Mudds is lookin??g pretty fine on the Wii U appeared first on Destructoid.

No 3DS plans at the moment

When the PC version of Mutant Mudds was announced with extra content, 3DS fans everywhere let out a high pitched shriek, hoping to get that content at a later date. Renegade Kid delivered, but that may not be the case for the Wii U version of the game.

After being asked on Twitter, developer Jools Watsham stated that "The current plan is to make the Wii U content exclusive to the Wii U." Well, there you have it folks: if you want to experience the unique content of Mutant Mudds on the Wii U, you'll have to...own a Wii U.

@JoolsWatsham [Twitter]

The post Mutant Mudds Deluxe conte?nt will stay on the Wii U appeared first on Destructoid.

A while back, we got word that Renegade Kid would be developing titles for the Wii U, but we didn't really?? know what was in the p??ipeline...until now.

Courtesy of a nonchalant blog post from Jools Watsham, Renegade Kid co-founder, we now have a mysterious picture of Mutant Mudds Deluxe, which looks like a confirmation for a Wi?i U version of the game.

For starters, it seems as if you'll obviously be able to play the game on the Wii U GamePad (which is hopefully the gold standard for all Wii U digital games). There's no word yet on any plans for additional content, although it can be assumed that the 20 Grannie levels added in the PC version will be included.

Stay tuned!

The post Mutant Mudds is coming to the Wii U! appeared first on Destructoid.