Genre: 2d platformer
Developer: Atooi LLC
Publisher: Atooi LLC

Absent the headache-inducing, illusory depth perception granted by the game's original home on Nintendo's 3DS, the developers have opted in lieu to use smooth depth-of-field blurring. Not only does the game benefit from this change in terms of playability, but the effect fits the artist's ultra clean pixel aesthetic perfectly. All three games included in the collection are attractive enough, but it's fun to see how the detailing grew more sophisticated through the three titles.

The game's composer, the oddly-named Troupe Gammage, seems at first resonance to have delivered yet-another-Famitracker, by the numbers song selection-- and yet, many of the melodies do rival the catchiness and sophistication of some classic Famicom games, without going overly-complex ala Jake Kaufman. Sound effects fall into the same kind of middle-upper tier, complimenting the gameplay without becoming too overbearing.

In a taxonomy headed by "Super Mario Bros'" "point A to point B" in one corner, and "N+" or "Super Meat Boy" in the other, Mutant Mudds falls in the latter category, with a focus on making the most challenging sets of levels possible within the constraints of a limited set of mechanics. The player control and physics are correspondingly water-tight, impressively keeping the number of "cheap" deaths down to virtually zero!

Mutant Mudds Deluxe's multiple add-ons produce more than enough challenge-based platforming for most people, rendering the "does the world really need this" entire sequel a sort of redundant quality. The third game in the collection, a Tetris-style title where the player drops the blocks from the top of the screen, is a surprisingly competent puzzle release! The entire package then does just what it should: deliver all of the difficult platforming that very nearly anyone could consume, wrapped in an attractive package.