Mutant Mudds from developer Renegade Kid has the distinction of being one of the best downloadable offerings on both the Wii U and 3DS. The game is just an expertly crafted retro-influenced platformer that’s wholly entertaining from beginning to end. Aside from also being available on the PC, Mutant Mudds Deluxe will soon come to the PlayStation 3 and Vita, allowing even more folks to get their hands on it and enjoy its platforming bliss. I spent some time playing the PlayStation 3 version earlier this month at IndieCade, and I was glad to see that all of the charm of past versions has remained intact.

In Mutant Mudds, you take on the role of Max, a poindextery type who lives with his beloved grandma. The game kicks off in true retro style, showing you the basic story details in a cutscene that lasts a matter of seconds before tossing you right into the main adventure. It’s not exactly deep, but for a game about a nerdy kid who’s saving the planet from mud-based enemies, it doesn’t need to be.

If you played past versions of Mutant Mudds, you know what to expect. For those of you who’ve missed out on the experience, however, the gameplay is simple enough. All you have to do is run, jump, and shoot. The mechanics are fairly intuitive, but it’s the levels that really test your platforming mettle. Spike-filled chasms, tricky jumps, and precarious ledges challenge you to proceed with the utmost of caution, and as is the case with these types of games, your timing and jumping prowess play a big role in your success (or lack thereof).

In addition to environmental hazards, muddy enemies patrol the levels. On their own, these baddies are your standard pushover fare, but when you need to traverse multiple platforms while avoiding and shooting groups of moving enemies, they can really give you a rough time. There aren’t any bosses in Mutant Mudds, but as you go deeper into the adventure, level layouts, perils, and enemies get progressively tougher and trickier to navigate around and defeat.

Collecting diamonds unlocks power-ups that you can switch between before starting levels. You’ve got a powered up water gun, a jetpack that lets you travel for longer vertical distances, and a jetpack that shoots you upward to great heights. Each of these power-ups has its perks, and they can be utilized to discover bonus levels. These stages are among the hardest Mutant Mudds has to offer, and they’re also some of the most rewarding to complete.

As is the case in the Wii U version of Mutant Mudds, the PlayStation Network edition uses a checkpoint system that allows you to return to the nearest checkpoint should you fail. Honestly, this feature seems a tad questionable, because while the game is certainly difficult, it never gets to extreme levels of challenge where checkpoints would be necessary. You’ll probably die in a few stages a number of times, but the addition of checkpoints removes a lot of the tough love that Mutant Mudds originally boasted for its audience. Thankfully, you can toggle this feature off and retain the old school spirit of the game.

You can expect Mutant Mudds to include all of the original levels, as well as the extra stages that were eventually released in subsequent versions. This includes the ultra challenging Grannie levels, where you play as Max’s grandma and have access to all three power-ups at once. This version also includes the ghost stages, which are some of the toughest the game has to offer due to the fact that enemies can’t be defeated using your regular water gun. The inclusion of these stages was probably a given, but they’re worth mentioning due to how difficult they are in comparison to the original levels, which are already quite tough.

Mutant Mudds has always looked and sounded great. The pixel graphics are reminiscent of classic platformers, though they take advantage of a far more robust color palette. The rad sounds of chiptunes are also prominent throughout, making the game a proper throwback to awesome side-scrolling adventures of the past. I only played the PlayStation 3 version at IndieCade, but I can already imagine how smooth and vibrant the game must look on the Vita.

As previously announced by Renegade Kid Director Jools Watsham, Mutant Mudds will feature Cross-Buy and Cross-Save functionality. Buy one version of the game on the PlayStation Network, and you’ll get them both; and to top it off, you’ll be able to take your save on the go with you or enjoy it in the comfort of your own home. If you’ve yet to play Mutant Mudds and you own either a PlayStation 3 or Vita (or both) and you fancy yourself a platformer lover, it’s impossible not to advise you to watch out for this upcoming PlayStation Network version. Keep a lookout for it this holiday season.

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