Creative use of metaphors and gameplay contextualization make for a really fun story-focused platformer that reminds me of childhood despite never learning about it til much later. I think the mind-exploration settings are pretty weak during the first half but they knock it out of the park in the back end. I know a lot of people call the gameplay 'average' but I think it handles itself pretty well, it's just really rough until you get the levitation ball. It also runs into the usual trappings of PS2 platformers - mediocre bosses, stressfully-organized collectibles, an 'it's over already?' finale, and bad sound/voice mixing.

Meat Circus wasn't as hard as I anticipated it would be but I also think that level's just, not fun? Chasing after young Oleander is a good setpiece but the bossfights and rising water section are ass. Then again, I played the PC version, which I'm told made it easier.