What are the cryptic Steam Super Meat Boy achievements and what do the names mean?
It seems like the following cryptic achievements are only available on the Steam version, not XBLA.
- N#7*<1!23
- &*>?1$
- (=+66&1$
- ^**5%_=+12
- *|-0&&
- N&8^2^%$1``
The "description" on all of them is: 8*(@31^
Bonus (bounty) points:
Are the names/characters truly random or is there some pattern? Can they be translated into something sane?
Mana's guess is correct. I can confirm that after beating Level -1 (in The Forest) I got the N#7*<1!23 achievement. Six worlds, six negative levels, six achievements.
See this question on how to reach the levels in the first place.
The glitch Bandage girl occurs in the dark OR light world of the first 6 worlds when you die a lot. I think the number of deaths is somewhat randomized, but she makes funny bleeping sounds and is constantly morphing when she's "ready". Be sure you can get her in one shot though, because if you die again she goes back to normal and you have to die a bunch more times to maker her glitch again. As for the achievements, I'm not sure what the criteria are but it doesn't seem like you get the achievement when you beat it only, because I've beaten all of them and only have two glitch achievements.
They're very well hidden warp zones in certain levels. I found and completed the first one, (found by completely random chance, completed in approx 1.5 hours) which unlocks the achievement. It appeared in the forest as a level coming before level 1. It is gold in colour and is known as world -1, an obvious nod to Mario. The only time I ever finished the level I luckily got an a+ on it.
Every time you die, there's a certain chance that Bandage Girl becomes glitchy (in that certain chapter - light or dark world doesn't matter). Save her in this glitchy state to unlock the glitch level of that chapter. Each one brings you an achievement when you beat it. As far as I know there is only A+ or death (or I somehow managed to get an A+ on everyone of the glitch levels at first try O_o). Not getting the achievement after beating the level is just a bug I think...but I'm not sure with that...