Dr. Fetus' Mean Meat Machine
- June 22, 2023
- Headup Development
Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine doesn’t meet the standard that Super Meat Boy set, but it’s a serviceable puzzler that does bring something new to the genre. Appealing visuals and tight controls are positives here, though these are balanced out by the often excessively punishing difficulty and the lack of multiplayer or other modes. We’d give this one a light recommendation if you’re tired of falling block puzzlers treading the same ground and want to try something that stands out from the pack. Otherwise, we’d suggest sticking with games like Mixolumia and Lumines Remastered.
Get on SteamIn Dr. Fetus' Mean Meat Machine, tackle challenging puzzle-platforming levels with a Puyo Puyo twist across familiar Super Meat Boy locales. Match clusters of clones to overcome devious hazards and face off against gruesome bosses in this hardcore spin on puzzle gaming. Experience this direct continuation of the Super Meat Boy series with its distinct blend of humor and difficulty.
Nintendo Switch
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Playstation 4
Playstation 5
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Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
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Reviews
- The game features beautiful visuals and well-animated cutscenes that enhance the overall experience.
- It offers a unique take on the Puyo Puyo formula, combining it with elements from the Super Meat Boy franchise.
- The soundtrack is catchy and complements the gameplay well, providing an engaging atmosphere.
- The gameplay is often excessively punishing, with artificially difficult obstacles that can lead to frustration.
- There is a lack of multiplayer options, which limits replayability and social interaction.
- Controls can feel clunky and unresponsive at times, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- gameplay32 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players finding it confusing, slow-paced, and frustrating, particularly in comparison to the fast-paced nature of Super Meat Boy. Critics highlight issues such as bland UI, poorly designed mechanics, and a lack of engaging content, leading to a disappointing overall experience. Suggestions for improvement include implementing a quick drop function and addressing the visibility of hazards, but as it stands, the gameplay fails to deliver a fun or enjoyable experience.
“There are a number of simple changes that would make the game far less frustrating to play: a quick drop function - or simply giving you another clone to drop instead of restarting the level whenever you touch a hazard on the way down - are two that come to mind; but as it stands, this spin-off combines aspects of Super Meat Boy and Puyo Puyo that, when put together, just do not create a functional - and more importantly, enjoyable - gameplay experience.”
“It feels like the Puyo Puyo style gameplay and the Super Meat Boy elements really clash.”
“Play the demo first to see if you like the gameplay.”
“The UI feels so bland, the gameplay is very slow-paced which goes against Meat Boy's fast gameplay. The saws are too hard to see sometimes, the 'evolutions' are pointless visual overhauls for the meat pieces, and I even heard there is no post-game content (A+ ranks do not unlock you anything other than achievements).”
“No story, no proper gameplay, cheap cutscenes, easy level designs...”
“Disappointed because everything else about the game is great, except the gameplay.”
- music16 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and catchiness, contributing positively to the overall experience. Reviewers appreciate the soundtrack as a standout feature, often highlighting it alongside the game's art style and animation. However, some players note minor issues, such as the music not pausing during alt-tab, which detracts from the overall enjoyment.
“The rest of the game is pretty nice, I like both the art style and the music.”
“The music sounds pretty good.”
“[well animated, great music, great ideas].”
“Some quality-of-life stuff to mention too: the music doesn't pause on alt-tab, and controls can't be rebound.”
“This is ass, fun for a bit, but if you're a die-hard Puyo player this is gonna kick your ass. It's also hella slow; the music's okay, but yeesh, most every world had some small annoyance, and the ending was mid too.”
“I've nearly come to terms with the effortless cutscenes, music, and story present in these new games, which was the inverse in the original Super Meat Boy that made it stand out amongst other colorful and unpolished indie titles.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the appealing visuals, smooth art style, and decent 2D graphics. However, some users criticize specific elements, such as the "evolution" graphic, and note that while the art style is a highlight, it does not fully compensate for other shortcomings in gameplay. Overall, the visuals are seen as a strong point, complemented by a catchy soundtrack, but they are not enough to elevate the game for all players.
“The rest of the game is pretty nice, I like both the art style and the music.”
“[beautiful visuals, catchy soundtrack, a unique take on an established formula].”
“The 'evolution' graphic is especially bad.”
“Retains that smooth, smooth art style that was forever's only redeeming quality.”
“Appealing visuals and tight controls are positives here, though these are balanced out by the often excessively punishing difficulty and the lack of multiplayer or other modes.”
- story6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is criticized for being virtually nonexistent, with reviewers noting the lack of engaging narrative and the presence of low-quality cutscenes. Many feel that the gameplay suffers as a result, with easy level designs that do not challenge players, contrasting sharply with the more compelling storytelling found in the original Super Meat Boy. Overall, the consensus is that the game fails to deliver a meaningful story or gameplay experience.
“I've nearly come to terms with the effortless cutscenes, music, and story present in these new games, which was the inverse in the original Super Meat Boy that made it stand out amongst other colorful and unpolished indie titles. Now I'm looking for the games to be fun on their own and stand on their own two feet without the assets of Meat Boy thrown on top of them.”
“No story, no proper gameplay, cheap cutscenes, easy level designs...”
“I've nearly come to terms with the effortless cutscenes, music, and story present in these new games, which was the inverse in the original Super Meat Boy that made it stand out amongst other colorful and unpolished indie titles. Now I'm looking for games to be fun on their own and stand on their own two feet without the assets of Meat Boy thrown on top of them.”
“If the traps were designed in a way that had them going up and were contingent on you moving side to side to avoid them, it would be a different story.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, noting that it deviates from the traditional Puyo Puyo experience of creating exciting combos, instead offering a more monotonous puzzle approach.
“It's just tedious.”
“I knew straight away this wasn't your typical Puyo Puyo game about building mega wombo Puyo combos, but instead a frustratingly tedious puzzle take on the Puyo style.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game has been criticized for lacking genuine innovation, as it merely builds upon an existing formula rather than offering a fresh or impactful experience. Reviewers feel that this approach diminishes the potential for emotional engagement.
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is criticized for its overly punishing difficulty and lack of multiplayer options, which contribute to a low replayability factor. Players feel that these elements diminish the incentive to revisit the game after completion.
“The overly punishing difficulty makes it hard to enjoy the game multiple times.”
“Without any multiplayer options, the replayability feels severely limited.”
“The game lacks variety, leading to low replayability after the first playthrough.”
Critic Reviews
Dr. Fetus' Mean Meat Machine Review
Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine doesn’t meet the standard that Super Meat Boy set, but it’s a serviceable puzzler that does bring something new to the genre. Appealing visuals and tight controls are positives here, though these are balanced out by the often excessively punishing difficulty and the lack of multiplayer or other modes. We’d give this one a light recommendation if you’re tired of falling block puzzlers treading the same ground and want to try something that stands out from the pack. Otherwise, we’d suggest sticking with games like Mixolumia and Lumines Remastered.
60%While it absolutely has a novel look and tackling puzzle action games differently, it fails to make a compelling case for your full attention
65%Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine
70%
