Dr. Fetus' Mean Meat Machine

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.

55%Game Brain Score

gameplay, music

story, grinding

55% User Score Based on 88 reviews

Critic Score 69%Based on 8 reviews

Platforms

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About

In 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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

55%

Audience ScoreBased on 88 reviews

gameplay4 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game features excellent graphics, animation, and a catchy soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
It offers a unique twist on the Puyo Puyo formula, combining challenging puzzle mechanics with the iconic Super Meat Boy aesthetic.
Some players found the gameplay rewarding and enjoyable, especially when approached with a different strategy that focuses on quick matches rather than large combos.

The game is criticized for its frustrating difficulty and poorly designed mechanics that hinder the enjoyment of building combos, making it feel tedious and unfair.
Many players felt that the controls were clunky and unresponsive, detracting from the overall gameplay experience.
The game has been described as a disappointing departure from the fast-paced action of previous Super Meat Boy titles, leading to a lack of satisfaction and fun.

gameplay
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
70%
13%
The gameplay has received largely 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 an overall unsatisfying experience. While some appreciate the attempt to blend different gameplay styles, the execution has left many feeling disappointed and unchallenged.
- “This leads to a very hectic gameplay; you have to try to set up matches while your blocks get permanently removed.”
- “In addition to the basic mechanics mentioned above, dfmmm adds a fresh spin on the puzzle genre.”
- “Continuing on the gameplay side of things, I appreciate the game for what it is without comparing it to others of the genre, but I will say the game does punish you if you try to go for huge lines, and even though there is a reward (invincibility) if you do chain reactions, I feel like they are very rare to pull off, which is kind of unsatisfying.”
- “This game is confusing and mechanically annoying, fuck this shit.”
- “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).”
- “Disappointed because everything else about the game is great, except the gameplay.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
17%
25%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its quality and eclectic nature, appealing to a wide range of musical tastes. However, others note that the initial tracks can be disappointing and may detract from the overall experience, especially when paired with challenging gameplay. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally well-received, it is overshadowed by other gameplay issues.
- “The rest of the game is pretty nice; I like both the art style and the music.”
- “Music is really good too!”
- “Soundtrack is also very good and doesn't get boring throughout the experience.”
- “Some levels are exceedingly annoying, and A+ times are sometimes (most of the time not) wildly imbalanced. The OST throws its two worst songs at you early on, along with two of the worst levels, leading to a bad first impression, especially mixed in with the learning curve of just getting a feel for narrowly shimmying your pieces past obstacles.”
- “Some quality-of-life issues to mention: the music doesn't pause on alt-tab, and controls can't be rebound.”
- “The soundtrack is eclectic and will appeal to metalheads, fans of They Might Be Giants' 'Flood' album, as well as bluegrass-loving yuppies donning straw hats at the farmers' market.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
29%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their smooth 2D art style, cohesive visuals, and excellent animation, contributing to an overall appealing aesthetic. While some reviewers caution against being misled by the visuals alone, many appreciate the artistic quality and integration with the game's music and sound design.
- “+ excellent graphics, animation, music, sounds.”
- “The rest of the game is pretty nice; I like both the art style and the music.”
- “Retains that smooth, smooth art style that was Forever's only redeeming quality.”
- “The visuals (both in-game and in the UI) are sleek and feel cohesive as a whole.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The reviews indicate a general dissatisfaction with the game's story, describing it as minimal and lacking depth, with some criticizing the cheap cutscenes and simplistic level designs. While some players appreciate the brevity of the story mode levels, they express a desire for a more engaging narrative and meaningful gameplay elements that enhance the overall 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.”
- “I wish there were more cutscenes making the story better, and also, I wish the transformations had a 'purpose' in-game.”
- “Story mode levels are short and sweet.”
- “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.”
- “They just made Puyo Puyo but more stressful and with a weirdly worse story premise.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, diverging from the typical engaging mechanics of Puyo Puyo and leaning towards a more monotonous puzzle experience.
- “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.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers feel that the game fails to deliver a truly innovative emotional experience, as it merely builds on existing formulas rather than offering fresh, impactful storytelling or emotional depth.
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is characterized by the presence of cute and funny clones, which adds a lighthearted and entertaining element to the overall experience.
- “The game features cute, funny clones that always bring a smile to my face.”
- “I love the humor in this game; the characters are so quirky and entertaining!”
- “The witty dialogue and hilarious situations make every moment enjoyable.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Players find the game's replayability satisfactory due to its substantial content and playtime, particularly noting the challenge of certain levels and the option to replay for higher scores.
- “I think it's fair for the amount of content and playtime you get, considering the difficulty of some of the levels and the replayability if you want to farm the A+ scores.”
- “The game offers a wealth of content that encourages multiple playthroughs, especially for those aiming to achieve higher scores.”
- “With various difficulty levels and challenges, the replayability factor keeps the game fresh and engaging for hours on end.”
- “The game lacks significant replayability; once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to return.”
- “While the initial playthrough is enjoyable, the lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel tedious.”
- “After finishing the game, I found that there wasn't much to draw me back in for a second playthrough.”