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.
Reviews
- The game features a unique blend of Puyo Puyo and Super Meat Boy elements, providing a fresh take on the puzzle genre.
- The art style and cutscenes are well-animated and visually appealing, enhancing the overall experience.
- For players who enjoy challenging gameplay, the game offers a rewarding experience that keeps you engaged.
- The gameplay is often frustrating due to artificially difficult obstacles and clunky controls, making it feel unpolished.
- The emphasis on combo chains is undermined by frequent hazards that destroy placed pieces, leading to a lack of satisfaction.
- Many players feel the game fails to capture the fun and fast-paced nature of its predecessors, resulting in a tedious experience.
- gameplay16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received largely negative feedback, with many players finding it confusing, slow-paced, and frustrating, especially in comparison to the fast-paced nature of Super Meat Boy. Critics highlight issues such as bland UI, poorly designed hazards, and a lack of engaging content, leading to an overall experience that feels unfun and unchallenging. Suggestions for improvement include more intuitive mechanics and better integration of gameplay elements, as the current combination of styles does not create a satisfying 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.”
“This game is confusing and mechanically annoying.”
“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 anything other than achievements).”
“Disappointed because everything else about the game is great, except the gameplay.”
- music7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and charm, contributing positively to the overall experience. While some players appreciate the soundtrack, others feel it doesn't elevate the gameplay enough to compensate for the game's flaws. Overall, the music is seen as a strong point, though opinions vary on its impact relative to the game's other elements.
“The rest of the game is pretty nice; I like both the art style and the music.”
“The music sounds pretty good.”
“It has genuinely great animation and music to keep you glued to the screen; it has that Meat Boy charm.”
“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 mediocre too.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the smooth 2D art style and overall aesthetic, while others criticize specific elements, such as the "evolution" graphic. Despite the visual appeal, the game's graphics alone do not seem to elevate the overall experience significantly.
“Good concept, made weird, good art style, good music as always, overall an okay game.”
“Retains that smooth, smooth art style that was forever's only redeeming quality.”
“A few hours of (mostly) decent levels and nice 2D graphics.”
“The 'evolution' graphic is especially bad.”
“It retains that smooth, smooth art style that was forever's only redeeming quality.”
- story3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is criticized for being virtually nonexistent, with users noting a lack of engaging narrative and poorly executed cutscenes. This absence of a compelling story detracts from the overall gameplay experience, making it feel unoriginal and less enjoyable compared to its predecessor, Super Meat Boy.
“The effortless cutscenes, music, and story present in these new games create a unique experience that contrasts with the original Super Meat Boy, which stood out among other colorful and unpolished indie titles.”
“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.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
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.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers feel that the game's attempt at emotional depth falls short, as it relies on established formulas rather than innovating or exploring new emotional territory. This approach leads to a lack of genuine emotional impact, undermining the intended experimental nature of the title.
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%
