Iron Meat

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In Iron Meat, players must take down the all-consuming Meat biomass in a fast-paced, run-and-gun shooter spread across nine levels of intense action. Look forward to challenging multi-phase boss fights, with increased difficulty options for experienced players. Join forces with a friend in 2-player couch co-op mode for double the firepower and double the carnage.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

Reviews

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 251 reviews

music76 positive mentions

grinding1 negative mentions

Iron Meat is a fantastic homage to classic run-and-gun games like Contra, featuring tight controls, engaging gameplay, and a killer soundtrack.
The pixel art and level design are visually impressive, with unique and grotesque enemy designs that enhance the overall experience.
The game offers a fair challenge with multiple difficulty settings and plenty of unlockable skins, providing good replayability for fans of the genre.

The game is relatively short, typically taking around 1-2 hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more content.
Some players have noted that the enemy spawning can feel unfair at times, leading to cheap deaths and frustration.
There is a lack of additional game modes or post-campaign content, which could limit replayability beyond unlocking skins and achievements.

music
116 mentions
66 % positive mentions
32 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its energetic and heavy metal soundtrack that perfectly complements the fast-paced action and retro aesthetic. The soundtrack is described as both catchy and adrenaline-pumping, enhancing the overall gameplay experience and evoking nostalgia for classic run-and-gun titles. Additionally, players appreciate the option to switch between modern and retro versions of the music, further enriching the game's appeal.
- “The soundtrack is equally impressive, featuring catchy chiptune tunes that perfectly complement the frantic action.”
- “The music is also so good, with a nice metal and rock tone throughout the game that makes you want to blast it through your headphones!”
- “A special shoutout must go to the soundtrack, a pounding metal score that fits perfectly with the game’s aesthetic.”
- “But the music doesn't always seem to match the action.”
- “The retro versions are the same as the original songs, but feel way out of place since they're 8-bit music on a game that looks 16-bit.”
- “The only change I'd recommend for the music is to turn it down slightly.”
gameplay
60 mentions
45 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the reviewed games is characterized by a nostalgic, retro-inspired run-and-gun style reminiscent of classic titles like Contra, featuring tight controls, responsive mechanics, and engaging boss battles. While some games offer a wealth of content and replayability, others suffer from limited levels and repetitive gameplay, leading to mixed feelings about their value. Overall, players appreciate the satisfying combat and art design, though some note issues with balance and brevity in gameplay experiences.
- “Broforce has like 40 different characters, with unique attacks and special powers, 4 players coop, a long gameplay with a huge amount of levels and bosses.”
- “The gameplay is tight and responsive, offering challenging levels packed with relentless foes and epic boss battles.”
- “The gameplay is buttery smooth, and the level design is both cool and varied, keeping things fresh at every turn.”
- “The game has low replayability and little content for its price; you can beat it three times on easy, normal, and hard difficulties, and that's it. There are no secret levels, no challenges, no different characters, and no gameplay twists. You can play again, but you'll just repeat the same levels with enemies spawning in the exact same places.”
- “The gameplay concept is simple, and the overall game is not very long.”
- “Iron Meat is your classic run and gun in the style of Contra. It does not have any fancy mechanics like sliding, climbing, or hanging, and it also does not feature any alternative styles like top-down or motorbike levels.”
graphics
45 mentions
56 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant pixel art style, which effectively captures the retro aesthetic reminiscent of 90s gaming while incorporating modern enhancements. Players appreciate the detailed animations, diverse monster designs, and the overall visual presentation that complements the intense gameplay. The combination of excellent graphics, a fitting soundtrack, and smooth controls contributes to a highly engaging experience that appeals to both nostalgic fans and new players alike.
- “The game's visuals are a standout feature, with vibrant pixel art and smooth animations that evoke the golden age of 16-bit gaming.”
- “The retro pixel art style is vibrant and full of detail, perfectly capturing the gritty atmosphere of a world overrun by grotesque, biomechanical enemies.”
- “Amazing presentation: visuals, sound, and art direction.”
- “The graphics are similar, but updated.”
- “I hated the art style they went with.”
- “It definitely doesn't fail to deliver on being a great contra-like run and gun experience, with gross and chunky pixel graphics and an absolutely shredding soundtrack.”
replayability
17 mentions
41 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while it offers some challenge and unlockable skins that enhance replay value, many players feel it is limited due to a lack of additional content, such as secret levels or gameplay twists. Most agree that after completing the game on various difficulty levels, the experience can feel repetitive, with the primary incentive for replay being cosmetic unlocks rather than substantial gameplay changes. Overall, while it captures the spirit of classic contra-style games, its replayability may not justify its price for some players.
- “A brilliant and lovingly made contra clone that has loads of challenge to it, and thanks to loads of unlockable skins, plenty of replay value.”
- “The game is also very replayable, with a deeper cosmetic system than I'd expect of the genre.”
- “Classic 16-bit style pixel art, excellent soundtrack, satisfying weapons and highly replayable.”
- “Low replayability and little content for the game's price. You can beat it three times on easy, normal, and hard difficulties, and that's it. No secret levels, no challenges, no different characters, no gameplay twists. You can play again, of course, but you will repeat the same levels with enemies spawning in the same exact places.”
- “You may not be as forgiving as I am, so you may find the price a bit too high for a single hour of entertainment with little replay value.”
- “Too bad that there are basically no extras besides other characters (which are just alternate skins) and achievements; no challenges or anything that would have improved its replayability.”
story
17 mentions
29 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its straightforwardness and effective integration with gameplay, featuring a cool flow between levels and engaging cutscenes. While some players feel the narrative isn't essential, they appreciate its interesting plot and humor, alongside the game's impressive visuals and soundtrack. Many express a desire for additional content to further explore the story and characters.
- “The story is pretty cool, with a good flow between levels.”
- “Throw in some of the best pixel art I've ever seen, a surprisingly cool environmental story that never overrides the gameplay, and the most banging metal soundtrack I've ever heard, and you have one of my new favorite games of all time!”
- “The story is narrated via short cutscenes and that's the kind of story I enjoy in this genre, simple and right to the point; also the animated intro is remarkably stylish.”
- “There is a story here, but it really is not necessary.”
- “The only thing that I wish and hope for is that we get more content for the game, either in the form of 'another story' where something else happens with the meat or one of the bosses, or some kind of additional co-op mode or something.”
- “You are not going to be buying a 50-hour story-driven game.”
atmosphere
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a vibrant retro pixel art style that effectively conveys a gritty world filled with grotesque, biomechanical enemies. Players appreciate the engaging soundtrack and detailed graphics, which enhance the overall experience of this fun run-and-gun shooter. The combination of character customization and unlockables further enriches the nostalgic ambiance.
- “The retro pixel art style is vibrant and full of detail, perfectly capturing the gritty atmosphere of a world overrun by grotesque, biomechanical enemies.”
- “Very fun Contra-style retro shooter with unlockables, character customization, great retro graphics, great retro music, and great retro atmosphere.”
- “Great run and gun game; cool soundtrack, atmosphere, and boss battles.”
- “The retro atmosphere feels more like a gimmick than a genuine homage to the past.”
- “While the game attempts to create a nostalgic vibe, it ultimately falls flat and feels uninspired.”
- “The atmosphere lacks depth, making it hard to immerse myself in the game world.”
humor
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of nostalgic body-horror elements and a quirky, Army of Darkness-inspired visual storytelling style. Players appreciate the amusing character skins and find the overall challenge and replayability enhance the comedic experience.
- “There are tons of visual storytelling scenes with an Army of Darkness-style sense of humor.”
- “Basic Contra clone, but the challenge is good, there is decent replayability, the different skins are kind of funny, and the body horror is nostalgic.”
optimization
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is highly optimized, exhibiting minimal to no bugs, and is capable of running smoothly on a wide range of computer systems.
- “There are minimal to no bugs, and it could potentially run smoothly on any computer.”
- “The game is highly optimized, allowing for seamless gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I appreciate how well the developers have optimized the game; it runs flawlessly on my setup.”
character development
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
While the reviews highlight impressive artistic direction and design elements, they do not specifically address character development, suggesting that this aspect may not be a focal point of the game.
grinding
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players note that grinding primarily serves as a means to unlock various character skins, allowing for customization and unique combinations, which adds a layer of replayability to the game.