Iron Meat

99%
Game Brain Score Based on 150 reviews
  • music
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Iron Meat Game Cover
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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.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

99%
Audience ScoreBased on 150 reviews
music48 positive mentions
grinding1 negative mentions
  • Iron Meat is a fantastic homage to classic run-and-gun games like Contra, featuring tight controls, vibrant pixel art, and an adrenaline-pumping soundtrack.
  • The game offers a good balance of challenge and accessibility, with multiple difficulty settings and generous lives, making it enjoyable for both newcomers and veterans of the genre.
  • With a variety of unlockable skins and engaging boss fights, Iron Meat provides plenty of replay value despite its relatively short campaign length.
  • The game is quite short, typically taking around 1-2 hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more content for the price.
  • Some players have noted that enemy behavior can feel simplistic, leading to moments where the challenge comes more from level length than from tricky situations.
  • There are criticisms regarding the weapon balance, with some weapons feeling underpowered compared to the default options, which can affect gameplay dynamics.
  • music72 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its energetic and adrenaline-pumping soundtracks that perfectly complement the gameplay. The combination of modern and retro tracks, particularly the heavy metal and synth elements, enhances the chaotic action and overall experience. While some noted that the retro versions may feel out of place, the majority agree that the soundtrack is a standout feature, making it a must-have for fans of the genre.

    • “There are two fantastic soundtracks, a modern and retro version, both of which fit the gameplay and universe perfectly.”
    • “The soundtrack, full of energetic synth-metal tracks, keeps the intensity high and complements the chaotic on-screen action.”
    • “The art is beautiful and the soundtrack is absolutely bangin'.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay32 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by tight, responsive mechanics and a nostalgic retro feel reminiscent of classic side-scrolling run-and-gun games like Contra, featuring vibrant pixel art and a fantastic soundtrack. Players appreciate the engaging boss battles, varied level design, and the weighty feel of the weapons, although some note the game's brevity as a downside. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its fluidity and fairness, making it a rewarding experience for fans of the genre.

    • “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.”
    • “Gameplay is fun and slick, and killing all the various monsters is just as cool as witnessing them for the first time.”
    • “My only problem with it is its short gameplay length.”
    • “There's no moments where you do stuff like drive vehicles or have different gameplay.”
    • “But don't expect something as gameplay-deep or complex as the Contra and Contra-likes of old.”
  • graphics21 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their vibrant retro pixel art style, which effectively captures a gritty atmosphere filled with grotesque, biomechanical enemies. Reviewers highlight the top-notch visuals, excellent art design, and a cohesive soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, making it a standout in the contra-style genre. While most praise the graphics, there are a few dissenting opinions regarding the art style, but overall, the presentation is considered impressive and engaging.

    • “The retro pixel art style is vibrant and full of detail, perfectly capturing the gritty atmosphere of a world overrun by grotesque, biomechanical enemies.”
    • “Graphics are absolutely top notch.”
    • “Amazing presentation: visuals, sound, and art direction.”
    • “It is a modern game with retro visuals and Contra-style gameplay.”
    • “I hated the art style they went with.”
    • “Graphics are similar, but updated.”
  • replayability11 mentions

    Overall, the game offers a solid level of replayability primarily through its unlockable skins and varying difficulty levels, appealing to players who enjoy cosmetic customization and challenges. While some reviewers noted a short main campaign, many felt that the game's charm and additional content provide enough incentive for multiple playthroughs. However, a few critics mentioned that the replay value might be limited for those less interested in grinding for cosmetic rewards.

    • “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.”
    • “I know at the time of this writing I only have about four hours into the game and while it doesn't take long to get through it (about an hour with my first playthrough), I feel like this game has a ton of replayability, especially with the amount of unlockable cosmetics this game has to offer.”
    • “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.”
    • “The only real replayability is grinding for different skins for your character, which you can mix and match various parts and create something unique, which is kind of cool.”
    • “Limited replayability (only skin unlocks).”
  • story8 mentions

    The game's story is engaging yet not essential to the overall experience, featuring interesting plot elements and humorous visual storytelling. While the narrative is complemented by impressive pixel art and a standout metal soundtrack, players appreciate the gameplay more than the story itself. Overall, the game is celebrated for its artistic design and fun progression rather than a lengthy, story-driven experience.

    • “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!”
    • “It goes so hard: the graphics, the art design, the sound, the music, the story and progression... it's just so good!”
    • “Anyways, this game is awesome for a number of reasons: the plot is interesting, the bosses are very cool and multilayered, and the music is slamming!!!!!”
    • “There is a story here, but it really is not necessary.”
    • “You are not going to be buying a 50-hour story-driven game.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by vibrant retro pixel art and a gritty aesthetic that immerses players in a world filled with grotesque, biomechanical enemies. The combination of detailed graphics, engaging music, and a fun run-and-gun gameplay style enhances the overall experience, making it a standout in the retro shooter genre.

    • “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 a fantastic retro atmosphere.”
    • “Great run-and-gun game; cool soundtrack, atmosphere, and boss battles.”
  • humor2 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 to be engaging.

    • “There are tons of visual storytelling scenes with an Army of Darkness-style sense of humor.”
    • “The different skins are kind of funny, and the body horror is nostalgic.”
  • character development1 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 in the game.

  • grinding1 mentions

    Players note that the primary form of replayability in the game comes from grinding for various character skins, allowing for customization and unique combinations, which adds an enjoyable element to the experience.

    • “The only real replayability is grinding for different skins for your character, which you can mix and match various parts and create something unique, which is kind of cool.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
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Negative mentions (%)Negative

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