Mean-While

About

Mean-While is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by Daniel Bourke and was released on September 4, 2020. It received positive reviews from players.

After an unfortunate confrontation, two rivaling megalomaniacs bent on world domination, are forced to work together in hopes to survive. Join Skeleman, and his rival, Dr. Dangerous, in the thrilling adventure title: Mean-While. Mean-While is a non-linear adventure game where you are stuck as two characters, Skeleman and Dr. Dangerous, trapped in each other's fortresses. To succeed you will b…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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82%

Audience ScoreBased on 11 reviews

humor3 positive mentions

graphics2 negative mentions

The game features charming writing and amusing character designs, providing a lighthearted and entertaining experience.
Gameplay is straightforward and fun, with a nice variety of enemies and bosses, as well as the unique mechanic of switching between two characters.
The music and sound design are well-executed, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the game.

The game suffers from unpolished visuals and clunky mechanics, making it feel below acceptable standards for a PC release.
Controls are not optimized for keyboard use, which limits accessibility for many players.
The linearity of the game and some frustrating attack animations can detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
20%
40%
The gameplay is characterized by a dual character mechanic and the acquisition of unexpected skills and abilities, providing a pleasant surprise for players. While it offers straightforward and enjoyable mechanics reminiscent of old-school Castlevania, it lacks the complexity and challenge found in titles like Dead Cells or Scourgebringer. Overall, it features varied enemies and bosses, making for a fun experience without overwhelming difficulty.
- “Gaining extra skills and abilities during the game was a mechanic I did not expect, and I was pleasantly surprised.”
- “Overall, the dual character/environment gameplay features nicely varied enemies and bosses.”
- “Gameplay is pretty straightforward and decently fun, even if it's not going to make you feel like you're playing Dead Cells, ScourgeBringer, Vibrant Venture, etc.”
- “If you like the old-school Castlevania gameplay but not the difficulty, Mean-While is what you're looking for.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The story of "Mean-while" is charming and humorous, featuring a farcical setup that enhances the gameplay experience. However, despite the endearing narrative and the effort put into it, the overall quality of the story is perceived as low.
- “Mean-while is a 2D retro pixel story-driven puzzle/action platformer with the gimmick that you must switch between two characters to progress.”
- “The story is similarly endearing, with its farcical setup being a pretty neat idea.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized as charming and reminiscent of shows like "Invader Zim" and "The League of Super Evil," appealing to fans of quirky, dark comedy. However, some reviewers note that despite the intended humor, the overall quality of the game is lacking.
- “Think of a League of Super Evil or Invader Zim type sense of humor.”
- “Overall, Mean-While does what it says on the tin—it's a humble release, and I'm a stickler for games with this sense of humor.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is highlighted by amusing designs, such as a snail with boxing gloves, which adds a whimsical touch to the game's cast. Overall, the characters are engaging and contribute to the game's charm.
- “The character designs are amusing, and as the trailer points out, it's got a snail with boxing gloves.”
- “The depth of character development really makes you feel connected to each character's journey.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, each with their own unique backstory and growth.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics have been criticized for relying on outdated retro pixel art, resulting in lifeless backgrounds and an overall unpolished appearance reminiscent of low-quality flash platformers.
- “They chose to use obsolete retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “The backgrounds are kind of lifeless, and the visuals in general feel unpolished, reminiscent of a Flash platformer on Kongregate or Armor.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is highly praised for its quality and style, contributing positively to the overall experience. Reviewers appreciate both the sound design and the musical composition, highlighting their effectiveness.
- “Oh, also, the music is great!”
- “The sound and music are both done well and very much in the style that I appreciated.”