Mortal Meal
- February 16, 2023
- Goblin Council
"Mortal Meal" is a 90's retro-style adventure game where you play as a spirit, avoiding a force looking to consume your soul while uncovering your past. With a haunting atmosphere, emotional soundtrack, and engaging story, you'll encounter frightening creatures and unspeakable horrors. Unlock cheats and secrets, and outwit your enemies to survive and wrinkle your brain with unique challenges. Be aware of the low-poly terrors and the potential for brain injury due to wrinkling.
Reviews
- Fantastic visuals and a charming mix of humor and horror, creating a unique and engaging experience.
- The game features a compelling story that effectively blends themes of grief and love, with memorable characters and clever gameplay.
- Great replayability with hidden Easter eggs and unlockable cheats, along with a well-paced gameplay experience that keeps players engaged.
- The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content.
- Some gameplay mechanics, such as enemy pathfinding and certain puzzles, can be frustrating at times.
- The cost-to-time ratio may not be favorable for all players, as the experience can be completed in under two hours.
- story13 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The story in this game is praised for its engaging blend of humor and horror, effectively conveying themes of grief and love through a simple yet heartfelt narrative. Reviewers highlight its unique approach to storytelling, complemented by compelling gameplay and a nostalgic PS1 horror aesthetic, making it a memorable experience for fans of indie horror games. Overall, the narrative is described as both touching and entertaining, with a strong emphasis on creativity and emotional depth.
“Part of that is the PS1 horror aesthetic, sure, which you see a lot in indie horror games, but I think much more of that comes from the very human way its simple story is told, and the effective and balanced use of comedy and dread all at the same time.”
“It's an engaging and touching story with some clever gameplay that gets the player to think about how to advance the plot just using the clues around them.”
“Beautiful melancholy story of grief and love.”
“If you love a ghost story that knows exactly what it wants to say and says it in an unrestrained, wild way only a 3D indie platformer can, you absolutely need to give about 4 hours of your life to Mortal Meal.”
“Short little horror game with a surprisingly sweet storyline.”
“If you're a fan of low-poly art styles, bite-size psychological horror games, or surprisingly heartfelt storytelling, then give this one a shot.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their fantastic visuals and effective use of the PS1 horror aesthetic, which enhances the storytelling and overall experience. The low-poly art style, combined with well-designed environments and character designs, contributes to a nostalgic yet engaging atmosphere. Players appreciate the balance of humor and horror, making the visuals an integral part of the game's charm.
“Fantastic visuals, good mix of humor and horror, and a very cute story!”
“They absolutely nailed the PS1 aesthetic too, the environments and character design is really great.”
“Mortal Meal is incredibly straightforward with its art style, music, and general themes.”
“But, there are incentives to replay the game in the form of cheat codes hidden around the world that unlock aesthetic or difficulty-modifying changes.”
“If you're a fan of low-poly art styles, bite-size psychological horror games, or surprisingly heartfelt storytelling, then give this one a shot.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The gameplay is well-structured, effectively onboarding players while blending simple action segments with free-roam and puzzle elements at a perfect pace. It incorporates horror mechanics that enhance tension, alongside clever gameplay that encourages players to think critically about advancing the story using environmental clues.
“Gameplay feels like it knows what it is and wants to be, and onboards the player well.”
“The gameplay is a perfect mix of simple action segments and free roam/puzzle bits with perfect pacing.”
“Gameplay feels like it knows what it is and wants to be and onboards the player well.”
“- Horror mechanics that kept me on edge.”
“It's an engaging and touching story with some clever gameplay that gets the player to think about how to advance the plot just using the clues around them.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with a diverse and fitting soundtrack that complements various locations. Reviewers note the playful and inventive musical tracks, which contribute to the overall uniqueness and immersive experience of each area.
“Great music that fits the atmosphere of the different sections well.”
“Solid story, very fun writing, really great soundtrack and visuals.”
“From specific and playful musical tracks for different locations to inventive little details like photos and posters, various elements go into making each location feel unique and individually planned.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game effectively blends humor with horror, maintaining a balance that enhances its serious themes without overshadowing them. Players appreciate the cute story and nostalgic '90s vibes, highlighting the well-integrated comedic moments throughout the experience.
“Fantastic visuals, good mix of humor and horror, and a very cute story!”
“I appreciate that they were not afraid to add moments of humor throughout and managed to not have it distract from the serious themes.”
“Great '90s vibes and a good balance of serious topics with humor.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game elicits a strong emotional response, blending humor and poignancy through an engaging narrative and clever gameplay that encourages players to reflect on their surroundings. Its low-poly art style and heartfelt storytelling resonate particularly well with fans of psychological horror and emotional depth.
“It's an engaging and touching story with some clever gameplay that gets the player to think about how to advance the plot just using the clues around them.”
“If you're a fan of low-poly art styles, bite-sized psychological horror games, or surprisingly heartfelt storytelling, then give this one a shot.”
“I laughed, I cried, I made soup.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by a great soundtrack that complements the various sections effectively, creating an immersive experience for players.
“The great music fits the atmosphere of the different sections perfectly.”
“The immersive environment draws you in and makes you feel part of the world.”
“The attention to detail in the visuals creates a captivating and haunting atmosphere.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the character development for its strong adherence to the PS1 aesthetic, highlighting the impressive environments and character design that enhance the overall experience.
“The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form genuine connections with each character.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel personal and impactful.”
“The way the game explores each character's backstory adds so much depth to the overall narrative.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the replayability of the game, particularly due to the hidden CDs that unlock exciting cheats, encouraging them to revisit and explore different gameplay experiences.
“The hidden CDs you can find throughout the game unlock cool cheats that enhance replayability.”
“Each playthrough offers new challenges and experiences, making you want to dive back in.”
“The variety of choices and outcomes keeps the game fresh, encouraging multiple runs.”