As much as possible I try to avoid comparing the games I’m reviewing to other similar titles, but sometimes it’s very difficult. Video games are a medium that, more than any other, seems determined to define itself based on its past. We even have genres named after its most popular representatives! Iron Meat It is one of those games that exists based on one of the great classics and in this review we are going to see if it shines on its own or if it is just another clone.
You only have to watch any video or screenshot of this title to know which great classic it immediately brings to mind. We talk about Contra. Many of the scenarios, enemies and even specific moments of this new game are directly inspired by Contra 3: The Alien WarsI would say that anyone waiting for the release of a new installment of the Konami saga should be happy with Iron Meatbut there is a problem: A new title of that saga recently came out.
The story of this game takes us to a future in which terrible experiments carried out on the moon get out of control. “The Flesh”, an amorphous mass of organic tissue, advances, devouring and infecting both living beings and any machine. We are one of the soldiers who advances through the world fighting against this entity while looking for a way to stop it.
Run, jump and shoot
The gameplay mechanics of Iron Meat They are pretty basic. We advance to the right (or up in some levels) eliminating all the enemies, dodging their shots and jumping over obstacles. By shooting at some containers we can obtain different, more powerful weapons that we can upgrade if we find another of the same type.
It is possible to carry two different weapons and switch between them at any time. If you lose a life, you will also lose the weapon you have equipped at that time and this allows for a bit of strategy: if you are going to cross a dangerous area, it is better to change weapons so as not to risk losing the best one you have.
Basically, in Iron Meat We can run, jump, shoot, change weapons and… that’s itThere are no special attacks, bombs that wipe out everything on screen, or anything like that. There were times during my playthroughs where I really missed having a few more tools, but eventually I began to appreciate the simplicity it offers. I found that I missed the simplicity of 90s games, the ones that didn’t require 12 buttons and combinations of them, more than I thought.
The ironic thing is that this makes the game even simpler than Contra 3: The Alien Warsa game that is over 30 years old, and just as short. The nine levels can be completed in two or three hours. But —just like the older titles— we’ll want to play it again to beat it on a higher difficulty or just for fun. Of course, as a good modern game that it is, it has achievements/trophies and unlockable characters, although this is only cosmetic.
Biomechanical Horrors
I must confess that what attracted me to this game was not the obvious connection with Contra, but the grotesque character and setting designs. A mix of disgusting fleshy organisms and technological components that, at least visually, combines ideas of body horror with cyberpunk and biopunk. That’s a mix that really attracted me, because this kind of horror has always intrigued me.
It’s a shame that, at the story level, Iron Meat I didn’t explore those ideas at all, but it doesn’t matter much because I was here for the vibes. Enemies that throw their heads around like explosives and grow new ones, vehicles with fleshy appendages, buildings with mouths instead of windows, and even a scientist with psychic powers like Akira give this work the same ultra-violent tone of the ‘anime’ OVAs of the late 80s. Add to that the wonderful rock soundtrack guitars composed by Darkman007 and we have a luxurious setting.
Still, I wish it went a bit further. The enemy and environment designs are cool, but not overly imaginative. The ability for enemies to regenerate is just cosmetic and has no gameplay effects. The concept of “The Flesh” has a lot more potential that this game doesn’t quite tap into.
The price of meat
Iron Meat It is a very direct game in its proposal that delivers exactly what it promises and nothing more. We’re going to have fun running and gunning for a couple of hours – with a friend if possible – and if we like it, we can do it again. But while I appreciate and enjoyed that simplicity both narratively and gameplay-wise, I can’t help but wish there was more to it.
This same year it went on sale Against: Operation Galuga. Although the aesthetics of Iron Meat I like it much more, I can’t help but compare them and WayForward’s game comes out on top. It offers much more variety, gameplay options and challenges. Still, this short original title from Retroware has a lot of charm and offers quality entertainment.
This review was made with a digital copy of Iron Meat for PlayStation 5 provided by Retroware. This game will be released for PS4, PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and PC on September 25, 2024.
