In Iron Meat, a mishap at a laboratory unleashes a terrifying biomechanical mass, one that assimilates all organic and metallic matter that it comes into contact with. The landscape around the lab is now swarming with horrific creatures that are amalgams of the staff, vehicles, wild animals, even buildings. The only hope left is a one-man mission to fight through the mass and destroy the heart of the beast before it swallows everything.

Iron Meat is A Fresh Take on the Contra-Like Genre

Iron Meat is a Contra-like game—a sidescrolling platformer-shooter with weapon powerups that are lost on death. Contra-like games have become fairly common, and Iron Meat is certainly above average in terms of design.

It features a completely different set of powerups and is very generous with lives, making it relatively easy overall even if the moment-to-moment gameplay can be challenging.

A Gory Visual Feast with Disturbing Body Horror Throughout

The graphical design is what sets Iron Meat apart, as this is really a gory treat for the eyes. Both regular enemies and bosses are detailed and unique, with some really disturbing body horror on display.

Of course, for the more squeamish, this may not be an upside and more sensitive people should really scrutinize the graphics as the gore never lets up.

Lengthy Gameplay but Quick Playthroughs for Experts

While the levels in Iron Meat are pretty long by the standards of Contra-likes, a skillful player can still finish it in two or three hours depending on the difficulty. There is some replay value in the extensive unlockables, which can be earned with time by completing levels quickly with minimal deaths.

Even so, this is likely to be a one or two-session game for anyone experienced in similar titles.

STREAMER SCORE

Iron Meat (PC, PS5, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S) - 2024

Overall

3.5

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Summary

Iron Meat is an excellent Contra-like with mechanically varied levels and some creatively gory design.

Steam

Drew Johnston

ANDREW JOHNSTON is a teacher, writer and journalist based out of mainland Asia. He is a regular contributor to Superjump Magazine, where he specializes in independent video games and the gaming culture of East Asia. He has published short fiction in 30 markets and anthologies including Daily Science Fiction, Nature: Futures and the Laughing at Shadows Anthology.