Whether you're a seasoned gamer or not, you’ve probably heard of Contra, especially the legendary NES version released back in 1987. That’s over 35 years ago now! Iron Meat is, in many ways, a spiritual successor to that classic series, and today, I’m going to dive into what this game is all about and whether it’s worth checking out.
What is Iron Meat?
Iron Meat is described by the developers as a retro arcade action game, where you take on hordes of mutated enemies infected by a bizarre alien biomass from space. There’s not much in the way of deep storytelling here, but you’ll get the basics in some cutscenes before jumping into the action.
The plot? Scientists on a moon base experimented with this strange, meat-like biomass (because what could go wrong with that?), and of course, it all goes horribly wrong. The meat mutates everything it touches, merging with both living creatures and inanimate objects, transforming the base crew—and everything else—into grotesque monsters. And guess what? The moon base has a teleporter connecting to Earth, so the nightmare spreads. Iron Meat is set in this post-apocalyptic world where even everyday objects like cars can turn against you.
Classic Contra Vibes with a Twist
If you’ve played the old Contra games, you’ll instantly recognize the similarities. Iron Meat brings back that nostalgic 8-directional aiming, side-scrolling action, and jump-and-shoot gameplay. It borrows heavily from Contra’s foundation but gives it a unique twist with far creepier, bloodier enemies and more modern visuals.
The first map alone will hit you with serious déjà vu if you’ve played Contra before—it’s like stepping back into the past, but with more blood and twisted enemies. There are nine stages to beat in total, each filled with fast-paced action.
You start by customizing your character’s appearance, combining different skin parts for a unique design. Once ready, you pick a stage, select your difficulty, and jump into the madness. The difficulty affects more than just how much health enemies have. They get more aggressive, fire more bullets, and you have fewer health points as well, making it a genuinely tougher experience.
Once you start moving right, there’s no turning back—the game forces you to keep pushing forward until you reach the stage’s boss. Your score will help unlock new skins (there are around 30 in total), giving you some motivation to keep playing.
Weapons, Upgrades, and Enemy Variety
Like Contra, Iron Meat gives you plenty of weapons to collect. Some upgrades boost your speed or let you fire in all directions, but one of the best is the shotgun—it covers a wide area and gets even better if you collect two of the same weapon, upgrading its power or spread. Be careful, though—getting hit will cause you to lose a health point and one of your weapons.
The enemies range from basic grunts to more bizarre creations, like mutated cars. Each stage features a unique boss, and they’re some of the most creative parts of the game. These bosses are usually monstrous hybrids of vehicles and alien meat, and they have multiple phases to keep you on your toes. Fortunately, even the final boss is challenging but beatable, striking a nice balance for players of all skill levels.
Local Co-op: Double the Fun
If you’ve got a friend nearby, Iron Meat offers a local co-op mode that lets you play through the entire campaign together. Both players share a set number of lives based on the difficulty, but even if one player runs out of health, they can borrow some from the other by pressing a button to rejoin. It’s a great system, especially during those intense boss fights when the more experienced player can help keep the team alive.
Visuals and Music: A Retro Feast for the Eyes and Ears
I’ve always had a soft spot for pixel art, and Iron Meat delivers some really cool visuals. The walls, floors, and objects in the game are covered in pulsating meat veins, giving the world a gross but impressive look. The bosses are especially creative, with grotesque designs that blend alien flesh with mechanical elements. However, there’s still room for improvement in the art style, particularly with lighting, which could add more depth to the environments.
The game’s heavy metal soundtrack is a perfect fit, keeping the adrenaline pumping through each stage. The guitar riffs complement the fast-paced, bloody action, but the music isn’t distracting. Plus, since the game isn’t too long, the soundtrack never overstays its welcome.
Short But Replayable
Iron Meat isn’t a long game, but that works in its favor. It’s easy to replay, whether you’re trying to unlock skins or complete achievements. I found myself replaying it just to grab more collectibles and see if I could beat my previous scores.
Is it groundbreaking? No. Iron Meat doesn’t reinvent the genre, and it doesn’t try to. It’s a solid, well-made game that’s clearly inspired by Contra, but it doesn’t stray too far from that formula. If you’re looking for something revolutionary in arcade shooters, this might not completely satisfy you. It’s more like comfort food for Contra fans—a familiar, enjoyable experience that doesn’t push many boundaries.
Final Thoughts: Is Iron Meat Worth It?
Overall, Iron Meat is a fun throwback to the classic arcade shooters of the past. It’s a short game but packed with action, and the co-op mode makes it even more enjoyable if you’ve got someone to play with. The creative enemy designs and solid gameplay make it worth checking out, especially if you’re a fan of retro-inspired games.
If you’re looking for a challenge, Iron Meat will give you that nostalgic rush while still feeling fresh. It’s available on various platforms, runs smoothly, and offers full controller support, making it perfect for couch co-op or playing on devices like the Steam Deck.
If you’re interested, there’s a link to the game HERE, provided by the publisher. And if you want to discover more indie and lesser-known games, consider checking out my channel HERE
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