The run'n'gun shooter formula is a genre that has withstood the test of time. Many games have followed the formula but none have done it quite right like the Contra games. Contra, with that classic music and gameplay, became a staple for anyone with an NES in the 80s. Now in 2024, developer Ivan Valeryevich Suvorov is set to release what is an amazing love letter to the golden days of running and gunning and that is Iron Meat. Fusing sharp gameplay with bio monstrosities, Iorn Meat is set to be one of the gems of 2024.
My demo had me go through two levels. One level had me charge through a military base while the other put me on a train ride from hell. In Iron Meat, an experiment has gone horribly wrong. An alien creature that is like The Blob meets The Thing, has gone rampant. Anything it touches turns into horrifying and grotesque monsters. This creature affects both the living and the unliving. Humans, tanks, trucks, animals, it doesn't matter. As an elite soldier, you are tasked with ending the threat.
Monsters Everywhere
The gameplay wears the running and gunning of contra on its sleeve. The main character has the right amount of momentum and speed. Jumping and shooting have been refined to an absolute tee like the developer tuned a violin string to the right pitch. As per the genre, players shoot in 8 directions and jump to avoid environmental hazards.
From the very moment the game begins, Iron Meat becomes a slam dunk in its attitude and presentation. A hardcore metal soundtrack plays heavily as dozens of horrifying monsters descend on the player from the ground and the air. These mutants are truly strange and terrifying in their appearance, baring teeth and fans, along with a bulbous pink. Fortunately, Iron Meat gives players the tools to fight back. Like Contra, weapon pickups drop often on stage. Boomerang lasers, missiles, flamethrowers, the works. Players can use two weapons.
Iron Meat is Cooking
Between the visuals and the metal soundtrack, Iron Meat fires on all cylinders to give you an in-your-face, non-stop adrenaline rush of an action experience. The first two levels of the demo had me face a monstrous battle tank that shot a load of red mucus and acidic projectiles. The second demo turned a train into a beastly monster from a nightmare, teeth and all. Finishing these levels was a tremendous amount of fun.
It's abundantly clear, from the animation to the visual design, that Iron Meat is a labor of love. Everything feels in sync from the shooting to the difficulty. Iron Meat feels like it's a Contra for a new generation, challenging enough for experienced players, open to newer players, and a white-knuckle challenge for those who mastered the original. Iron meat is looking sharp and players won't have to wait long to see the whole adventure unfold.
Iron Meat launches for consoles and PC on September 26th.
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