Iron Meat

This game is another of my favorite run and gun games of all time. This is also what you can say is another wheel greaser game as it's not really anything new, but that's what makes it good. Like all wheel greaser games, it just makes the wheel move faster, smother and keeps the genre going; and this game does just that but with a little forward momentum.

Yes, that game does take cues from the "Contra" franchise as I said it's a wheel greaser game; and that was the intention. For fans of the franchise or just of the run and gun genre this game was a real treat, nothing new but hits in all the right places.

Really like the graphical presentation, there pretty much the retro graphic style that you would see from the Contra series, which is what makes veteran fans appreciate it even more. And the gameplay is what you would expect from the run and guns, moving forward or back, jumping and shooting and even the ability to pick out your collected weapons, level them up by collecting the same weapon again but also fighting to keep them.

But there are things in this game that make the game slightly unique. For one thing the gore effects, this game wasn't called "Iron Meat" for nothing, you can say the game finally answers that notion of the want for gore effects to be in a run and gun game where throughout the years the genre never really got them; ok they actually did for some games like "Metal Slug" has a slight blood effect but never for the "Contra" games. This game you can say is that violent step up "Contra" sequel we never had. The gore effects are nothing squeamish though, they're just simple blood splats and water hosing all in the right places and times, which I like as it's that fine balance of delivering on the gory goods but not going too far to remain tasteful.

The other thing is the game is on the medium hard side, in the game you have a load of lives up to 16. If you think that makes you unstoppable, think again you have that amount because all the levels are a long length which means many more possibilities of death are open. So, you better make every life you play count because they could run low faster than you can shoot.

I really like the designs of the levels as each of them are different and despite the long length of the levels their not boring as they're not repetitive they do keep things interesting as the levels are always a step ahead of you, so be alert for any new surprises up ahead.

The game difficulty no doubt like all run and gun games does ramp up a little as you progress but what I like is that it fair, it doesn't feel unreasonable as most of the time when you die it's really because you were a microsecond slow, made a simple misstep, just you common human error. So yeah, it's one of those games where you can't expect to get it right the first time around as there may 'be some levels that might take some practice to get though, but they can be done.

Then there are the homages, the game does homage not just the game "Contra" but other sci-fi video games and movies. Like John Carpenter's "The Thing" and the video game "Dead Space" from the designs of a few of the aliens. And there are other homages; however, this game also homages "MTV Liquid Television". Though I don't know if that's intentional or not, but some parts of the game remind in fact the game does almost play out like it could be another one of that show's short films, because like that show you see some really weird and wild stuff; that would make you wonder what the hell went through the creators mind, but also gives the game a sense of humor as it clearly doesn't take itself too seriously. From those cut scenes you see at the intro of the game which look like another "MTV Liquid television" animated short; but also those bosses like a train that is a snake, or even a bus that looks like it could be another of the giant crab monster from a Guy Smith horror novel, and other weird and wild things you must see to believe.

And there is the music which is another of the highlights of the game and the most important part in every run and gun. There are a lot of memorable tracks, the music fits as their a lot of heavy metal and rock and roll tunes which just really pump you up for action or to go even further than before.

For anyone that wants their "Contra" or just run and gun fix, "Iron Meat" hits the bloody target.

Rating: 3 and a half stars.