PAX East Spotlight: Iron Meat
By Peeziest
If you like Contra, but want more gore, then we think you should keep your eyes out for Iron Meat. It's an intense 2D run-and-gun style game with a beautiful art style, and metal soundtrack.
Gameplay is fast and deadly. Everything kills your character in a single hit, and enemies come from all sides. You'll find various gun upgrades, like spread guns and machine guns. You have two different slots to hold these guns, and can switch between them with the shoulder buttons. If your character dies, you drop the gun in whichever slot you were last using.
You can upgrade weapons by picking up multiple of the same types. Meaning, if you already have a machine gun, you can pick up another in the same slot, making it stronger. While difficult, the game rewards you for either playing flawlessly, or cautiously swapping away to a different slot before your character dies, allowing you to retain your upgraded equipment.
The game is grotesque and beautiful at the same time. As suggested by the title, foes in Iron Meat are generally a combination of organic matter mixed with metal and machinery, making for some truly clever looking opponents.
The game was both punishing, and a blast. I loved every minute of it. Fun fact, the game was made by one person: Ivan Suvorov. Follow him on twitter (@IvanMeat) if you're excited for the release!