Iron Meat Review For the Nintendo Switch – Is it worth it?

I will begin this Iron Meat review for the Nintendo Switch by answering the question, is it worth it? Yes, it is.

I was immediately hooked by this retro-style shooter as soon as I booted it up on my Nintendo Switch.
Even before I got to the first level, I was already impressed by the outstanding intro, the soundtrack, and all the gore depicted in pixel art.

Iron Meat is everything done right in a video game, and in this review, I will tell you exactly why you should consider picking it up.

Just a small disclosure, I was given a review code for this game, but it didn’t affect my judgement. I genuinely enjoyed this game and even delayed this review to play it more, so I could find at least a negative point to talk about. And I found exactly one, which I’ll talk about further into the review.

Gameplay

Iron Meat is a fast-paced, run-and-gun retro shooter, and if you enjoy games like Contra but don’t mind extra gore and modern elements, then this is the game for you.

You’ll cross 9 brutal levels filled with all sorts of enemies infested by The Meat, trying to kill you from every direction, and a single touch will result in death. Your goal is to survive and stop the abominations created by scientist Yuri Markov, all while some of the best metal soundtrack plays in the background.

You start each level with 2 basic rifles that you can upgrade by catching power-ups throughout the level. Each power-up you collect makes your weapon stronger.

However, if you die, you’ll lose all the upgrades for the weapon you’re holding. So, if you think you’re about to die, it’s a good idea to switch to the weapon with fewer upgrades!

During each level, you’ll eventually face a boss, and they can be quite challenging as well as impressively designed. Honestly, I never knew what was coming my way. Every boss design is unique, which made them memorable and fun to fight against.

The Difficulty

A game like this will always be challenging, but that shouldn’t stop you from playing, since there are easier difficulty options to choose from. Moderate difficulty will already give you a good challenge, but if you’re relatively insane, you can try Hard Mode, where you’ll only have 9 lives. It might seem like a lot, but remember, a single hit is all it takes to put you down.

Have Fun Dying Together

One other way you can make things easier is by having a partner to play with in co-op mode (offline only). This mode works wonderfully, and having a partner shooting at monsters alongside you is twice as fun.

Even if you have a bad co-op partner, you’ll still have fun. I played with my girlfriend, who isn’t the most dexterous person when it comes to video games, and we still had a blast playing on easy mode during an afternoon.

The Bad

Remember when I said I managed to find something bad about this game? Well, the only issue I have is with its size. Even though we have 9 levels to play, I was expecting some kind of challenge mode with harder levels or even remixes of the levels we’ve already played.

Depending on your skill, you might beat the game in 1–2 hours on moderate difficulty. It might seem short, but for the level of polish and the amount of fun it provides, it’s more than worth it.

Replayability

While the game is short, there’s an incentive to repeat levels since every time you clear a level, you’ll earn points to unlock a skin for your character.

And although each level will always be the same, it’s rewarding when you reach the end with more lives than your previous run, even more so if you try to beat the game entirely on Hard Mode.

I still struggle a lot with the first levels, but I never got to the point of wanting to quit. Each time I die, there’s a lesson to learn, and that’s what keeps me coming back to Iron Meat. I truly believe that mastering the game is what elevates its replay value.

The Verdict

With all this said, Iron Meat is a game worth playing. Whether you’re playing solo or with a friend in co-op, you’re guaranteed to have fun. While it’s true that the game is short, the unlockables and Hard Mode offer enough incentive to keep playing and mastering it.

Even though I got this game for free, I can honestly say that I loved it and really want others to try it out. Congrats to the devs for making such a polished and brutal experience! (Hoping for DLC in the future.)

Pros:

• Fast-paced, thrilling gameplay: The action never lets up, keeping you on your toes throughout.
• Challenging but fair difficulty: Offers a satisfying learning curve, especially for fans of retro shooters like Contra.
• Memorable boss battles: Unique and creative boss designs make each encounter exciting and unpredictable.
• Stellar soundtrack: The metal music enhances the adrenaline-pumping experience.
• Local co-op mode: Twice the fun when playing with a friend, even on easier difficulty settings.
• Pixel Art and Gore: The visual design, especially with the pixel art and gore elements, is impressive and satisfying for fans of retro aesthetics.

Cons:

• Short length: With only 9 levels, the game can be completed in 1–2 hours on moderate difficulty.
• Limited replayability: Aside from unlocking skins and Hard Mode, there are no additional challenges or remixed levels to extend gameplay for those seeking more content.