What do you get when you make a game inspired by movies like? The Running Man and Labyrinth, Throw in some talent from professional wrestling (the kind with square rings, not circular mats) and then dump it all on top of a 3D platformer with user-generated dungeon building? To be honest, I’m not entirely sure, but Amazon Games and developer Glowmade want something like this with their next title: The king of meat.
Trying to balance the elements of this many features seems like an impossible task. But after I got a chance to play an early build before Gamescom, The King of Meat world and presentation may be the best thing about it. The game is centered around the Komstruck Coliseum, a Battle Royale-esque arena that also serves as the setting for the worldwide TV show. Your job is to go through different stages while helping your friends and entertaining the audience.
This is where WWE’s inspiration factors in, because the audience isn’t just there for the atmosphere, it’s the actual gameplay mechanic. Catching gems and defeating enemies increases your multiplier, allowing you to earn more points and achieve higher ranks (such as bronze, silver, and gold). The better you do and the more rewards you earn (like killing a certain number of special enemies), the more currency you get, which you can then spend on new weapons, outfits, and special attacks called Glory Moves. There’s even an in-game announcer to keep up the hype.
Stylistically, The king of meat it feels like it’s mixed between Fortnite and Castle Accidents (another inspiration for the title), but with a weirder and more sinister twist. Weapon skins include Cthulhu-like tentacle swords or warped 8-bit facsimiles, while Glory Moves range from silly to shocking, like summoning a giant hoof from the sky or a big belch to crush enemies. Plus, behind that energy-drink-infused facade, there’s a bit of evil lurking around the corner, hinting that so-called megacorps like KOMSTRUCT may not be what they seem.
As for the game itself, it’s a pretty typical hack-and-slash platformer. Your basic melee attacks using weapons like a sword and hammer, a heavier charge move, specials, and a handy long-range sidearm (I used a crossbow, but there are more to choose from). You also get a double jump, and while there’s some light comboing between moves, the game doesn’t let you do more complicated things like aerial juggles as far as I can see. Unfortunately, this is one of my gripes with the game, as even though I’ve only had a chance to play a few of the early levels, it feels like the game’s combat and pacing are let down, at least compared to its high-end presentation. visual design.
There were a few times I had to stand around waiting for more enemies to arrive while playing co-op with four people. Jumping between platforms also didn’t feel as tight or responsive compared to many other 3D platformers. Even in the heat of battle, I didn’t find that switching between attacks was any more effective than just mashing buttons. I also ran into a few bugs where I got stuck on a wall or an enemy disappeared, preventing our crew from progressing to the next section. That said, it’s far from the final build, so hopefully Glowmade can polish things up before release.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to try out any of the dungeon buildings, which were too difficult to be the game’s big draw. Out of the box, there will be a number of pre-made stages and a story campaign. However, it is similar to the headlines Super Mario MakerGlowmade hopes to create more levels for users, with some of the lead developers saying, “We want to reward players for being interesting.” Glowmade says that first-party dungeons are built using the same tools that players can use. It kind of reminds me of the Trackmania community, where even if you’re not the best racer, you can still contribute a lot by creating fun courses, or in this case, dungeons. Cross-platform play and dungeon building will also be supported, so you’ll have plenty of options for co-op.
I still haven’t quite decided how I feel The king of meat. It’s got an interesting premise, and during my preview session, there were certainly moments where it delivered the spectacle while also scratching the itch you look for in hack-and-slash platformers. But at the same time, I wasn’t completely hooked, perhaps because I didn’t get to experience dungeon building myself or have a larger arsenal of weapons and attacks. However, since Glowmade’s founders previously worked at studios like Lionhead and Media Molecule and franchises Fairy tale and Little Big PlanetThey feel like they should be the breeders that need to bring it right The king of meat is in focus.
The king of meat Although Amazon and Glowmade have yet to set an official release date, it will be available on PC, PS5, Xbox X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
