The Running Man is an underrated Schwarzenegger cult classic. A story about the glorification of televised violence, of crowds baying for blood as competitors are hounded by savage hunters, all for the thrill of the kill. There’s probably some finer plot points in there too but who cares! Kill stuff! But, what if you were to take this idea, add in some dingy dungeons, more than a few skeletons, huge explosions and just a dash of puzzling? Sounds good, huh? Well, King of Meat will be right up your street!
From my first meeting with cutesy mascot Buzzworth Billy, I’ve been struck by just how stylish King of Meat is. Looking somewhat like the love-child of Persona and Fable, it manages to come up with a unique look of its own, chunky and weighty in all the right ways. Bright, bold and brash, it’s a joy to just jump around the hub,a medieval take on the backstage of a television studio, interacting with a crazy cast of characters (including Zark Tongworth. Brilliant name!) whilst grabbing new clothing, weapons, move-sets, emotes, and more as you customize your avatar into the reality-show star of your dreams.
It’s the crafting of a bespoke hero that will keep you coming back for more. As you play through the actual game, the bit where you have to traverse dungeons, looting everything in sight in an effort to gain the maximum rewards, Yoshi-fluttering your way over death pits, all whilst beating the crap out of anything that gets in your way, there are unlocks from the Battle Pass-esque progression constantly tugging on your sleeve with promises of ever cooler gear and the dopamine of an even bigger number next to your name.
The level of pliability with your new goodies is just wild, with the ability to mix and match from loads of different armour styles, weaponry and accessories, even down to positioning and resizing to create that perfect look. Add to that an array of ridiculous emotes, each oozing with charisma and you’ll soon be the star of the show.
Back to the dungeons, King of Meat is all about jolly cooperation. Whilst there are some modes that will allow you to smash your way through the levels on your lonesome, Developer Glowmade really want you to grab some pals and get stuck in. Puzzles have been designed with multiplayer in mind as you hunt for hidden switches behind crumbling walls and combat encounters becoming a frantic massacre as enemies pour in from all angles and you find yourself in dire need of a friend or three to watch your back.
Combat is varied in its style but simple in execution. Be it classic sword and board, humongous battle axe or the mighty bomb-gun, it’s easy to get a grip on the controls of each and wade into battle. Smashing everything up is satisfying, with gold spraying from shattered chests and barrels to grab toward your cumulative team total. Should you be less inclined to be a team player, why not just push your buddies into the spiky pits littering the area. You might run out of lives, failing the level but good god you’ll have a laugh doing it.
For those who may be more creatively inclined, there’s a level editing mode for you to turn your fiendish ideas into actual dungeons, with the ability to upload your own creations for others to best or for you to test your mettle against other players’ mad designs. Surprisingly easy to edit with a controller, you’ll soon be able to throw together a level that looks like you’ve spent hours poring over it in a matter of moments.
With the ability to add your own little flourishes throughout the snap-together rooms, why not fill it with explosive barrels, add some pyrotechnics, change the lighting to a sickly green before finally filling each room with bomb-wielding buggers. Maybe add a tricky platform jump over a set of retracting spikes? Perfect. Just make sure that you can actually complete it before firing it off into the internet pipes for others to swear at. It’s kinda like Mario Maker with more dismemberment and promises to keep King of Meat fresh for ages, above and beyond the one hundred or so curated levels from the developers.
A hacky and slashy co-op puzzle platformer with more than a dash of commentary on the cult of celebrity, King of Meat is a splendid way to while away the hours with a few friends as you dash through devilishly designed dungeons in a never-ending quest for fame and fortune. Get out there and beat that meat.
