A monstrous mash-up of a co-op platformer

What do you get once you make a sport influenced by films like The Running Man and Labyrinth, toss in a little bit of aptitude from skilled wrestling (the type with squared rings, not round mats) after which throw all that on prime of a co-op 3D platformer with user-generated dungeon constructing? To be sincere, I’m not fairly positive, however that’s form of what Amazon Video games and developer Glowmade are going for with its subsequent title: King of Meat.

Attempting to steadiness components from that many properties looks as if an inconceivable process. However after I obtained an opportunity to play an early construct previous to Gamescom, King of Meat’s world and presentation is likely to be the most effective factor about it. The sport is centered across the Komstruck Koliseum, which is a Battle Royale-esque enviornment that additionally serves because the stage for an in-world TV present. Your job is to battle via numerous levels whereas serving to out your mates and maintaining the viewers entertained.

That is the place the WWE inspiration elements in as a result of the viewers isn’t merely there for the ambiance, it’s an precise sport mechanic. Grabbing gems and beating up foes will increase your multiplier, permitting you to earn extra factors and get greater ranks (like bronze, silver and gold). The higher you do and the extra bounties you full (like killing a sure variety of particular enemies), the extra forex you get, which you’ll be able to then spend on new weapons, costumes and particular assaults referred to as Glory Strikes. There’s even an in-game announcer to assist maintain the hype up.

Stylistically, King of Meat looks like a combination between Fortnite and Fortress Crashers (one other inspiration for the title), however with a extra outlandish and sinister bent. Weapon skins embody Cthulhu-like tentacle swords or jagged 8-bit facsimiles whereas Glory Strikes vary from foolish to surprising, like calling down an enormous hoof from the sky or birthing an enormous belch to blow enemies away. And behind this over-the-top, energy-drink-fueled facade, there’s a little bit of evil lurking within the corners, hinting that the fictional megacorps resembling KOMSTRUCT might not be what they appear.

As for the gameplay itself, it’s a reasonably typical hack-and-slash platformer. You might have primary melee assaults utilizing weapons like swords and hammers, a heavier charge-up transfer, specials and a helpful long-ranged sidearm (I used a crossbow, however there’s way more to select from). You additionally get a double leap and whereas there’s some gentle comboing between strikes, from what I noticed the sport stops wanting letting you do extra advanced issues like air juggles. Sadly, that is one among my issues with the sport, as a result of whereas I solely had an opportunity to play a handful of early ranges, it looks like the sport’s fight and pacing underdelivers, at the least when in comparison with its over-the-top presentation and visible design.

When taking part in co-op with 4 individuals, there have been a number of occasions once I simply needed to stand round whereas ready for extra enemies to reach. Leaping throughout platforms additionally didn’t really feel as tight or responsive in comparison with plenty of different 3D platformers. And even within the warmth of battle, I didn’t get the sense that switching between assaults was way more efficient than merely mashing buttons. I additionally bumped into a number of bugs the place I obtained caught in a wall or an enemy disappeared, which prevented our squad from transferring on to the following part. That mentioned, this was removed from a ultimate construct, so hopefully Glowmade can polish issues up earlier than launch.

Sadly, I didn’t get an opportunity to check out any dungeon constructing, which was a bummer since that’s meant to be an enormous draw of the sport. Out of the field, there will likely be a lot of pre-made levels and a narrative marketing campaign. However, much like titles like Tremendous Mario Maker, Glowmade is relying on customers to create much more ranges, with a number of the lead builders saying “We need to reward gamers for being attention-grabbing.” Glowmade says first-party dungeons are constructed utilizing the identical instruments gamers will get entry to. This form of jogs my memory of the Trackmania group, the place even in case you’re not the most effective racer, you’ll be able to nonetheless make main contributions by creating enjoyable programs, or on this case, dungeons. Cross-platform gameplay and dungeon constructing may even be supported, so that you’ll have loads of choices for co-op.

I nonetheless haven’t totally determined how I really feel about King of Meat. It’s obtained an attention-grabbing premise and through my preview session, there have been definitely moments the place it felt prefer it was delivering on the spectacle whereas additionally scratching the grab-and-smash itch you are inclined to seek for in hack-and-slash platformers. However on the identical time, I wasn’t completely hooked both, probably because of not having the ability to expertise dungeon-building myself or not having a much bigger arsenal of weapons and assaults to mess around with. That mentioned, since Glowmade’s founders beforehand labored at studios together with Lionhead and Media Molecule and franchises like Fable and Little Large Planet, it looks like they need to have the pedigree wanted to correctly deliver King of Meat into the highlight.

King of Meat will likely be out there on PC, PS5, Xbox X/S and the Nintendo Change, although Amazon and Glowmade have but to set an official launch date.