King of Meat is a user-generated dungeon-crawler from some of the minds behind Fable & LittleBigPlanet
King of Meat is an explosive co-op gauntlet that lets you build your own trap-laden dungeon and share it with friends.
Lloyd Coombes
20th Aug 2024 21:00
Images via Glowmade Studio
It's not too common that you get to attend a preview event where you don't know the name of the game you're about to play - and that's probably a good thing in King of Meat's case. After all, even the devs aren't entirely sure where the name came from, and yet somehow, it just fits.
By combining the chaotic energy of Fall Guys with the player-built content of LittleBigPlanet and a splash of Gladitors or Running Man thrown in for good measure, it's shaping up to be the ideal palate cleanser away from the serious business of hero shooters and the like.
Tune in
King of Meat is set within a universe where the titular TV show is the only show on TV. It's a gladiatorial gauntlet for those looking for fame and fortune, and it's all set against a backdrop of nefarious corporations that form the game's sponsors.
While I wasn't able to get a feel for the greater story machinations here (if there are any), the whole thing is wrapped in a Python-esque charm that leans on fantasy and absurdism to offer something wholly, well, British in its comedy. That's perhaps unsurprising, given the studio was founded by former Lionhead (Fable) and Media Molecule (LittleBigPlanet).
Players move through rooms filled with traps and enemies, utilising a ranged and melee weapon combo and a series of custom abilities. In my time with the preview, I was able to burp damaging clouds on an enemy, or call down the huge legs of a horse to stomp them instead (prompting a cry from the commentator of "why do horses hate us so?").
Players can team up with up to three friends to enter the Komstruct Koliseum, and between dungeon dives, you'll level up with new gear and cosmetics. NPCs in the game's Ironlaw Plaza come in all shapes and sizes, like a barkeep that can buff your stats with tonics, places to buy cosmetic upgrades, and a literal Dragon to help you on your way.
Not-so Darkest Dungeon
Leaning into the influence of LittleBigPlanet and the like, King of Meat's real draw is a creation tool that lets you build themed dungeons full of traps, secrets, and more.
In our time playing, I got to see a handful of excellent ones, all of which were built using the in-game tools. I wasn't able to build one myself, but there’s a certain magic about tearing down someone else's in the search for treasure.
From puzzle-focused dungeons to platforming and combat-heavy ones, there's a little something for whatever mood you're in. You'll earn a score based on the completion time, dungeon difficulty, and treasure acquired, too, with different trophy thresholds.
Even during the simpler dungeons in our playtest it was tough to place above Silver, and subsequent leagues will only ramp up the difficulty for those brave (or foolhardy) enough to accept the challenge.
Developer Glowmade Studios says there will be over a hundred dungeons at launch, but if the creation suite is as intuitive as the demo I saw, it could really be a countless number within weeks.
Final Thoughts
Sadly, there's no release date for King of Meat just yet, which is a shame - I'm really looking forward to curating my own dastardly dungeon and challenging my friends to get through it unscathed.
With its absurdist charm, co-op flexibility, and huge dungeon count at launch and beyond, it could be a real hit for Amazon Games.
King of Meat is slated to launch on PC, PS5, Xbox Series consoles and Nintendo Switch.
About The Author
Lloyd Coombes
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