Gooey mech brawler EXTREME MEATPUNKS FOREVER was at all times going to seize my coronary heart. Its first two episodes set the stage, introducing a shining central solid of messy, queer heroes and a killer premise: typically you simply gotta hop in a giant ol’ gore sack and pummel some fascists.
These opening episodes deftly wove collectively a world the place these 4 protagonists have been at all times below assault, and but at all times in a position to battle again. They skilfully mingled hardship with hope, albeit a ragged, determined type. The recently-released third episode, INFINITE DESERT HELLZONE, leans tougher into the battle, with our heroes going through the truth that they’ve misplaced their houses and combating amongst themselves.
Having laid the worldbuilding groundwork earlier, this episode may introduce NPCs just like the faceless eldritch horror who runs a roadside blood retailer, and Ed, who needs to destroy the solar. With them, they carry new particulars about this surrealist and but all too acquainted world, and just like the 4 fundamental characters, every has their very own voice with which to ship the small print.
No, there’s no actors concerned, however each line of MEATPUNKS’ visible novel parts is a masterclass in conveying tone and persona by way of the distinctive grammar that’s grown up within the web period of text-based communication. Brad’s dialogue is especially apt; he communicates so usually in memes however by no means feels gimmicky or compelled, as a result of that’s simply one of many methods through which folks can and do specific themselves in actuality.
Neither does it really feel jarring when, in episode three, he turns off the jokes to face up for himself in an altercation with one other character. Instead, it’s a reminder that these characters are multifaceted. Brad isn’t simply right here to be comedian aid. He’s combating for his rights identical to everybody else. Sometimes which means rigging up in a blood-filled meat swimsuit to throw down with a Nazi, however different instances it simply means attempting to speak with well-meaning however cussed companions. And typically, as INFINITE DESERT HELLZONE makes clear, the latter is tougher.
As ever, all this mixture of levity and realness performs out below a stunning ASCII artwork sky, with considered one of my favorite online game soundtracks to this point pumping up each drawn out scrap of a battle. Episode 4 is predicted on Thursday the 16th of August, and you may buy the whole season on itch.io for $9 now.
