Timothy here bringing you another Meat Train update, this one isn't huge in terms of content but brings some much needed changes
The Meat Bike handles a lot better now, I've improved the stability and turning controls.
Also you can use the Bike to run over zombies now and if you go fast enough you can turn them into a fine red mist.
In the future I'd love to add an unlockable upgrade to the Meat Bike that makes the bike eat zombies when running them over, so you don't have to fuel it yourself.
the "Rad Meat Injector" allows you to use Radiated Meat to make the train go 3x faster and increases acceleration, this replaces the old Train speed upgrade.
Mandible: Feeding the train heals you (Replaced beans overheal)
Tibia: Collecting meat gives you a short speed boost (Replaced dash dodge)
Neck: 2x stamina (Replaced bigger zombie heads)
Explosive barrels have a new look and also require more damage before exploding now, they will be set on fire when shot and then explode if shot again - or after 3 seconds of being on fire.
Crates will take 2 punches to break now or 1 melee weapon hit, making melee weapons a bit more useful to have.
Also Kicking will actually damage barrels and crates now, it takes 2 kicks to break a crate or barrel, so you can still kick them at enemies.
It was too hard to headshot the skull bomber during the 3 seconds it takes to charge up, so I've made the heads 50% larger.
This should also make it easier to deflect the skull with a kick or shoot it once its thrown at you.
The Skull bomber will now explode after death if it was already charging up, so have fun with that >:)
The tracks to the GRM Factory are now blocked by gates, to pass you will need to get out of the train and use a Master Prompt to open them. This will not consume a master prompt though, you just need one to open it.
This was a much needed change as sometimes people would go to the factory without a master prompt and be dissappointed when they couldn't beat the game after going all that way.
But also one of the testers discovered you can beat the game while still enslaved to GRM, meaning the factory wouldn't put up a fight at all and you could just wander in and shut it down with zero resistance, lol.
You can now play Meat Train on the couch or on the toilet!
I've also added Input Rebinding with options to change your inputs for PC & Gamepad seperately. I've also added a low graphics setting so the game runs smoother on Steam Deck and low end devices, more optimisations coming in the future!
Quality changes
Input rebinding menu
Controller + Steam deck support
Added Low graphics mode in settings for low end systems (helps Steam Deck run smoother)
New stuff
Train Speed Upgrade: Rad Meat Injector (replaced engine speed upgrade)
Gates blocking access to factory, can be opened using a master prompt (won't consume prompt though)
Exploding barrels: Improved look & barrels will catch fire before exploding when taking damage
Crates now take 2 punches or 2 kicks to break, weapons will break them in 1 hit
Meat Bike
Can now ram zombies at speed and it will kill them if you go fast enough
Upgrade now costs 25 scrap + 1 tech scrap (was 30 scrap before)
Improved stability & handling
Bone upgrade changes
Mandible: Feeding the train heals you (Replaced beans overheal)
Neck: 2x stamina (Replaced bigger zombie heads)
Tibia: Collecting meat gives you a speed boost (Replaced dash dodge)
Skull bone upgrade "explode on headshot" will no longer be triggered by melee attacks
Misc
GRM Gates zombie spawn count lowered from 10 to 5
Skull bomber heads are bigger now so they are easier to headshot
Skull bomber skull will now explode after death if it was charging up
Picking up objects no longer requires you to hold the interact button
Added sound when hacking a GRM system
Graphics optimizations, LODs for tree and shrubs
Fixed zombies floating in the air sometimes (I think...)
I want to make it more compelling to return to the factory each day with meat, as it feels like a chore right now. The plan is to make it so you can only upgrade the train upon returning to the factory. There will be a robot train engineer who you need to bring materials in order to unlock upgrades.
Also, I'll be removing the spawn rate multiplier and instead making the spawn rate tied to the amount of days you have completed, so Day 1 the zombies will be 1x, Day 2 they will be 1.5x, Day 3 will be 2x and so on... This will also help you get the meat required to meet your daily meat quota.