You are reading this review. Meanwhile, Mean-While is downloading and installing to your computer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cCMN33gMfg
If you want to see Mean-While in action, watch my first impressions gameplay above. Mean-While's self-aware comedy and 8-Bit/Pixel-style charm are bound to win you over. Controls are simple, some bosses are challenging, but it's the fact that you'll start spamming the switch character button to listen to all the ways the narrator says "meanwhile~!" that earns the price of admission. Seriously, why is there an eventual point where the narrator stops saying it? Just start cycling back from the beginning. And please, update the game to add more.

If you like the old-school Castlevania gameplay but not the difficulty, Mean-While is what you're looking for. It's a fun little romp that, true to the trailer's suggestion, you'll enjoy, get all the achievements for, and then uninstall. But a game like this is about having played it for the experience.

While this is not my usual type; I enjoyed it a great deal.

Meaning, I normally play shooters- but do have a soft spot for the pixel style platforming. The switching of character/environment is a very nice touch and gives the game a nice variety, Huge range of enemies and bosses that I enjoyed, though some early bosses I found harder than later ones (could just be me). Gaining extra skills/abilities during the game was a mechanic I did not expect, and was pleasantly surprised. Sound/Music are both done well and very much in the style which I appreciated.

Overall == Dual character/environment/gameplay with nicely varied enemies and bosses.

You know what. Its alright. I'd buy and play it again knowing what i do now. I don't know if ill ever replay it given its linearity but I enjoyed the experience. the only thing i wish is that you didn't get stuck in place during some attack animations your characters do (shooting, attacking, using grappling hook ect)

but still for a few hour experience. it was worth the price. good game.

(Review copy provided by developer)

I first noticed Mean-While prior to its release, via Keymailer's upcoming releases section. it looked cute, so I was pretty down to check it out for myself when it came in my Curator mail. here are my first impressions:

+ the character designs are amusing, and as the trailer points out--it's got a snail with boxing gloves.
- the backgrounds are kinda lifeless and the visuals in general feel unpolished in the way that a Flash platformer on Kongregate or Armor might.
+ very charming writing which indulges in the fact that both main characters are supervillains. think a League of Super Evil or Invader Zim type sense of humor.
+ the story is similarly endearing, with its farcical setup being a pretty neat idea.
+ gameplay is pretty straightforward and decently fun, even if it's not gonna make you feel like you're playing Dead Cells, ScourgeBringer, Vibrant Venture, etc..

overall, Mean-While does what it says on the tin--it's a humble release, and I'm a stickler for games with this sense of humor.

*we suggest you use a gamepad*

...well would sure help you made it so that gamepads would work.

Good Fun game

MEANWHILE

I'm surprised this premise hasn't been used before. Very nice indie. :)

Mean-While is a 2D retro pixel story driven puzzle/action platformer with the gimmick that you must switch between two characters to progress.

While a lot of work went into this, and the story is charming and kind of funny as intended, the overall level of quality is low. The game is unpolished and clunky. The game doesn't work properly with keyboard, despite being released on PC, so this won't be playable for many.

They chose to use obsolete retro pixel "art" as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics. It's unclear if this is due to lack of budget or talent, regardless, the overall visual quality of the game is extremely low as a result. Resolution and controls are locked. These flaws push this game far below minimum acceptable standards for PC.