Metal Slug Tactics Review: Run and Gun, Reimagined

Metal Slug Tactics faithfully adapts the franchise’s beloved run-and-gun action into an in-depth tactical roguelike RPG packed with content and some of the best pixel art of the year. When one thinks about it Metal snailit’s hard to imagine a game that isn’t a side-scrolling romp full of explosions, huge cannons and some of the coolest tanks the world has ever seen. It was a bold idea to take that concept and move into a genre that might be the opposite of a shoot-’em-upbut thanks to some clever mechanisms it works better than you’d expect.

Just like with anyone else Metal snail game, it’s not important to know the (surprisingly) extensive lore behind the franchise to simply pick up the game and get started. The premise is as basic as evil General Donald Morden returning to battle with another plan to destroy the World Government requires the Peregrine Falcon Squad to assemble and stop the dictator before the conflict escalates into all-out war. Metal Slug Tactics is not too focused on providing a storyit is all set to stitch together the addictive gameplay loop.

Keep those feet moving and your head on a swivel

The defining aspect of Metal Slug Tactics is his reliance on movement to stay alive even in the most challenging encounters. That may sound counterintuitive in a tactical RPG: the genre generally prefers that users approach missions carefully and close off areas rather than blasting around the map. Developer Leikir Studio has chosen to take a different route by encouraging players to make the most of the moves and providing the characters with the necessary resources as they navigate the map. It can be difficult to learn, but it all clicked faster than I expected.

Related

Why Metal Slug is the perfect choice for a tactics game

Metal Slug Tactics is poised to be awesomely XCOM-like thanks to the franchise’s roster of fan-favorite characters and memorable enemies.

It’s fair to say that exercise is everything Metal Slug Tactics as it generates the fuel to boost characters’ abilities, grants Dodges to avoid enemy attacks, and helps set up sync attacks that function effectively as a free action. Leikir Studio deserves praise for such an imaginative take on the run-and-gun formula. While it doesn’t seem like it should work with a tactical RPG, the fact that so many mechanics are tied to movement forces players to get the most out of the system.

Combat retains that explosive action that has become synonymous with it Metal snail But the pace has not suffered from the genre shift. Missions are still short affairs, as players are tasked with completing basic objectives, such as protecting an NPC until they reach a map’s exit or simply wiping out every enemy. Linking Dodges and Adrenaline to movement creates a kinetic flow, as units are never stuck waiting for enemies to come to them. It’s a powerful take on the tactical genre, emphasizing careful strategy mixed with a bit of reckless fun.

It’s easy to find a favorite team

Metal Slug Tactics does an excellent job of providing players with characters that each bring something unique to the table. For example, Marco may not be an attacking powerhouse, but he brings a wealth of improved skills to the field that strengthens him as a leadership figure who always encourages the team. Players can easily land on a pivotal hero or favorite Falcon that holds a team together; I found that Eri’s ability to generate bonus moves and her use of explosives often made the difference between victory and defeat.

It helps that the animation used to bring Metal Slug Tactics‘ brought to life is so vibrant and distinctive. I can only imagine how time-consuming it must have been to animate the series’ signature pixel art in an isometric perspective. A lot of passion has gone into the art direction of the game and the result is always striking.

I also appreciated the smaller details, like providing some little character-building moments between the cast. Successfully completing missions or defeating bosses sometimes results in a short cutscene in which a few members of the team take a moment to discuss the letter and talk about themselves. Whereas Metal snail‘s lore that is rarely touched upon in the games, it’s nice to get a glimpse of the characters, even if they aren’t particularly deep.

Even if the upgrades could be a little more exciting

Although I can see the actual battles of Metal Slug Tactics resonating with fans, the roguelike elements could be more diverse. Runs consist of completing three missions and a boss battle in one area before unlocking the next location on the world map, all leading up to the final encounter. The game features four zones, but only one needs to be wrapped before the Peregrine Falcon Squad can storm the final boss. Going through everything may take a while: my longest run was an hour and a halfbut individual missions only last a handful of minutes.

Completing primary and secondary objectives unlocks a variety of upgrades for the squad, but these are only viable for the current run, so players are encouraged to experiment with unique builds and synergies. These improvements come in the form of character skills, weapon mods, supply drops, and coins to buy extra ammo and equipment when you defeat a boss. Metal Slug Tactics isn’t shy about throwing a lot of things at the player at once, but the game includes an extensive tutorial and some useful tooltips to clarify everything immediately.

I think this part of the roguelike formula works well, but unlocking new upgrades and mods never felt as exciting as I wanted. After a run, the Peregrine Falcon Squad returns to HQ where they can spend coins to purchase new mods, skills and equipment. The latter is the most exciting because it offers entirely new weapons that can fundamentally change a character’s role. Yet Mods and Abilities lack a tangible sense of improvement as they are never guaranteed to appear in a rewards poolmaking them feel like it is a gamble of an investment.

That’s not exactly an exclusive problem Metal Slug Tactics but a sense of growth when playing a roguelike helps keep interest strong. If I don’t feel my characters getting stronger with each upgrade, it’s a bit disappointing. The sheer variety of improvements can also be tricky to keep in mind, especially in the middle of a mission. Having a huge variety is great for providing diverse building options, but I would have preferred fewer, more obvious improvements.

Final thoughts and review score

It’s Metal Slug for fans new and old

I understand that some purists may not want this experience Metal Slug Tactics offers, but I hope they give it a try. It’s an excellent tactical RPG, offering a deep combat experience that carefully recontextualizes the mechanics and style that made the franchise so iconic.

While the rogue-like elements could be a little more exciting, the minute-by-minute gameplay of a run is so fun that I easily overlooked this mistake when I got back into action to drop more bombs with a well-placed sync . General, Metal Slug Tactics is definitely worth playing.

8/10

Metal Slug Tactics

Rated on PC

Positives

• Addictive combat that puts a unique spin on the tactical RPG genre.
• Fantastic pixel art that honors the Metal Slug series and takes it to the next level.
• Tons of content and achievements to unlock.
• Great soundtrack.

Disadvantages

• Roguelike elements can feel a little underwhelming.