Metal Slug has always charmed players with its mix of humor and action.
While other games like Contra focus on scary aliens, Metal Slug prefers to be funny, using crazy machines and goofy villains. Now, Metal Slug Tactics takes a step into a new world of turn-based strategy with a roguelike twist. The game mostly succeeds because of its fun gameplay and the silly charm we’ve come to love, but some old ideas and luck-based success can make it a bit frustrating.
In this new adventure, the game moves from side-scrolling action to an isometric grid. The pixel art looks fantastic and keeps the original Metal Slug vibe alive. The battlefields are filled with all sorts of terrain and scenery, and bosses are as crazy as ever.
When you start a mission, you control three soldiers who take turns moving and attacking. You can even do special sync attacks where teammates attack together for extra damage. It’s super satisfying to see your team work like a well-oiled machine, taking down enemies with style.
Heroes in this game aren’t easily lost like in Advance Wars, nor is it a huge problem if one falls during battle like in Fire Emblem. You can revive fallen soldiers during missions or wait until the end when everyone comes back to life with full health, making decisions exciting and risky.
The characters are a lot of fun, starting with familiar faces like Marco and Eri. As you play, more heroes join the party, each with unique weapons and skills. Mixing and matching these heroes keeps things fresh, like deciding whether Marco’s pistol or Rolf’s knife is better for the job.
Fans really love how the game makes us think on our feet.
Abilities in the game are powered by adrenaline, which builds up as you move around. This also boosts your defense, encouraging aggressive play. At first, abilities are simple, but as you progress, you unlock stronger ones, making each step exciting and rewarding.
Each level offers a main goal and a bonus challenge. Completing the main goal lets you move forward, while the bonus gives extra rewards. If you fail or your team is wiped out, it’s back to base to regroup and try again. Some missions, like taking down four targets quickly, are thrilling, while others, like escorting a slow NPC, can be less fun.
On the map, you can choose paths to different levels, each offering specific rewards. Planning your route adds a thoughtful twist before diving into the action.
After three levels, you face a big boss, the most exciting part of the game. These battles combine huge health bars with unique mechanics, keeping you on your toes. They are challenging and fun, breaking up the regular missions nicely.
Finishing every level feels like an achievement. Similar to other roguelikes, completing the game once isn’t the end. It opens up a new phase with more strategic options and bosses.
It would be better if the regions were more diverse. Although there are four areas, two are deserts. Each area has its own enemies and quirks, but after looping through them multiple times, they can start to feel repetitive.
While the enemies in each area are varied, some old-fashioned racial stereotypes should probably be retired. We don’t need to see enemies in turbans with sabers just because they’re in a desert, or call jungle enemies “Natives” with spears and masks, even if these appeared in earlier games.
Randomness plays a big role in each run, often making success feel more about luck than skill. While you can choose which region to explore, the levels and rewards change every time. If you’re lucky, you’ll find strong upgrades easily. If not, some tasks may seem impossible. It’s disappointing when a promising run ends because you can’t defeat a powerful enemy due to lack of resources.
This issue wouldn’t be as frustrating if the upgrades felt more meaningful. Metal Slug Tactics focuses on earning cash for new loadouts and abilities, but these often rely on luck rather than skill. Unlike other games like Hades, where every run helps you progress, here it can feel like your efforts don’t matter.
Overall, Metal Slug Tactics does a great job capturing the feel of the original game in a new way. The strategic elements and exciting combat are fantastic, but relying too much on luck and outdated enemy designs hold it back. With a few tweaks, this game could be truly outstanding.
