The Metal Slug series has delighted action fans for decades with its arcadey run-and-gun gameplay. Players take control of combat soldiers battling through war-torn environments, mowing down enemies with an array of explosive weapons. It’s fast, colorful, and always ends with an explosive bang. So the idea of translating this explosive energy into a turn-based tactics game seemed an unlikely move.
However, the developers at Leikir Studio saw an opportunity to develop the Metal Slug universe in a new strategic direction. They aimed to capture the anarchic spirit of its arcade roots while integrating rich tactical decision-making. The result was Metal Slug Tactics, announced back in 2019 to the surprise of fans. With Dotemu handling publishing, hopes were high it could do justice to one of gaming’s most memorable shooting galleries.
The transition to tactics brings a slower, more cerebral approach. Players must carefully position soldiers on grids and consider the consequences of every action. Yet underneath hums the pulse of pure metal slug chaos. Objectives encourage unleashing havoc on enemies, while movement-focused systems like “adrenaline” maintain that urgency. Environmental quirks from the desert also evoke the zaniness of the originals.
It seemed an ambitious crossover, as if platoon commanders had replaced joystick-wielding troopers at the front. Could this reimagining capture what makes the Metal Slug experience so unique while building strategic depth? The reviews were in—it was time to venture back into the battlefield and discover if Leikir Studio had pulled off this forbidden tactical alchemy.
Turning tactics into turbo-charged chaos
Metal Slug Tactics takes the frantic action of its side-scrolling roots and channels it into some seriously speedy strategy. Each mission throws you straight into the mayhem with objectives like wiping out enemies or racing to locations. This encouragement of unrestrained carnage perfectly captures the source material.
Selection starts with picking a team of three from classics like Marco and Eri up to unlocked characters. Each has their own weapons and skills to experiment with across various loadouts. This variety ensures runs never feel the same.
Combat plays out in tactical turns. Attacking expends a character’s action for the phase, while movement generates bonuses. The more tiles crossed, the higher their “Adrenaline” and “Dodge” ratings climb, making them evasive juggernauts. It’s a system that rewards brazen advances, keeping suspense high as squads plunge into the thick of battle.
Positioning proves paramount too, opening options to hammer foes in sync. Two characters in range of a target allow them to unleash dual assaults, creating perfect coordination between explosive assaults. Coordination and careful strategic dances across the grid become the keys to crushing opposition.
Adrenaline unlocks access to each soldier’s special skills, from area grenades to displacement abilities. These add further layers of strategy, whether abusing the AI or repositioning colleagues for follow-ups.
Maps provide limited space, so no room exists for turtling. Hazards and quirks like mummified enemies spreading their curse inject unpredictable chaos into every encounter. Surviving requires exploiting these volatile systems through trial and sometimes hilarious error.
In capturing this propulsive pace and marrying it to tactical nuance, Metal Slug Tactics succeeds in its genre-bending alchemy, resulting in some of the speediest and most tactically thrilling battles around. Its success lies in distilling Metal Slug’s kinetic lunacy while deepening it with strategic substance.
Rallying the troops for tactical turmoil
Metal Slug Tactics draws its cast of combatants from the series’ past. Kicking off with familiar faces Marco, Eri, and Fio, their varied skills shine in the new systems. Marco pumps lead with heavy firepower. Eri demolishes foes using well-placed explosives. Fio supports allies with tricks like repositioning.
Newcomers join the fray too as unlockables. Clark gains strength through grappling. Ralf rushes opponents down in brawling fury. Leona empowers teammates with elemental techniques. Each character offers strategic twists through their customizable loadouts.
As for opposition, standard grunts make up the bulk of forces. But more threatening enemies emerge. Robotic juggernauts tower over battlefields. Nimble Ninjas harry troops with surprise attacks. Mummies spread curses, turning allies against each other.
Most memorable remain hulking mechanized bosses. Flying craft rake ground units. Colossal machines stampede everything in sight. Overcoming them tests cunning, cooperation, and careful conservation of resources.
Story serves to string missions together rather than depth. General Morden launches invasions, which the squad fights to repeal. Briefings give objectives, no more. But recognizable casting and flashy skirmishes compensate for the thin plot. The real allure lies in perfecting runs through experimenting with different hero mixes against procedurally generated challenges.
While light on narrative, Metal Slug Tactics assembles a colorful cast whose diverse repertoires fuel limitless tactical trials against memorable foes. Enjoyment stems more from fine-tuning strategies in this run-and-gun reimagining.
Bringing the Blasting Booty to Life
Metal Slug Tactics could rest on its name alone and deliver fun, but presentation proves it deserves the highest praise. Graphics marry nostalgia with beauty, honoring what came before in new, unexpected ways.
Iconic SNK pixel art springs soldiers from backdrops. Weapons shine, lands dazzle—deserts bake, jungles lush. Characters wiggle with magnetic charm. Deaths range from hilarious to haunting, mummified troops, especially grim yet twistedly comical.
Animation drips creative passion. Mechs stamp, shells explode, minions flail. Action flows fluidly from sprites conveying impact. Foes feature diverse designs too, keeping visuals fresh. Distinct flair infuses every spawn.
Music marries function and form. Rousing battle ditties lift morale while familiar motifs tease nostalgia. Melodies carry between scenes joyously, preventing breaks from dragging momentum down.
Dialogue delivers exposition without misstep. Briefings provide tactical advantage, never boredom. Balls-out attitude shines in updates, characters staying true to form. Iconic voiceacting seals authenticity in commendable style.
Menus lack polish at times. Tutorials rush introductions. Yet these qualms fade against stronger suits. When presentation excels so splendidly elsewhere, minor wrinkles trouble less. Metal Slug Tactics triumphs in bringing its vibrant universe captivatingly to life, entertaining from start to explosive finish.
Experimenting for Excitement in Every Expedition
Metal Slug Tactics introduces risk and persistence through its roguelike aspects. After each mission attempt, players earn rewards to strengthen their squad for subsequent sorties. New equipment, abilities, and character levels open up as an enticing reward for pushing limits.
This progression gives weight to mission choices. Early zones offer low-risk encounters to smoothly level up. But venturing straight into boss territory risks failure yet provides larger loot payoffs. Gauging preparedness grows more engrossing with lives now on the line.
Meanwhile, increased difficulties introduce new strategic wrinkles to tackle. On “Veteran,” for instance, opponents pack more aggressive AI or special abilities. This preservation of challenge even after mastering basics ensures continued excitement.
Admittedly, the campaign flies by once optimized. But repetitions remain fun thanks to diversity in randomized maps, objectives, and rewards. More could be done to expand mission types and deepen character/gear customization.
Still, existing permutations foster immense replay value from any run potentially unfolding differently. Experiments pay off through the discovery of broken builds or shrewd tactics.
Overall, roguelike components enrich the campaign by demanding resourcefulness rise to ever-changing challenges, whether seeking quick victories or high-risk rewards. They fuel compulsion to boost prowess in this dynamic take on Metal Slug’s high-octane thrills.
Overcoming Obstacles on the Battlefield
Metal Slug Tactics offers fast-paced tactical thrills. However, some rough edges needed smoothing at launch. Bugs popped up regularly during playthrough, whether minor visual hiccups or frustration-inducing blockers.
Early sessions saw characters respawning without limbs or retaining mummy status despite curing. Mostly funny, but occasionally sabotaging strategies. More seriously, tiles appeared blocked for no clear cause now and then too.
Performance suffered on consoles as well. Frequent long load times between combat sections seriously disrupted momentum. Thankfully, a patch helped somewhat before release. Yet PS4/PS5 versions retained intermittent lag that PC avoided.
It’s a testament to the addictive gameplay loops that these issues didn’t destroy enjoyment entirely. Workarounds like reloading levels or hitting the ‘Undo Turn’ button rescued most situations. Still, glitches interrupted intense moments far more often than welcome.
Developers took feedback on board post-launch at least. Further optimizations cleaned up the console slowdown gradually. While some quirks linger, the title now runs far smoother overall.
Given how seamless presentation enhances this genre, it’s a relief most Gremlins have been exterminated. Underneath lay stellar foundations for tactical mayhem well deserving wider audiences once polished to a sheen. Overall, Metal Slug Tactics triumphed through persevering past early pitfalls.
One Final Run to Credits
Metal Slug Tactics offered a lengthy thrill ride switching genres. Developers deftly transplanted the signature Zippy arcade action into deeper strategic realms without betraying roots. Capturing Metal Slug’s manic spirit and bombarding presentation brought nostalgia in spades.
Weak onboarding and bugs muddied early stages. Ham-fisted tutorials and glitches disrupting perfect runs demanded adjustments. Yet underneath lay robust frameworks for thrilling replays. Myriad mechanics risk/reward calculations delivered a dense experience.
With polish applied post-launch, apprehensions settled. Beneath remained a remarkably faithful adaptation, immersing players in fresh ways. Emergent strategies and adaptations breathed new life into a cherished world.
While narratives lacked meat, moment-to-moment fun comprised whole feasts. Each run brought surprises as mastery grew. Fans of frantic action or tactical tangles find success through patience or PC. As quibbles fade, one glorious tribute stands ready to thrill once more with bells and missiles blazing. Insert coin—it’s time for just one last run.
The Review
Metal Slug Tactics
Despite minor bugs, Metal Slug Tactics triumphs as a love letter to run-and-gun fans and strategy buffs alike. By distilling its namesake's kinetic chaos into thoughtful yet thrilling tactical systems, it honors the past while blazing new ground. Those willing to work past initial hurdles find a wealth of challenges, characters, and depth paying homage to a cherished series in memorable style.
PROS
- Captures the kinetic spirit of run-and-gun metal slug through movement-focused systems
- Introduces appealing strategic depth while maintaining frantic pacing
- Abundant character and weapon loadout options fuel replayability
- Pixel art presentation revives the series' iconic visual style.
CONS
- Mechanics overloaded without sufficient tutorials
- Persistent bugs at launch disrupted flow
- Campaign brevity despite procedural generation
- Story serves only as a mission backdrop
