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To me, and probably many of you, too, Metal Slug was the first approach to the grand world of video games. I remember heading to the nearest arcade with some leftover lunch money to play a few matches. I wasn’t the best, but just watching my friends around taking turns in this chaotic 2D shooter felt great. And here I am, decades later, watching some of the most iconic characters in video game history ever, albeit under a tactical light. And while I wasn’t sold on the legendary 2D shooter taking a tactical approach, let me tell you this: Metal Slug Tactics hits a perfect score in all it does.
A Legendary Comeback
Every die-hard fan may argue that Metal Slug belongs to the 2D shooter genre. Yet, Metal Slug Tactics proves that the franchise can take a bold new approach and make it work. As soon as I fired up the game, I saw the one and only Marco Rossi. Instead of going from left to right blasting everything, I got an XCOM-like turn-based system with cover mechanics, as well as movement and action points. With all characters having one point of each, it is here that the first strategical layer begins. Metal Slug Tactics respects the punishing yet rewarding gameplay from the old arcade days. Even in its easiest difficulty, the game constantly challenged me, and I loved that. And it got even better once the roguelike mechanics kicked in, which I’ll mention below.
My first mission went smoothly. I grabbed the demo-exclusive characters, Marco, Eri, and Fio, and took them to an assassination job. When you start your run, you choose between two roads. Usually, all missions have different objectives, and I found myself leaning more into the “kill everyone” type. So, I deployed my characters, took cover, and started blasting. Each soldier has a simple weapon and a special one. Marco brandishes his classic machine gun, while Eri sports a grenade launcher; knowing how to use each one is paramount. Furthermore, every character has special abilities, such as jumping across the battlefield, shielding others, or calling in an airstrike.
As I progressed, I noticed more mission types became available, all with increased difficulty. For example, one mission tasked me with surviving for five turns. The catch: a tower was shooting missiles at my soldiers, which added a layer of difficulty. In another mission, I had to escort a familiar character with enemies spawning left and right. This made me change my strategy at every turn and encouraged me to find a different approach. And while taking down the first boss took me more runs than I would’ve wanted, there’s one reason why Metal Slug Tactics is so difficult: its roguelike features.
Trial And Error
I couldn’t but remember how my childhood days playing Metal Slug went. I would spend all my money playing the game and die in the most ridiculous ways. But I would return the next day with more knowledge and ready to clear more stages. In that sense, Metal Slug Tactics captures that feeling thanks to its roguelike elements. Every mission is extremely difficult because it wants you to learn. It encourages you to position your soldiers right to pull off synchronized shots or take down many enemies at once. And once you do that, you get to unlock random abilities for your characters when they level up or even equip their weapons with new and destructive mods.
Furthermore, most levels are different, and I hardly ever found one that was a copy of the other. Even if some environmental details are the same between them, the main and side objectives vary, giving you new ways to play. And speaking of which, thanks to the aforementioned skills, each run can be different. In one run, I built Marco as a close-range attacker. However, in another one, I focused on improving his weapons and developing long-range special skills. This type of player agency is what hooks me into any tactical game. Add to that a layer of roguelike elements, and I can’t see anyone getting bored with this game.
It’s All In The Details
Beyond the terrific gameplay and perfectly executed roguelike elements, what stuck with me were the small details for veteran fans. The sounds of soldiers meeting their demise. Or the gigantic Metal Slugs riding into battle, ready to ruin your day. Heck, you can even command one of the classic tanks in battle and use it to wreak havoc from a tactical perspective. What else can we ask for? Sadly, my time was short, and I was only able to play the first area of the game and use four characters. Still, Metal Slug Tactics has all the elements it needs to be one of the most successful games of the genre.
One thing I can tell you took me a while to get used to was selecting certain things. At times, I felt the camera was against me as I found clicking certain parts of the grid a bit too difficult. But it never hindered my gameplay. Once you get the hang of the controls and how each unit players, you’ll be blasting everyone in a few turns. Also, even if this was a preview build, it looks quite polished. If the developers announced the release date for tomorrow, I’d say it is ready to go.
Overall, Metal Slug Tactics looks promising. Its combination of tactical elements that rival those of modern games like Persona 5 Tactica combined with roguelike mechanics is the perfect mix. The game is challenging, yes, and it’ll take you a while to get everything right. But that’s the essence of the franchise. It’s hitting that unpassable wall just to ram it with your weaponized tank. And frankly, out of all the franchises making a comeback lately, this is the one I’m most excited about.
Metal Slug Tactics will launch sometime during Fall 2024 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.
