For what seems like an eternity, Metal Slug Tactics has been parked on the horizon. Perhaps because I was so excited when it was first revealed back in 2021, a few years have seemed like ages. But now that it's nearly here, I can test it out and determine whether or not the pain was worthwhile.
In case you're not aware, Metal Slug Tactics is a game that is a continuation of the renowned arcade classic from 1996. Leikir has, as the name suggests, relocated the run-and-gun action to the turn-based strategy game's grid-like fields. Even if those two genres are quite distinct from one another, Fiolina Germi's presence may enhance very little in this planet.
It is not unexpected that the story of Metal Slug Tactics is what it is. General Morden, the main enemy, has fled and is now... There isn't really any subtext hinted at in the demo. The rebels are the evil ones, and you play the good men. Destroy them. The speech really makes very little effort to convey personality, which becomes sort of frustrating. Perhaps Leikir is hesitant to deviate too much from the original work, but the outcome is meaningless.
Since you'll be looking at a battlefield grid for the most of the time, that's not really relevant. I do, however, have some more unfavorable news for you: It's a roguelite.
Your three characters rush off to a predetermined area when you choose them in the garage. After that, you're free to finish a certain amount of tasks until the boss appears. You can finish the area if you can beat the boss.
You get random equipment and bonuses in between tasks, but they are exclusive to that run. In a similar vein, your characters gain experience points, but once the run ends, they return to starting point. Purchasing upgrades for the benefits you are offered as possibilities is how you make long-term progress.
I am not bothered by the structure. The main drawback is that you have to be very lucky to get the greatest perks between missions, but at least the roguelite element makes combat more skill-based than just leveling up your heroes. The main factor determining your success is how well you can complete tasks and earn their rewards.
There is also a skill ceiling that is rather high. Adrenaline is used by characters using their talents, and it is accumulated by them pushing the boundaries of their range of motion.
Beyond that, however, using sync assaults depends on unit location. Basically, the stationary unit will intensify the assault if one of your characters strikes while the adversary is within the sight of another unit. Positioning three characters so they'll all attack at once is an option if you're cautious and need to defeat a very powerful foe.
Additionally, there is no need to adhere to the turn sequence. A character may sometimes get an additional move for an action, allowing you to rearrange them. They may act in two distinct sync assaults if you take advantage of this.
Placement is crucial in Metal Slug Tactics since it ensures that action seldom stops. The game might seem surprisingly easy at first since sync assaults aren't given much weight in the beginning.
There are several tasks that appear, ranging from escort assignments to missions involving the eradication of enemies. Every goal contains a sub-goal that, if completed, would earn you extra benefits.
There is a little more intrigue in the boss fights. There's just one in the demo, versus Big Shiee, the tread-based Yamato-style battleship. Since it's also my favorite boss from the whole series, I was ecstatic.
Because your men are jumping over floating freight containers, the combat is fascinating. A chunk of ground will plunge into the sea every few of rounds, killing everyone who is above it. Big Shiee must be attacked in the center, but you can't just ignore the troops that keep appearing along with additional garbage clumps. This implies that you have to be on the move and take advantage of every opportunity to shoot on the large ship. Although there appear to be some FX missing from the demo, it's still rather entertaining.
Regarding that, although the graphics are good, they fall short of the renowned quality of the first series. It's not awful, but it's hard to match the pixel art of Nazca. The HUD and menus lack the pixelated artwork seen in the gameplay, which is my main criticism of the graphics. Any kind of high-resolution text placed against a background of pixel art will appear terrible. Comics Sans is a good choice.
I was hesitant at first, but ultimately I started having fun with Metal Slug Tactics. It's a deceptively easy strategy game, similar to games like Chroma Squad and . Leikir is making the most of its primarily superficial connection to the Metal Slug series by including recognizable bosses and adversaries.Although I'm not too impressed, I am eager to see the complete version when it releases in the fall. Above all, I'd want to see a wider diversity of enemies. The demo referenced tanks, but other than the Metal Slug itself, none were shown. Hopefully, this little sample of Metal Slug Tactics is just the beginning of something really amazing.Fall 2024 will see the release of Metal Slug Tactics for PC and consoles.