Metal Slug Tactics Review – A Sweet Tactical Twist on a Beloved Series

As a seasoned gamer with decades of gaming experience under my belt, I must say that Metal Slug Tactics has truly taken me by surprise. I remember the days when I would spend hours upon hours playing the original Metal Slug games, the raw adrenaline and chaos they provided being unmatched.

Playing Metal Slug can be considered a luxury more fitting for the privileged few due to its high cost and limited availability in its early days. Originating from the 1990s, the game was often only playable in arcades or with a Neo Geo Advanced Entertainment System, which was not common or affordable for most people. The initial price of $649.99 (equivalent to about $1,568.04 today) made it a costly investment, earning the nickname “the Rolls-Royce of game consoles.

Previously, the latest title in the Metal Slug series, Metal Slug 7, was released in 2008 for the Nintendo DS. Unlike its predecessors, it wasn’t available in arcades and, in more ways than one, fell short of expectations. The vibrant colors from the battlefield were toned down on those dual screens, giving it a muted, sepia-like appearance, much like an old war photograph. A superior version, Metal Slug XX, was available for the PlayStation Portable, offering a wealth of high-resolution pixels. Since then, only a few Japan-exclusive mobile games were released until now.

As a passionate fan, I’d like to share my excitement about Metal Slug Tactics, a brilliant strategy game developed by Leikir Studio, a talented team of around twenty creatives based in Paris. They’ve masterfully transformed the action-packed Metal Slug series into bite-sized, turn-based battles, infused with intricate team strategies.

The obvious comparison would be to Advance Wars, whose clashes bore an enamelled brightness, like toys rolling over a carpet of softened ruin. But the developer, Intelligent Systems, had entire armies to work with, whereas Leikir has only an elite platoon. You play with a team of three, picked from the Peregrine Falcons Squad roster before you embark on each run. We have Major Marco Rossi, with a bolt of blonde dangling over his bandana; Captain Tarma Roving, replete with shades and a mile-wide grin; Sergeant 2nd Class Eri Kasamoto, with a specialty in explosives and green sawn-off denim; Master Sergeant Fio Germi, whose kneepads and dusty olive cap suggest someone more suited to a skatepark than an active warzone; and several more to unlock as you go. Each has a unique loadout, with a slew of passive buffs and special abilities, which upgrade as you grind out enough XP.

Metal Slug Tactics isn’t easy to get through, I assumed slowing down this series would be a mistake – even the original games had issues with choppy frame rates that made the action seem sluggish – but it didn’t take long for me to realize it’s not as straightforward as you might think. Developer Leikir has managed to capture the essence of the earlier games, presenting them in an isometric view and introducing innovative mechanics to keep the action fast-paced. As with traditional run-and-gun games, movement is key; the more squares you traverse, the more adrenaline points you earn, which aid in dodging attacks. If your team of three dies, you have to start the mission over from the beginning – a nod to the difficulty of arcade play and an opportunity for a fresh attempt at success.

Initially, you stumble through the initial hour, as you absorb the rules: some untimely deaths spur you into continuous action, and soon you learn to arrange your team in both horizontal and vertical lines, enabling their attacks to synchronize. If an enemy is alongside Marco’s pistol fire, Eri will throw a grenade into the melee. This increases or multiplies your attacks, allowing you to swiftly advance through levels like a helicopter playing Wagner blaring overhead. The roster of bosses features fresh perspectives on beloved classics. Meet Aeshi Nero, the massive truck-headed snake that slithers across the dunes. We encountered it in Metal Slug 2, where it clamped its steel jaws around a colossal pillar and swallowed you as you climbed, and now we find it roaming freely, whipping beneath the sand to surprise you from below.

This game keeps you engrossed, much like an electronic energy boost, until you suddenly notice it’s past midnight and you’re trying to complete just one more level. The fighting mechanics offer a balanced mix of novelty and depth, preventing you from feeling overwhelmed. As the game progresses and new elements are introduced, you find yourself seamlessly adapting, similar to your experiences with SNK’s iconic games. The rhythm of the game doesn’t disrupt; instead, it flows like ocean waves, ebbing and flowing consistently, providing a soothing yet invigorating experience. In essence, Leikir has honored its predecessors in a remarkable manner – by creating something fresh and innovative.

Over the past few nights, I’ve been on a nostalgic journey, revisiting the first five installments of Metal Slug, then diving back into Tactics. The shift in mood was like sipping coffee and then switching to tea – a refreshing change of pace.

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2024-11-05 17:12