Review – Metal Slug Tactics

Many people had their first contact with tactical RPGs through the late Final Fantasy Tactics – a truly incredible game. In my case, I started with a very obscure title of the genre: Bomberman Wars, the game that introduced the famous suicide bomber into a medieval and… tactical world! I think that’s why I’ve always felt very comfortable testing any game that ventures into this style, regardless of the franchise.

The boldness of this time comes from the Metal Slug franchise, which has long since retired from shoot ’em up and, in recent years, . Metal Slug Tactics introduces all those frantic and intense shootouts in a totally strategic context – and with a hint of roguelike. It’s a bizarre mix in every way, so this is one of those games that divides opinion.

A new mission

As usual in the franchise, Metal Slug Tactics brings together the greatest fighters in the universe in a war against the cruel General Morden – who has barely escaped from prison and already has three weapons of mass destruction ready to destroy the planet. The difference is that, instead of you strafing the fire button (hoping not to get hit in the chaos of the shooting) in a straight line, here your role will be to explore strategies to defeat the enemy army.

For those unfamiliar with the genre, Metal Slug Tactics follows exactly the basic premise of any other similar title: the scenarios are arranged in squares divided into cells. In each turn, your characters can move within a limited space and their actions will depend on how many points they have available at that moment.

However, in this genre, battles tend to be pre-defined in certain details, such as the layout of the scene, initial positioning of enemies, etc. In this game, the roguelike elements make combat completely random in these aspects and many others – a bold idea, but one that is undeniably very frustrating.

When we think about the classic Metal Slug, the first thing that comes to mind is that they are very difficult games. The team took this nostalgia very seriously and managed to convert the difficulty of the originals into the tactical system. Metal Slug Tactics has a higher level of difficulty, even for those who are already familiar with the genre; Much of this is due to its roguelike side, another style that is already naturally intense.

Too unpredictable

The objective of the game is to go through five or six battles until you reach the boss; upon winning the main challenge, we advance to a different sequence. However, the battles are completely random and give us the freedom to follow different routes to the final destination. For this reason, it is often difficult to prepare in advance – as you never know what lies ahead!

Even the objectives are randomized. In some confrontations, you will have to defeat all enemies, while in others you will only need to survive for a few turns. One way or another, it’s not usually a simple task, mainly because the game is constantly throwing your characters to the wolves! The initial positioning of each is almost always separate and in the middle of several opponents, resulting in a somewhat early death.

Reaching the boss is quite a feat, but it is in these confrontations that we discover the true difficulty of the game. All war machines are extremely attractive and still have the help of other enemies, so don’t expect a fair battle. If you die, you will return to the beginning of the route, just like in a roguelike. At least, not everything will be lost – the idea is always to return stronger than before.

The experience gained during battles yields some extra tricks for the next attempt, including more powerful weapons and even combat vehicles. This way, each race tends to be less frustrating than the last, but it never stops being challenging. I assume it took me a while to start having fun with Metal Slug Tactics, but over time, frustration starts to turn into determination.

Still, some aspects of the gameplay didn’t please me much. The main one is the fact that it is only possible to shoot enemies that are on the same level as your character; If you’re just a step above or below, forget about it. The cover system is also weird: just be behind a wall to protect yourself from any shot, even if it only covers half of your target. These are factors that help and hinder in equal measure.

Otherwise, we have nothing to complain about. The look follows the same pixel art style as the original games, with strong colors and well-animated characters. Everything here is very nostalgic for those who played the classics, including the phrases and sound effects. It’s a totally new way to play Metal Slug, but it’s still a game in the franchise.

Metal Slug Tactics is certainly not for everyone. The combination of tactical RPG and roguelike works, but it is far from being an accessible experience. The game is difficult and frustrating just like its predecessors used to be, but leaving aside all the most frantic part of the gameplay. This one is only for those who love strategy – and have plenty of patience to start over countless times.