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- DotEmu
- DotEmu
- DotEmu
- DotEmu
Metal Slug Tactics
Released On: Nov 5, 2024
78
7.0
All Platforms
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 30 Critic Reviews
78
73% Positive
22 Reviews
22 Reviews
27% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 30 Critic Reviews
78
73% Positive
22 Reviews
22 Reviews
27% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
I love what Dotemu and Leikir Studios have achieved with Metal Slug Tactics. The unlikeliest pivot for a franchise aside, it mixes interesting tactical action, Roguelike progression and brilliant visuals into an indie title that nails the balance between nostalgia and modernity.
An entertaining roguelite and an interesting new direction for the venerable series. Recommended, despite the buggy launch.
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 22 User Ratings
7.0
59% Positive
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
23% Mixed
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
18% Negative
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 22 User Ratings
7.0
59% Positive
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
23% Mixed
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
18% Negative
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
Though it’s not without some technical issues and frustratingly inaccessible small font in menus you have to squint at, Metal Slug Tactics is a blast of a rogue-lite adventure. It’s a quality return to a long-running franchise and one that has translated its difficulty and style well by offering enticing risk vs reward mechanics at every turn and striking pixel art and visual flourishes to boot. With plenty of experimentation in character abilities and what feels like endless upgrades and unlocks to chase, it’s a rogue-lite venture that is only complimented by the more hours you put into it. You get your money’s worth here. SNK and Leikir Studio have successfully completed their mission of making Metal Slug exciting and relevant once more. Job well done.
Metal Slug Tactics is a fun and nicely-challenging strategy game, but what truly makes it stand out is how it finds a way to incorporate mechanics from the arcade games into its gameplay by placing a unique emphasis on movement. Combined with astonishing visuals (especially during the epic boss battle), it makes for an entry into the franchise that's more than worthy and one that's worth checking out whether you're a fan of the series or not. After all, you can't attack a basket of snakes in order to sic them on your enemies and not have fun.
There are a few more missions, variety and territories, but this doesn't mean that we're dealing with a bad video game, quite the opposite. In fact, it may be surprising how well this curious strategic-tactical experiment with roguelike elements has turned out. Its gameplay is very solid, the possibilities of the units are deep and the way of transferring the run and gun action to a new genre is talented. So if you are a faithful follower of Metal Slug and also connect with the style of game that has been devised, you may end up like us and get hooked.
Metal Slug Tactics successfully reinvents the classic Metal Slug series by incorporating strategic elements and roguelike mechanics. While there is a story here, it never really felt like anything more than a reason to continue to push the player forward. I mean ‘stopping a megalomaniacal man who is all about world domination’ is pretty straight forward. But where this game truly shines is in the excellent strategic elements, even if they are more difficult than I would have liked. MST might not be the return to the Metal Slug series that many fans are hoping for, but it is, nevertheless, a fun and worthy entry into the series ongoing legacy.
Metal Slug Tactics takes a fresh turn, adding tactical depth to the classic Metal Slug charm – and it works! For fans of RPGs and newcomers alike, it promises hours of fun at a fair price of €24.99.
A good game, difficutl to get the hang of it but once you understand the mechanics is great. I think it deserves a 6 because it's a shame how short the game is. It took me less than 2 h to complete the game in easy and medium. They used the rogue like label so they can force you into replaying over and over so the devs doesn't need to do much work. With only a little bit more of content this game would be great, but no, they had to add a lot of useless weapons and skills modifiers that almost has no impact on game (except the ones that breaks the game ofc). If you love xcom like games, this is a must to, but if you want to pay for it, wait until more content or dlcs are available.
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PC
Metal Slug Tactics: A Missed Opportunity for Fans of the Classic Run-and-Gun.
As a long-time fan of the Metal Slug series, which thrived on fast-paced, run-and-gun chaos, I was cautiously excited about Metal Slug Tactics. The thought of seeing Marco, Fio, and the rest of the gang in a turn-based tactics setting felt like it could be a fresh new way to celebrate the series’ legacy. Unfortunately, after spending significant time with the game, I can’t help but feel that Metal Slug Tactics falls short of capturing the spirit of what made the originals such classics.
After what seemed like an eternity in development—almost 5 to 6 years—the final product feels undercooked, underpowered, and, ultimately, underwhelming. One of the biggest issues lies in the game’s mechanics, specifically the abilities and weapons that the game provides. For a series known for its over-the-top firepower, Metal Slug Tactics really dials things back, making it feel less like Metal Slug and more like a generic tactics game in a Metal Slug skin. The unlocking and upgrading of abilities and weapon mods feel underpowered, with many of the skills either failing to pack any real punch or offering only situational utility, at best.
Weapons that should be satisfying and impactful often feel dampened, especially against bosses with bloated HP bars and heat seeking weapons, leaving battles feeling drawn-out and tedious. Instead of the satisfying explosions and the thrill of close-call evades that the original games offered, we’re left with a more sluggish, underwhelming experience that fails to honor the original games’ unhinged fun.
Then there’s the enemy design and frequency, which seems more punishing than challenging. Every battle feels swarmed with an excessive number of enemies and constant respawns. This would be fine in a real-time setting, but for a tactical, turn-based system, it feels like overkill. The battles quickly become overwhelming in a way that doesn’t challenge your tactical thinking so much as it drains your patience. Rather than giving players the chance to enjoy strategic maneuvers, the sheer volume of enemies can turn combat into a tedious game of attrition.
The mission objectives for each randomized map, too, feel constricted and unremarkable, often with tight (time) limits and arbitrary constraints that **** the freedom and creativity right out of the gameplay. Missions often feel formulaic, with little variation or excitement to keep you invested. For a tactics game, where planning and adapting should be half the fun, the narrow objectives, overwhelming odds and ticking timers are more of a frustration than a test of skill. The game seems to push players along a predefined path, stripping away the thrill of strategizing and exploring alternative approaches. This railroading takes away any chance for player agency, which could have been a key strength in a tactics-based Metal Slug.
Perhaps the most disappointing aspect, though, is that it feels so removed from the spirit of the original series. Part of what made Metal Slug legendary was its breakneck action, its bold visual flair, and that unmistakable charm that balanced serious warfare with cartoonish absurdity. Here, that spirit is mostly lost in translation. Where is the frantic energy? The almost slapstick chaos? This game ends up feeling like a dry reinterpretation of the franchise, one that forgets what fans loved about it in the first place. It’s hard not to feel disappointed by the result, after years of waiting.
I expected a more polished and exciting product, but Metal Slug Tactics feels more like a shadow of what could have been. It’s a game that tries to capture the Metal Slug aesthetic but loses sight of its heart, Because of this, it likely won’t resonate with those who grew up with the original games.
In the end, Metal Slug Tactics misses the mark, failing to live up to its potential or to offer a meaningful experience for fans of the classic games or even fans of the tactical genre. It doesn’t expand on the original gameplay mechanics, introduce any fun or imaginative twists, or bring in creative elements that could surprise or engage longtime or new fans alike. Only rogue-like elements, RNG and tedium await you.
Unlike games such as Into the Breach or XCOM: Enemy Unknown, which successfully redefined tactical gameplay and narrative within its genre, Metal Slug Tactics feels like a superficial variation—one that lacks the bold spirit, depth, and charm that could have made it a worthy addition to the Metal Slug legacy. The game could even have learned from the Mario + Rabbids games on the Nintendo Switch, which offered a fun and accessible take on the tactics genre without losing the spirit of its original franchises. Instead, Metal Slug Tactics lacks that same sense of boldness and accessibility that could have made it a worthy addition to the series.
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PC
Can't rebind camera keys. Unacceptable in this time and age. Stay away from this failure.
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PC
Summary Donald Morden is back! After a long time being hidden in a country opposed to the World Government, he patiently staged a coup d'etat and is finally ready to take revenge upon the World with the army he gathered throughout the years. The Peregrine Falcons will have to do everything in their power to make it through the enemy lines and...
Platforms:
- PC
- Nintendo Switch
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox Series X
- PlayStation 4
- Xbox One
Initial Release Date: Nov 5, 2024
Developer:
- Leikir Studio
- Leikir Studio
Publisher: DotEmu
Genres: