Metal Slug Tactics Review: A Bold New Battle

Metal Slug Tactics Review

The Metal Slug series is known for its fast-paced run-and-gun gameplay. Full of character and charm, each release is a gritty arcade classic that captures the spirit of its time. After years of successful campaigns, the franchise branched out into the mobile market, but has now made a tactical retreat to a more strategic front with Metal Slug Tactics. Aiming to combine chaos with a more calculated approach to combat, will this new battle plan ensure victory?

After freeing his former comrades, General Donald Morgan declared martial law to take control of the territory. With the safety of civilians as a priority for the World Government, the decision is made to send the Peregrine Falcon Squadron. Now you must fight in a variety of locations to stop the evil general's plans and return order to the country. Although there is some effort to raise the profile of the narrative through radio communication, this aspect of the game takes a backseat with the gameplay loop front and center of the experience.

run and shoot

Although Metal Gear Tactics takes a different route with its approach to warfare, core elements remain that honor the franchise's legacy and take the game in an exciting new direction. Like the originals, movement is key. Combining elements of the run and gun genre, the game employs a system that grants bonuses depending on the distance you travel. Running across the battlefield will increase your adrenaline and dodge, adding a layer of safety in the heat of combat. You can also gain additional protection by taking cover, giving you a variety of options on the relatively small and congested network.

As with other tactics titles, positioning is of utmost importance. You must consider the location of your unit, the range of your weapon, and the distance enemies can travel. By adding another strategic layer, you can also initiate timing attacks where adjacent players will attack at the same time and add more damage. This feature requires you to not only focus on defensive maneuvers, but also consider bombarding your opponent to eliminate multiple enemies at once. It's a great system that is a unique take on the traditional tactical warfare formula.

classic characters

Iconic characters return, each with unique abilities that make them different on the battlefield. Due to the variety of weapons and abilities, you will need to take advantage of your team's performance to emerge victorious from the variety of scenarios you will encounter. Characters have two weapons, one of which is more powerful and has limited ammunition. This makes you consider a variety of methods to eliminate your opponent so you can conserve ammunition. You can also configure your team's equipment, upgrade your arsenal, and experiment with the variety of bonuses you receive after completing missions. This helps add variety, as you'll continue to modify and experiment until you find your preferred attack method.

Missions feature rotating primary and secondary objectives, each offering different rewards. While there are only a few mission types, the procedurally generated maps help minimize repetition. Some missions require eliminating all enemies, while others focus on protecting a character. Although these are standard objectives, optional secondary objectives add variety and often reward specific playstyles. For example, completing a mission in a set number of turns or ensuring unit survival. Despite this, a sense of familiarity remains due to the limited mission types and small map size. However, the game's engaging loop helps mitigate repetition.

A super confrontation

Bosses complete areas. These offer a significant challenge, as you must avoid widespread attacks from the intimidating enemy, the standard enemies, and react to different situations on the busy battlefield. Even in Recruit, Metal Slug Tactics features difficult scenarios that can be problematic to overcome. There is a meta-progression for you to become stronger over time; However, this and many other systems in the game are not clearly explained and require you to decipher items. Combined with complicated controls, this can hinder your participation in the game.

Visually, the game perfectly captures classic coin flips. Although they switch to an isometric view, the pixel-based characters look and move exactly like the originals. This permeates the enemies you encounter and the hostages you save. Right down to the variety of places you visit, everything feels authentic and faithfully reinvents the franchise for a new genre. As good as the game looks, there are some graphical errors. Sometimes, even if a member of your squad has been defeated, they will remain in their position as if waiting for an order. While this doesn't affect gameplay, it is a nuisance when it occurs.

Metal Slug Tactics injects new energy into the tactical genre with its dynamic and fast-paced systems. While the game features a variety of compelling mechanics, the lack of clear explanations can hinder your strategic decisions during missions. However, the thrill of initiating timing attacks encourages a more aggressive playstyle, making for exciting battles. Leikir Studio has successfully reinvented a classic franchise for a new genre, and despite some issues with system clarity, the addictive gameplay loop offers a fun and innovative spin on tactical strategy.

***A Steam code was provided for this review***