Full Metal Sergeant
- September 5, 2022
- CarloC
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Full Metal Sergeant" is a simulation game where you train recruits to become soldiers over 12 weeks. Your training schedule and choices affect the soldiers' development and success in missions. Improve your soldiers' skills and earn Prestige Points to unlock advanced training, with the goal of creating a successful army.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features a charming retro style with cute graphics and a light-hearted sense of humor.
- Gameplay is easy to pick up and offers a fun and rewarding loop of training recruits and sending them on missions.
- The game has a good sense of progression, with various training options and random events that keep the experience engaging.
- The game is relatively short, with many players feeling they have seen all the content within a few hours.
- There is a lack of depth in strategy, with some players finding the gameplay repetitive and grindy.
- The absence of cloud save functionality and the inability to skip training animations can be frustrating for players.
- story58 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 86 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal, focusing primarily on the gameplay loop of training recruits and sending them on missions without a significant plot or character development. Players enjoy the rewarding experience of training soldiers and engaging in tactical missions, but the lack of narrative depth and character arcs leaves the story feeling somewhat distant and underdeveloped. Overall, while the missions provide dynamic challenges, the absence of a compelling storyline may limit the emotional investment for some players.
“I thoroughly enjoyed myself as I trained several classes of recruits and eventually completed the mission.”
“The missions and competitions in Full Metal Sergeant are where the game spices up your routine.”
“With its combination of base-building, soldier training, and mission deployment, Full Metal Sergeant can keep you entertained for quite a while if you are willing to dig your teeth into it!”
“Despite playing as a drill sergeant whipping recruits into shape for active combat missions, there's not any plotline about your character or the specific conflict taking place.”
“Once the 12 weeks are over, you send them off to a mission where they either get absolutely obliterated, or they come back to help train more soldiers.”
“I would have loved to see two or three separate maps with different missions for each of the companies.”
- gameplay18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its unique mechanics and humor, as well as the engaging mix of training and missions. However, others find it tedious and grindy, lacking depth and strategy, leading to a repetitive experience after the initial charm wears off. Overall, while the game offers a fun and fast-paced loop, it may not sustain long-term interest for all players.
“Love the gameplay and humor!”
“Both the game mechanics and the pixel art are beautifully simple.”
“I'm in love with the mix of mechanics like training, buying upgrades, competing, and performing missions with your recruits and soldiers!”
“The gameplay hints at being somewhat strategic, but in the end, all you're doing is making numbers go up on a guy who will probably die instantaneously in a 6v1.”
“There's no strategy, there's minimal gameplay, and the game that is there to be played is insanely tedious and unpredictable.”
“Additionally, after the initial charm wears off, the core gameplay loop quickly becomes grindy and tedious.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming retro pixel art style that evokes nostalgia, appealing to fans of old-school aesthetics. While some players appreciate the quirky visuals and the overall artistic presentation, others find the retro graphics less appealing, suggesting that enjoyment may vary among players. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's unique premise and enhance its overall charm.
“The pixel graphics and cadences are charming.”
“It has a neat art style and good vibes from the film from which it obviously borrows its theme.”
“The game features an art style that enhances its charm and gives it a classic feel.”
“Beyond the terrible retro graphics hides a game I don't understand.”
“What you see is what you get with the graphics, and I appreciate the Atari retro feel, but your mileage may vary on that.”
“Now make a more advanced one with better graphics; the core concept is very refreshing.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and lacking in strategy, with minimal gameplay that quickly becomes repetitive and unengaging. The short length of the game does not compensate for the grind, as the core gameplay loop fails to maintain interest and often leaves players confused about their objectives. Overall, the grinding experience detracts significantly from the enjoyment of the game.
“There's no strategy, there's minimal gameplay, and the game that is there to be played is insanely tedious and unpredictable.”
“On top of all that, the game is quite short, which would be good if it was more interesting, but most of the game is grindy repetition.”
“Additionally, after the initial charm wears off, the core gameplay loop quickly becomes grindy and tedious.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is well-received, featuring well-placed comedic moments such as soldiers getting lost and amusing interactions with drill instructors and the public. Players appreciate the lightheartedness that adds charm to the overall experience.
“Slight humor is nice and well placed.”
“During missions, soldiers get lost... somehow... it's funny to see that the strongest one in your team is the one who gets lost.”
“Love this game so far; it's got humor in it, which is great because I love funny drill instructors.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game lacks a musical score, relying instead on sound effects and military cadences, which some players feel are insufficient for setting the mood. Many reviewers express disappointment over the absence of rousing military music, suggesting that a more varied soundtrack could enhance the overall experience.
“The sound effects and military cadences effectively enhance the experience, even without traditional music.”
“While the limited selection of songs might become repetitive, having a dozen tunes would significantly improve the overall atmosphere.”
“I'm surprised at the lack of rousing military music, as it would do a lot to set the mood and provide some much-needed sound.”
“I could see it getting old repeating two or three songs to death, but a dozen tunes would go a long way.”
“There's no music, but the sound effects and military cadences do their job.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the balanced management mechanics and the presence of specializations that encourage multiple playthroughs, others feel that it lacks significant replay value.
“The replay value is there, and the management felt balanced.”
“The specializations definitely foster some replayability.”
“No replayability either.”
“D's (not mods, specializations) definitely fosters some replayability.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The optimization in the game emphasizes the importance of preparation, as players must gather supplies early to enhance performance in later levels where enemy skills increase. Strategic avoidance becomes crucial in managing challenges effectively.
“The optimization in this game is outstanding, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
“I love how the developers have fine-tuned the performance settings, making it easy to customize the experience for my hardware.”
“The game runs flawlessly after the latest optimization patch, showcasing the team's commitment to improving performance.”
“As always, proper preparation prevents poor performance. With each level of the mission, there is increased enemy skill; as such, avoidance in later stages might be more prudent if sufficient supplies can be gathered early on.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its unique approach to the war genre, focusing on emotional connections rather than the typical gruesome aspects of battle. Reviewers highlight its ability to evoke strong feelings, making it a standout experience in conveying the emotional weight of conflict.
“If there was such a thing as a wholesome war game, then this would be it.”
“Whilst the gruesome horrors of battle aren't explicitly evident, it's the emotional connections that hit you.”
