Heavy Metal Machines

About

Heavy Metal Machines is a free-to-play, team-based multiplayer online battle arena game. Players choose from a roster of unique characters, each with their own weapons and abilities, and compete in post-apocalyptic matches with a heavy metal music theme. The objective is to deliver a bomb to the enemy's base while preventing the opposing team from doing the same. The game features fast-paced action, strategic gameplay, and requires cooperation and communication with team members.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 919 reviews

gameplay33 positive mentions

stability11 negative mentions

Unique blend of MOBA and vehicular combat, reminiscent of classic games like Twisted Metal and Rock n' Roll Racing.
Fun gameplay with a variety of characters and abilities, allowing for strategic team play.
Great heavy metal soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.

Low player base leading to long matchmaking times and frequent matches against bots.
Numerous bugs and crashes reported, affecting gameplay stability.
Controls can be clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult for new players to get accustomed.

gameplay
87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
55%
7%
The gameplay is a unique blend of MOBA and vehicular combat, featuring well-balanced machines and engaging mechanics that offer a fast-paced, chaotic experience. While many players appreciate the fun and originality, some criticize the repetitiveness and lack of human opponents, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable with solid mechanics, though it may require further refinement to enhance longevity and player engagement.
- “The gameplay is very good, machines are well balanced and have distinct features.”
- “Extremely fun and chaotic gameplay with lots of tactics involved.”
- “The gameplay is quick, matches don't usually last too long (10 minutes on average) and it's generally a good experience.”
- “The gameplay is pretty pathetic and stale; you just chase a ball around like a game of glorified soccer.”
- “Bad graphics, bad gameplay, awful controls.”
- “The gameplay and the controls are frustrating.”
music
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
46%
4%
The music in the game has received widespread praise, particularly for its heavy metal soundtrack that complements the action-packed gameplay and post-apocalyptic theme. Players appreciate the unique tracks associated with each vehicle, enhancing the overall atmosphere, although some noted a lack of in-game music during matches. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal despite some criticisms regarding gameplay and performance.
- “The music is good, and there are plenty of characters to try in beta, but the lack of arenas in the game is a bit redundant.”
- “Fast-paced MOBA with a nice theme, crazy mechanics, and an awesome soundtrack.”
- “Every character has a story, style, and soundtrack with move sets that complement their personalities.”
- “Game has no music so put a playlist on in the background to make it better.”
- “Boring, generic music and awful performance with a lot of lag spikes.”
- “Music was disappointing.”
graphics
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
47%
5%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the stylized art and aesthetic, particularly its post-apocalyptic theme and vibrant effects. However, some users express frustration over performance issues on mid-range PCs and a lack of graphics settings, suggesting that while the visuals are generally good, they may not meet modern standards for all players. Overall, the graphics are often described as polished and enjoyable, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.
- “The graphics of the game process itself is good; machines and effects are nice.”
- “Graphically, for what the game type is, I think it looks very good.”
- “The graphics are polished, stylized to represent a post-apocalyptic setting, and the effects are nothing to sneeze at.”
- “Now, I don't know what the heck happened and which update messed it up so badly, but it's impossible—like, physically impossible—that a game with the graphics of League of Legends performs so poorly on a medium-end PC.”
- “Bad graphics, bad gameplay, awful controls.”
- “Graphics are kind of behind the times.”
story
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
79%
11%
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players praising the unique backgrounds and personalities of each character, which enhance the overall experience. However, others feel that the lack of a cohesive narrative or overarching storyline detracts from the gameplay, making it feel repetitive and disconnected. While the character bios are engaging, the absence of a compelling plot leaves some players wanting more depth and context to the missions and challenges.
- “This story is my new religion.”
- “My personal favorite is that each unique car has a unique drive and background story, like in classic Twisted Metal.”
- “Every character has a story, style, and soundtrack with move sets that complement their personalities.”
- “The Tetris plot is better.”
- “There doesn't seem to be an optional storyline to explain why they want to race to their death, like Twisted Metal had with their characters.”
- “When you don't have a name or a story for yourself, you are a nobody.”
humor
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
92%
23%
Overall, players find the game to be quite humorous, highlighting its funny characters, amusing gameplay, and entertaining music. However, some users note that issues like unbalanced matchmaking and bugs can detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, many still appreciate the game's comedic elements and look forward to its future developments.
- “This game is so funny, and I like it! I have 5 wins and 1 loss.”
- “It's a hilarious time, and I can't wait to see where this game goes.”
- “Amazing, it's very funny.”
- “The matchmaking is totally unbalanced, and makes the game unfunny.”
- “The jokes fall flat and often feel forced, lacking any real wit.”
- “I expected a lot of humor, but instead, I found the dialogue cringeworthy and dull.”
stability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. Many experience slow loading times, unresponsive controls, and connectivity issues, leading to frustrating interruptions. While players find the game enjoyable and recognize its potential, the overall consensus is that it requires substantial improvements in stability to enhance the user experience.
- “The user interface has become slow and so has the game overall; the time it takes to just load it, the time it takes to actually get to play it, and the way the game nearly freezes if you press too quickly on any of the main menu options.”
- “It's not FPS lag because my FPS stays at 80-100 during the lag spikes; it's just that it glitches for some reason due to connectivity issues.”
- “It always crashes; I cannot play. It freezes and Windows (7) pops up saying 'program not responding, close or wait.' I can wait forever and it won't continue...”
monetization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
89%
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn mixed reviews, with many players perceiving it as a cash grab due to the early introduction of DLC and a loot box season pass system. While some appreciate the absence of aggressive microtransactions, others criticize the reliance on battle passes and advertising tactics that feel exploitative. Overall, there is a sentiment that the focus on monetization detracts from the game's potential quality and player experience.
- “Kept my attention and it doesn't throw microtransactions in your face.”
- “The monetization model is fair and doesn't hinder gameplay.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers plenty of free content without pushing for purchases.”
- “But I don't think the head of development really cared; I certainly had the impression that this was used as a cash grab, although it has the potential to be bigger than Valorant.”
- “The fact that they already came out with a DLC and a loot box season pass system before the game is even done tells you they are more concerned with stealing your money than actually spending time to make a quality game. Just another cash grab system.”
- “I'm not sure why anyone would think it's okay to adapt this cash grab to games, but it keeps coming, and it's definitely a huge downfall for a lot of games.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while it offers a variety of cars and racers to unlock, the repetitive nature can make it feel tedious. However, daily quests help mitigate excessive grinding, providing a balanced approach to unlocking new content without overwhelming players.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “While the game has many different cars and racers to unlock and play, and a few stages, I don't think it's enough to keep the game fresh, especially with how repetitive and tedious this game can get.”
- “Daily quests are great, but unlocking new drivers takes a good amount of time and feels excessively grindy.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The game's optimization has been criticized for poor performance, including frequent lag spikes, which detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, the performance points for season-pass progression feel insignificant, as players start at peak character performance, leading to a lack of strategic depth in gameplay.
- “You start with the top performance of the character, and it doesn't devolve to who can exploit the game mechanics more efficiently to bully the enemy team in the late game.”
- “The performance points awarded towards season pass progression in this game are simply insignificant.”
- “You start with the top performance of the character, and it doesn't devolve into who can exploit the game mechanics more efficiently to bully the enemy team in the late game.”
- “Boring, generic music and awful performance with a lot of lag spikes.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
Players highlight the game's strong replayability due to numerous unlocks and character/car levels, making it enjoyable to revisit. Overall, the game is considered fun and offers significant replay value.
- “There are lots of unlocks and character/car levels that add to the replayability value.”
- “Regardless, the game is fun with strong replay value.”
- “The game has a lot of unlocks and character/car levels that add to the replayability value.”
- “Once you complete the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
- “The lack of varied gameplay mechanics makes replaying feel tedious.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional response to the game, indicating a deep connection and investment, yet frustration with the current gameplay mechanics has led to a temporary disengagement.
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The atmosphere is enhanced by a captivating soundtrack, with each pilot featuring a unique song, complemented by Larry Huffman's engaging commentary.
- “The soundtrack is really nice, with each pilot having a unique song, and Larry Huffman's comments add to the overall atmosphere.”
- “The immersive environment and attention to detail create a captivating atmosphere that draws you in.”
- “The combination of stunning visuals and an evocative soundtrack makes for an unforgettable atmosphere.”