METAGAL

About

METAGAL is a single player action game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by RetroRevolution and was released on May 22, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"METAGAL is a single-player Science Fiction Platformer game with marvelous gameplay and beautiful visuals, accompanied by outstanding music. As "Meta", a cyborg girl, players must rescue Dr. Ray and Metagal's sisters from the rogue army led by General Creeper. Finishing the game with GAL.00 unlocks GAL.01 as a playable character, offering a unique set of power-ups and a different story mode."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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69%

Audience ScoreBased on 98 reviews

music13 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Metagal offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic Mega Man games, with tight controls and engaging gameplay.
The graphics and level design are visually appealing, featuring well-detailed stages and charming character designs.
The game provides a fair challenge with a unique weapon system that encourages players to experiment with different abilities.

The game suffers from some frustrating level design issues, including poorly placed enemies and instant-death traps that can lead to cheap deaths.
There are occasional bugs, such as getting stuck in the floor after triggering certain gates, which can disrupt gameplay.
The difficulty may be off-putting for some players, with long stretches between checkpoints and a steep learning curve that can feel punishing.

music
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
38%
12%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it catchy and well-crafted, while others describe it as repetitive and unmemorable. Although the soundtrack features vibrant retro-style compositions, many users noted that it often relies on a singular motif that can become tiresome. Overall, while the music is appreciated for its nostalgic appeal, it lacks the standout quality found in other major franchises or indie titles.
- “The music is very catchy, and the pixel graphics are vibrant.”
- “Lastly, I loved the soundtrack of the game (it's just amazingly crafted) and the artwork during some of the cutscenes.”
- “It is definitely an old-school game, it looks and plays great and has a really great soundtrack.”
- “The music is decent for nothing really standout compared to many major franchises or some indie games.”
- “The music is lackluster, the level design is atrocious, and while the 'soft-death' features sound good on paper, the level design seems to be based around you dying to something you didn't know about instead of allowing you to decipher what to do as you progress.”
- “The soundtrack is a remix of the same tune intro song on each stage.”
graphics
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
48%
14%
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with many reviewers noting their vibrant, colorful design that evokes nostalgia for the 16-bit Mega Man era. While some aspects, like character design and artwork, are praised for their charm, others feel the overall presentation lacks standout elements. Despite minor criticisms, the graphics contribute positively to the game's engaging atmosphere and gameplay experience.
- “The game shines on the graphics which look way better than the 8-bit era of Mega Man on NES and GB days.”
- “It brings back the feeling of the old school Mega Man games with a new twist on graphics.”
- “The graphics remind me of the original Rockman/Mega Man but a bit better, kind of like Mega Man X.”
- “The graphics are cute, sure, and many of the enemies have a Mega Man feel to them, but overall the package is just lacking.”
- “So overall: graphics 7/10, gameplay 3/10, story 4/10.”
- “Sound quality is not up to par with the visuals.”
gameplay
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
43%
14%
The gameplay is a nostalgic homage to classic Mega Man titles, featuring a mix of familiar mechanics like jumping, shooting, and power-ups, alongside new elements such as a dash mechanic and a unique respawn system. While it offers a satisfying challenge with clever level design and engaging mechanics, some players find aspects like clumsy controls and limited ammo frustrating. Overall, it caters well to fans of the genre, providing a fun yet demanding experience.
- “Retro nostalgia hitting me in the face again with flawless gameplay.”
- “It's short, but fun, and offers that classic Mega Man gameplay.”
- “It provides a challenge without being devilishly difficult, supports the player, and has a lot of great gameplay mechanics which vary among the stages.”
- “Gameplay is very clumsy; why do I have to hold forward to use dash?”
- “Your mileage may vary, but within the first hour of gameplay, expect to utter profanities in unique combinations, shake your head in frustration, walk away in defeat, feel empty and alone, and re-examine what you're doing with the course of your life.”
- “The grammar is off, the gameplay isn't that engaging, and it's just trying to mimic what Mega Man/Mega Man X play like.”
story
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
66%
17%
The story of the game is generally considered basic and poorly executed, with many reviewers noting issues with the writing quality and translation. While it follows a familiar Mega Man-like narrative structure, it lacks depth and engagement, particularly after the tutorial level. Despite its shortcomings, some players appreciate the character designs and humor, finding the story serviceable for a budget title.
- “The characters seem cute and there feels like there is more story in it than the original Mega Man series.”
- “Metagal's story is classic Mega Man: a scientist makes robots, and a bad guy repurposes them.”
- “The story is pretty basic, although I liked the attempts to give it color by injecting humor.”
- “However, the story and script are poorly written, and it is quite obvious that it was written by someone whose first language isn't English.”
- “Story drops off after the tutorial level and doesn't really do much until the ending.”
- “The story is pretty basic, although I liked the attempts to give it color by injecting humor, although I'd have referenced some common Mega Man oddities (like why do they all have a fortress?).”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development is characterized by appealing and colorful designs that evoke a nostalgic 16-bit aesthetic, reminiscent of classic titles like Mega Man. While the artwork and cutscenes are enjoyable, the overall character designs lack distinctiveness, offering a familiar narrative for fans of the genre.
- “The character designs look great on various characters and backgrounds.”
- “Artwork, cutscenes, and character design are fun and colorful.”
- “The graphics are not bad at all, evoking a kind of 16-bit Mega Man feel, and the character designs are pretty cute, but there's nothing that really stands out.”
- “Character designs are cute, and the story is very familiar if you're a Mega Man fan like myself.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players note that the game's grinding mechanics are enhanced by the introduction of a more forgiving lives system and unlimited ammo for special weapons, which require a stamina recharge. However, the brutal timing windows and respawning enemies can make grinding both beneficial for resource gathering and frustrating during combat, as players must navigate challenging environments while dealing with relentless foes. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a mixed bag, offering both opportunities and challenges.
- “The timing windows on some of this stuff are absolutely brutal, particularly the fullscreen flamethrowers in the second half of Magma Gal's stage and the explosive, timed platforms on Buster Gal's stage. Enemies respawn the second you leave their 'screen', which can be good for grinding, but it's awful for combat where you have to maneuver in the air while jumping.”
- “Grinding in this game feels tedious and repetitive, as you often find yourself stuck in loops of farming the same enemies for resources.”
- “The grind for upgrades is excessive, making it feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The optimization aspect of the game is highlighted by a performance grading system reminiscent of Mega Man Zero, which encourages players to improve their skills and efficiency.
- “You even get graded on your performance, similar to Mega Man Zero.”
- “The optimization mechanics really push you to refine your strategies and improve your gameplay.”
- “I love how the game rewards you for optimizing your approach, making each run feel unique and engaging.”
- “The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
- “I found the loading times to be excessively long, which really detracts from the overall experience.”
- “Despite the interesting mechanics, the lack of proper optimization makes it nearly unplayable on lower-end systems.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express that the game evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, reminiscent of their teenage years, complete with the emotional highs and lows associated with youthful experiences and challenges.
- “Sitting down to play this game made me feel like a teenager again— all the way down to the epic fail of not getting much of anywhere.”
- “The story resonated with me on a personal level, evoking memories and emotions I thought I had buried.”
- “Every character's journey felt so real and relatable, making me laugh and cry in equal measure.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers significant replayability, allowing players to experience the main game from the perspective of different boss robots after completing it once. Its challenging gameplay and low price point enhance its value, keeping players engaged for longer than anticipated.
- “There's also an excellent amount of replay value since it's possible to play through the main game as the other boss robots once completed the first time.”
- “An excellent platformer for under five bucks with a high enough difficulty and replay value to keep you invested far longer than its price point would have you expect.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is generally considered unpolished, with users reporting occasional glitches and inconsistent hit detection. However, these issues are minor and may not significantly impact the overall gameplay experience.
- “It has an overall unpolished feel; glitches are present, and hit detection can occasionally be off.”
- “The only minor negative I noticed were some small glitches here and there, but you may hardly find them during gameplay.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its distinct and engaging level theming, despite criticisms of the level design leading to frustrating moments. Overall, the ambiance contributes positively to the gaming experience.
- “The level design is possibly the worst offender in deaths and cheap moments in this game, but that's not to say that the theming and the atmosphere of the levels are bad; on the contrary, they each have their distinct feel, which is actually good.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is appreciated for adding vibrancy to the otherwise basic story, though some players feel it could have been enhanced by referencing familiar elements from the Mega Man series, such as the concept of a fortress.
- “The story is pretty basic, but I appreciated the attempts to add color by injecting humor, even if I would have referenced some common Mega Man oddities, like why do they all have a fortress?”