Metal Fatigue
- July 31, 2018
- Zono
Get on Steam"Metal Fatigue" is a real-time strategy game that combines mech combat with base-building and resource management. Players can design and customize their own mechs, known as "Hounds," using a variety of weapons and equipment. The game is set in a futuristic world where corporations compete for resources and power, with a single-player campaign and multiplayer modes available.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Unique gameplay mechanics with customizable giant robots (Combots) and multi-layered battlefields (underground, surface, and orbit).
- Nostalgic experience for many players, with a solid campaign and engaging strategy elements.
- Despite its age, the game remains fun and offers a unique take on the RTS genre that is not commonly found in modern games.
- Graphics and UI have not aged well, often resulting in poor readability and visual clarity on modern displays.
- Frequent crashes and stability issues, particularly in multiplayer and skirmish modes.
- Lack of proper tutorials and in-game explanations, making it difficult for new players to understand mechanics and strategies.
- graphics44 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated and have not aged well, with many players noting issues such as blurriness, low resolution, and poor scaling on modern displays. While some appreciate the nostalgic charm and gameplay, there is a strong desire for a remake or remaster to enhance the visual experience. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may be lacking, the gameplay remains enjoyable for those willing to overlook these shortcomings.
“Amazing gameplay, graphics (at the time when the game came out), and story.”
“The graphics themselves are okay and kind of impressive for a 3D RTS of its era, but that's not the issue here, it's the style and overall 'look' of the game.”
“If you can see past the slightly broken visuals, there is an amazing game here.”
“Like other players said; the game aged poorly, the visuals are blurry regardless of the resolution you try to play.”
“The long and short of it all is that the old graphics and menus are a direct translation to this without any updating or consideration for the modern-day resolutions that we are using, causing a visual mess.”
“However, the graphics leave much to be desired.”
- gameplay42 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Metal Fatigue is praised for its unique mechanics, particularly the customizable giant robots (or "combots") and multi-tiered battlefields that include orbital, surface, and underground combat. While some players note that the game shows its age with issues like poor AI and a clunky user interface, many still find the core gameplay loop engaging and enjoyable, highlighting its strategic depth and innovative features that set it apart from other RTS games. Overall, despite some outdated elements, the gameplay remains a strong point and continues to resonate with fans.
“It provides fantastic gameplay with its multi-level maps (orbit, surface, underground), base building, and most importantly: fully customizable giant robots (or 'combots' as they are called in-game).”
“Metal Fatigue has not aged well, but its core mechanics are wonderful; the multi-tiered real-time strategy mechanics that force you to manage ground, subterranean, and airborne conflicts as well as dutifully construct effective combots (giant mechs) to lead your forces into battle truly offered a revolutionary take on the genre.”
“The combot customization and salvaging enemy parts in the heat of battle makes for some very chaotic gameplay at times.”
“Terrible UI, units behave like idiots and the gameplay isn't worth it.”
“Unfortunately, the actual strategy and gameplay bit is awful.”
“If you use bigger resolutions, the game icons and texts become so tiny it severely hinders gameplay.”
- story33 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its engaging narrative and the dynamic between factions and characters. While some find the storyline to be somewhat cliché or in need of improvement, the futuristic setting and unique campaign structure add depth to the experience. Overall, the story is considered a strong aspect of the game, despite some minor issues related to its age and gameplay mechanics.
“The campaign is surprisingly well made... the story is fairly good, and the futuristic setting is amazingly well done.”
“Add on to this that you get one campaign for each of the three factions with a pretty decent story in all of them that shows the dynamic between the main characters and that of each faction; this game truly has a lot to offer.”
“Gripping story about love, loyalty, and betrayal.”
“The storyline is okay, but definitely leaves room for improvement.”
“A single mission can go for a long time with open fronts everywhere and, while the assault is relentless, the unbalanced low resources slows you down so much that you are always playing catch up... it doesn't become challenging, it becomes boring.”
“There is no tutorial, so it's all trial and error, even after reading the manual and attempting to follow the guide provided for the first three missions (which doesn't work).”
- music24 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the main theme and overall solid soundtrack, while others criticize the absence of the Rimtech faction's classical music and the inclusion of the less favored Milagro tracks. Many users find the music dated or unfitting for a real-time strategy game, describing it as bland and uninspired, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, some players still enjoy the music and consider it a positive aspect of the game.
“The game's soundtrack is overall pretty solid, with the main theme being an absolute banger.”
“The music is great.”
“Music is also great, making the game really awesome.”
“Major downside though, the Rimtech faction is missing its classical music soundtrack; it plays the Milagro music instead.”
“I cannot stress enough how bland and uninspired this half-assed soundtrack is.”
“Not only is the music ludicrously unfitting for a real-time strategy game, but it's just garbage in general.”
- humor5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as inconsistent, with some players finding it unfunny and chaotic, while others appreciate the charm of its quirky bugs and errors. Notably, the game's unique feature of mobile turrets adds a humorous twist to gameplay, though overall, the comedic elements seem to fall flat for many.
“Still a few bugs and hilarious errors present, but there's a charm from the old ages.”
“One funny thing is that the turrets in this game are mobile: they can hover around, and you can rearrange them, but slowly though.”
“Funny and interesting note: this was a 3D RTS back in 2000 before Blizzard made it cool with the release of Warcraft III in 2006.”
“The problem is, they went too far and it ended up being an unfunny mess.”
“To summarize, this is an unbalanced, hard to play, unfunny, confusing, and bug-ridden game.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for being lacking and not updated, which detracts from the overall experience. However, players appreciate the unique narrative campaigns that allow for upgrading pilots and forces between missions to enhance performance.
“The narrative campaigns are unique in the sense that you can upgrade your pilots and forces between missions to improve their performance.”
“The game allows for extensive customization of units, enabling players to optimize their strategies based on personal play styles.”
“I love how the resource management system encourages players to optimize their builds for maximum efficiency and effectiveness.”
“Not very optimized nor updated, sadly.”
