Metal Slug Tactics

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 427 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • music
Metal Slug Tactics Game Cover
Metal Slug Tactics' move from the arcade to a tactical RPG has turned out better than I ever expected, this game is both challenging and rewarding to play.
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Metal Slug Tactics is a tactical RPG that combines the classic, arcade action of the Metal Slug series with roguelike elements. Assemble your team of iconic brothers-in-arms and lead them to victory through strategic battles, unlocking new weapons and skills as you go. Experience the nostalgic charm of Metal Slug in a whole new way!

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
  • x_box_cloud_gaming
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 427 reviews
gameplay36 positive mentions
stability37 negative mentions
  • Captures the classic Metal Slug arcade feel while introducing a unique tactical experience.
  • Engaging gameplay that encourages constant movement and strategic positioning, leading to satisfying combo attacks.
  • Beautiful pixel art and nostalgic sound design that pays homage to the original series.
  • The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay and cause crashes.
  • Limited content with only four areas and a lack of variety in missions and enemy types.
  • Some mechanics, such as the dodge and elevation system, can be confusing and detract from the overall experience.
  • gameplay130 mentions

    The gameplay of "Metal Slug Tactics" is characterized by its complex tactical combat, emphasizing movement, synchronization of attacks, and strategic planning, which creates a puzzle-like experience. While the initial learning curve can be steep due to the variety of mechanics, players find the gameplay rewarding and engaging once they grasp the systems in place. The game successfully translates the classic run-and-gun elements of the Metal Slug series into a turn-based format, offering a unique blend of tactics and action, though it is not without some bugs and minor gameplay issues.

    • “At its heart is some complex tactical combat with many mechanics to take advantage of.”
    • “Every ounce from character abilities, tactical options, and mechanics must be squeezed to take down as many enemies as fast as possible.”
    • “The gameplay focuses on movement, aligning your team to attack enemies together, and using your environment to block enemy attacks.”
    • “The adrenaline mechanic is convoluted and the wording is confusing.”
    • “This game is just run as fast as you can to the other side of the board to finish the map... pretty boring gameplay.”
    • “The tutorial just kind of gives up and doesn't explain numerous gameplay elements.”
  • story116 mentions

    The story in "Metal Slug Tactics" is minimal and lacks depth, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a central focus. Players engage in a series of short, repetitive missions with little narrative progression, and while there are character dialogues and unlockable story vignettes, they do not significantly enhance the overall experience. Many reviewers express disappointment at the missed opportunity for a more engaging storyline, feeling that the game could have benefited from a richer narrative structure akin to previous entries in the Metal Slug series.

    • “Developers and writers clearly know the actual story of Metal Slug and its characters.”
    • “While I would have preferred a longer story mode where each character retains their progress, I can't deny the sheer fun I've had.”
    • “Concise story: it’s short and to the point, with no lengthy exposition, and no need for prior knowledge of the Metal Slug series.”
    • “There is no grand story like Final Fantasy Tactics or Ogre Tactics, and in this game, you can only control three units through a run.”
    • “You can only control 3 characters, there is no real feel of progress after multiple runs, there is no urgency or story, and most of the cast is locked behind even more repetitive and hard runs.”
    • “As far as graphics, they are great if you are a fan of the Metal Slug series in general, and the story is... there's no story really; that is not the focus as it has never been with Metal Slug.”
  • music47 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its nostalgic quality and energetic soundtrack that aligns with the classic Metal Slug series. However, some players criticize it for being bland, repetitive, or lacking the high-energy feel of the original games, with issues like overlapping tracks and missing iconic pieces noted. Overall, while the pixel art and sound design are generally well-received, the music's impact varies significantly among players.

    • “The great soundtrack is composed and provided by Tee Lopez, which only adds to the polish and style that Metal Slug Tactics oozes from almost every aspect, from its glorious pixel-art aesthetic to its bouncy and energetic backing tracks.”
    • “The music and graphics are excellent, and the sprite work is so well animated that you will constantly be looking for little details; plus, it's so colorful.”
    • “It feels a lot like a sequel to Into the Breach, except Metal Slug, with a great emphasis on character movement and Disgaea-like combos, combined with fairly good pixel art and a decent soundtrack reminiscent of the classics.”
    • “It doesn't sound like Metal Slug; its soundtrack is overall just bland, generic, low energy, with the game's sound design leaving equally as little impact, and it certainly doesn't play like Metal Slug either.”
    • “I mean, how do you miss adding the mission complete music when you clear a stage? That is almost inexcusable; it is the most recognizable piece of music in all the Slug games.”
    • “(personal opinion incoming) Subpar soundtrack and questionable sound design: the music feels rather subdued, which is fine on its own, but it lacks the blood-pumping energy like 'Assault' when you fight Allen or a final attack when fighting Morden or Steel Beast when fighting the usual giant vehicle bosses.”
  • graphics46 mentions

    The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their vibrant pixel art and faithful recreation of the iconic Metal Slug aesthetic, showcasing detailed animations and colorful designs that resonate with longtime fans. However, some players have reported noticeable graphical bugs and glitches, which detract from the overall experience, though developers are addressing these issues. Overall, the visuals are considered a highlight, capturing the charm and nostalgia of the original series while blending in new gameplay elements.

    • “The music and graphics are excellent, and the sprite work is so well animated that you will constantly be looking for little details; plus, it's so colorful.”
    • “This game perfectly captures the visual aesthetic of the Metal Slug series, from the sprite designs to the animations.”
    • “Beautiful, nostalgic art style: both the character designs and pixel art are stunning.”
    • “Currently, the only downsides are a few noticeable graphical and gameplay bugs, but the developers have stated patches are on the way.”
    • “There have been several times where I've seen the visuals, sound, and music glitch out, but nothing game-breaking, yet.”
    • “The bugs are very bad, don't get me wrong, I've had crashes, graphical errors, and gameplay glitches, but runs are non-committal so it doesn't feel that bad; regardless, it's still a mark against the game.”
  • stability37 mentions

    The game currently suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous bugs and glitches reported by players, including crashes, visual errors, and gameplay inconsistencies. While some users have noted that the developers are actively working on fixes, the overall experience remains unpolished and frustrating for many. Despite these challenges, players still find enjoyment in the game, indicating potential for improvement once stability is addressed.

    • “Game released pretty buggy (it's improving, but I'm still finding new problems till now).”
    • “Way too buggy for a full release.”
    • “The bugs are very bad don't get me wrong, I've had crashes, graphical errors and gameplay glitches, but runs are non-committal so it doesn't feel that bad; regardless, it's still a mark against the game.”
  • replayability19 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability, driven by a diverse character roster, numerous unlockable elements, and a variety of abilities and weapon mods that encourage experimentation with different strategies. Players appreciate the tactical depth and the roguelite framework, which allows for short, engaging runs and the satisfaction of mastering various builds. Overall, the combination of nostalgic aesthetics and robust gameplay mechanics ensures that players will find plenty of reasons to return.

    • “With its good-sized character roster and portfolio of unlockable elements, the game is built with a tremendous amount of replay value in mind.”
    • “There are so many abilities and weapon mods available that there's going to be a lot of replayability, and the different mission objectives work nicely to get you thinking about how to defeat enemies more efficiently with those tools.”
    • “The replayability is great with a lot of different builds to try out.”
    • “However, it's about as replayable as any roguelite, and mastering the curve is oh so satisfying.”
    • “They trusted the roguelite aspect to provide replayability enough and ended up with a very short game.”
    • “Ultimately, while the game is buggy and the difficulty is very front-loaded, once the game did click for me, I found myself enjoying it, and the variety of characters and builds means there's a lot of replay value if you want to try out every combination.”
  • humor13 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of cartoonish energy and creative, often absurd abilities that evoke a Looney Tunes vibe, making combat entertaining and unpredictable. Players appreciate the vibrant pixel art and humorous references to classic games, although some glitches detract from the experience. Overall, the game successfully incorporates a lighthearted ambiance, with moments of hilarity stemming from both gameplay mechanics and visual quirks.

    • “I'm a huge fan of the Looney Tunes energy to combat; it operates off of cartoon logic a lot of the time, meaning abilities are creative, weird, and often quite funny.”
    • “It's especially hilarious to have them use wrestling moves to toss enemies back and forth between each other to trigger a sync attack to get rid of that enemy.”
    • “The pixel style is vibrant and charming, with humor sprinkled throughout the game.”
    • “The humor in this game falls flat and feels forced.”
    • “I found the jokes to be more cringeworthy than funny.”
    • “The attempts at humor often miss the mark and feel out of place.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback; while some players report smooth performance and minimal bugs, others highlight issues such as poor controller support and lack of widescreen functionality. A few users believe that with further patches, the game could significantly improve, but the rushed gameplay experience detracts from exploration.

    • “Apparently the game in its current state is rather buggy; fortunately, I haven't encountered anything I could call a bug. The game has run smoothly and performed well throughout my playthroughs.”
    • “I really am impressed with the end product, and after a patch or two for performance and bugs, I think this will genuinely be my Game of the Year.”
    • “Performance has been fine.”
    • “Thought this would be the JRPG I knew (FF Tactics, Disgaea, Sword of Convallaria, etc.), but it turns out to be a rogue-like RPG. It feels like you are being rushed to meet the objective, and you can't take it slowly to enjoy the exploration of the entire map. Optimization with the controller is also very bad, and it doesn't support widescreen gameplay either.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to poor scaling that makes early missions repetitive and frustrating. Many feel compelled to replay the same missions for specific rewards, leading to a simplistic and monotonous experience.

    • “Because scaling isn't done very well, early missions can make completing missions extremely tedious due to your limited access to abilities.”
    • “You'll often play the same missions over and over for the sake of certain rewards offered on that tile, but also because you'll want to avoid the more tedious missions.”
    • “Simplistic, straightforward, and a bit tedious.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development is noted for its beautiful and nostalgic art style, with stunning character designs and pixel art. However, some users feel that the lack of meaningful progression in battles detracts from the overall impact of character development within the story.

    • “The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful.”
    • “The backstories and personal growth of the characters add so much depth to the overall narrative.”
    • “There's no point in character development if you can't fight randomized battles without pushing the storyline forward.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and unimpactful, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “I expected more depth in character arcs, but they all seem to follow predictable paths without any real growth.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Reviews indicate a clear preference for Metal Slug Tactics, which is viewed as a passionate and worthwhile paid experience, over Metal Slug Awakening, which is criticized as a free but soulless cash grab. This highlights a desire for quality and depth in monetized games rather than exploitative free-to-play models.

    • “If I had to choose between playing Metal Slug Awakening, which feels like a soulless cash grab despite being free, and Metal Slug Tactics, a paid game that shows real passion, I would pick the latter any day.”
    • “The monetization in this game is frustrating; it feels like every aspect is designed to push players towards spending more money.”
    • “It's disappointing to see a beloved franchise resort to such aggressive monetization tactics, making the experience feel less about enjoyment and more about profit.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

78% average critic score

Buy Metal Slug Tactics

Play time

24hMedian play time
19hAverage play time
7-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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