Metal Slug Tactics

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 470 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 470 reviews
gameplay39 positive mentions
stability42 negative mentions
  • The game offers a fresh take on the Metal Slug franchise, combining tactical gameplay with the classic run-and-gun mechanics.
  • Charming visuals and animations that capture the essence of the original Metal Slug games.
  • Engaging gameplay that rewards aggressive movement and strategic positioning, making each turn feel dynamic and rewarding.
  • The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustrating experiences.
  • Limited enemy variety and repetitive mission objectives can make the gameplay feel stale over time.
  • The text size and UI design can be difficult to read, especially on smaller screens, impacting the overall user experience.
  • gameplay148 mentions

    The gameplay of "Metal Slug Tactics" is a blend of turn-based strategy and classic run-and-gun mechanics, emphasizing constant movement and synchronized attacks to create a dynamic and engaging experience. While the game features a steep learning curve due to its complex mechanics and a variety of tactical options, players find the depth and strategic planning rewarding once mastered. However, some users note issues with tutorials, bugs, and a lack of variety in character builds, which can detract from the overall experience.

    • “The more I play the game and understand its mechanics, the more I enjoy how well made this game is.”
    • “Everything is super clean, stunning pixel art, sounds, animations... gameplay is really deep, you can find an infinite way to combo at each run, and you have to think about attack + defense + special points + combos for each action.”
    • “The mechanics are intuitive and play off each other really well, and setting up multi-character combos hasn't stopped feeling incredibly satisfying yet.”
    • “The tutorials agonize over very basic, obvious things and then leave you to discover critical mechanics all on your own.”
    • “But once you have grasped the game mechanics, i.e., sync, dodge, and ability, you won't have much trouble beating the game.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, you are pressured to always be as mobile as possible, so planning out your moves and trying to set up sync attacks to get rid of enemies is really the name of the game.”
  • story139 mentions

    The game's story is minimal and lacks depth, primarily serving as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a central focus. Players engage in repetitive missions across four regions, with limited narrative progression and character development, leading to a feeling of redundancy. While there are some character interactions and unlockable dialogues, the overall experience is more about tactical gameplay than a compelling storyline, leaving many reviewers disappointed with the missed opportunity for a richer narrative.

    • “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.”
    • “After you complete a run or die, you get into the 'unlocks' menu and similar to Into the Breach, you can unlock new characters, new loadouts, new skills, and even character conversations (story).”
    • “It's a shame Metal Slug has so many enemies and regions to pull from, but they decided to focus on giving player customization over having enemy and mission variety.”
    • “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.”
    • “No interesting story, no voice-overs, and not that much variety in tactics as it should have been.”
  • music53 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its nostalgic quality and energetic soundtrack that pays homage to the original Metal Slug series. However, some players have noted issues such as repetitive tracks, overlapping music bugs, and a lack of iconic themes from previous games. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally well-received, it has been criticized for not fully capturing the high-energy essence of the classic titles.

    • “The beautifully animated pixel art and rocking soundtrack show a deep respect for Metal Slug's roots, and the whole thing feels well-polished in spite of the odd bug or two.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “Bug in the new version after patch 1.0.2 - music from the main menu overlaps the music during the mission.”
    • “It doesn't sound like Metal Slug; its soundtrack is overall just bland, generic, and low energy, with the game's sound design leaving equally as little impact.”
    • “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.”
  • graphics52 mentions

    The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their charming visuals, vibrant pixel art, and detailed animations that faithfully capture the iconic Metal Slug aesthetic. Many reviewers appreciate the nostalgic feel and artistic style, noting the effort put into the artwork, although some mention occasional graphical bugs and glitches. Overall, the visuals are considered a highlight, enhancing the gameplay experience for fans of the series.

    • “Decent game, amazing artwork, so many detailed animations, a lot of effort went into it.”
    • “The graphics are an awesome old school Neo Geo Metal Slug style.”
    • “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.”
  • stability42 mentions

    The game is currently plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, including crashes, visual errors, and gameplay inconsistencies, which detract from the overall experience. While some players have reported that these issues do not lead to permanent progress loss, the game's stability remains a significant concern, with many expressing hope for timely fixes from the developers. Despite the instability, players still find enjoyment in the gameplay and character variety, indicating potential for improvement as updates are released.

    • “The game was released very buggy, and even crashed several times during runs - without saving.”
    • “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 offers short, engaging runs that keep the experience fresh. 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 whimsical, Looney Tunes-inspired energy that embraces cartoon logic, resulting in creative and often hilarious abilities and interactions. Players appreciate the vibrant pixel art and comedic elements, though some mention that certain bugs can detract from the experience. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with challenging gameplay, making it a standout feature for fans of the genre.

    • “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 cringeworthy and lacking originality.”
    • “The attempts at humor often miss the mark and feel out of place.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews; while some players report smooth performance and minimal bugs, others have encountered various issues, including poor controller support and lack of widescreen functionality. Overall, the game may benefit from future patches to address these concerns and enhance the experience.

    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “The game also launched with a myriad of bugs; while I never encountered any run-destroying or performance-crippling bugs, others have.”
    • “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, feeling like you are being rushed to meet the objective. You can't take it slowly and enjoy the exploration of the entire map. Optimization with the controller is also very bad, not to mention it doesn't support widescreen gameplay.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly at higher difficulties where boss battles feature large health pools and poor scaling. Many report having to replay early missions repeatedly to earn specific rewards, leading to a sense of monotony despite the straightforward gameplay.

    • “The boss levels get slightly tedious at higher difficulties due to large health pools.”
    • “Because scaling isn't done very well, completing early missions can be 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.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development is hindered by a lack of engaging gameplay mechanics, as players feel that without meaningful battles to progress the story, the potential for character growth is diminished. However, the game's beautiful and nostalgic art style, including character designs and pixel art, is frequently praised.

    • “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 characters feel one-dimensional and lack meaningful growth throughout the game.”
    • “I was disappointed by how little the characters evolved; their arcs were predictable and uninspired.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Reviews indicate a clear preference for Metal Slug Tactics, which is seen 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 squeeze money out of players rather than provide a genuine gaming experience.”
    • “It's disappointing to see a beloved franchise resort to aggressive monetization tactics that overshadow the gameplay.”
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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