METALLIC CHILD

73%
Game Brain Score Based on 157 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
METALLIC CHILD Game Cover
Metallic Child is a wild anime dungeon crawler wrapped in a few roguelike mechanics. Though its levels can run a bit long and its combat grow repetitive, a friendly difficulty makes bashing robot masters and their ilk a joy.
Starting at $14.99Buy now
Get on Steam

"Metallic Child" is a fast-paced action game where players control Ria, a combat-driven AI. Fight your way through hordes of robotic enemies in various stages, using Ria's unique abilities and upgrades. With an anime-inspired art style and intense hack-and-slash gameplay, this title offers a thrilling experience for action game enthusiasts.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Android
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

73%
Audience ScoreBased on 157 reviews
story21 positive mentions
grinding5 negative mentions
  • Engaging combat system that rewards skillful play and offers a variety of weapons and abilities.
  • Charming visuals and character design, particularly the protagonist Rona, which adds to the overall appeal.
  • Interesting core mechanic that introduces randomness and strategy, enhancing replayability.
  • Combat can feel clunky at times, with issues related to dodging and targeting that can frustrate players.
  • The game suffers from RNG elements that can lead to inconsistent experiences, making runs feel unfair.
  • Some players may find the lengthy exposition and dialogue during the tutorial to be tedious and overwhelming.
  • story52 mentions

    The game's story is generally well-received, described as decent and engaging, with a mix of cute and touching elements that keep players invested throughout. While some reviewers noted that the narrative isn't groundbreaking and can feel familiar, it effectively complements the gameplay and offers a satisfying experience. However, there are criticisms regarding the abundance of sub-stories that detract from the main plot, leading to a sense of grind that may overshadow the narrative's strengths.

    • “I really hope this game gets a sequel; I want to see what happens next in the story and to see the gameplay get some polish. This game has the potential to be really amazing; it's just a few tweaks away from greatness.”
    • “The story was something that I can say I was used to, having seen a lot of anime and games that have the whole robots being made to be the aid to humanity and the first version being hated and coveted by all those around them.”
    • “The story is cute and follows a character named Rona, who is an android trying to save her mother who has been captured.”
    • “And yes... grind... and oh yeah.. even the sub-story part of this game, the data collection part is totally gacha-like... and like gacha... only a small percentage of those sub-stories are related to the main story, 99% of them are junk stories that you will want to skip or not care about.”
    • “The story is there, secondary to the gameplay, not to say it is terrible, the player can choose to ignore it if they wish.”
    • “I beat the story, cried because it really was just a series of unfortunate events that led to everything happening and I felt bad for all the characters involved.”
  • gameplay50 mentions

    The gameplay is a dynamic blend of Mega Man-inspired mechanics and roguelike elements, featuring a unique grab mechanic that allows players to throw enemies and interact with the environment for strategic advantages. While the game offers a variety of weapons and buffs that enhance combat, some players find the chaotic nature of the mechanics can lead to confusion and instability. Overall, the gameplay is fast-paced and engaging, though it may require some polish to reach its full potential.

    • “A mechanic I really liked was the grab; it does a lot of damage, you can throw enemies against walls or other enemies to deal more damage, and it can interact with the stage hazards, helping you kill enemies faster.”
    • “The gameplay loop of the game is to go through 4 levels and meet the boss of your choice and take their 'core' ability; in that regard, it's similar to Mega Man and any other game that lets you steal the boss's ability.”
    • “There are a lot of gameplay mechanics constantly at work, and they all mesh together very well.”
    • “Boring gameplay.”
    • “Would not recommend anyone to play at the moment, because there are still a lot of bugs and the gameplay is very clunky; the dodge and guard system is also very delayed after you attack.”
    • “The issues that make this game hard to recommend for me lie almost entirely in the gameplay.”
  • music21 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its quality, fittingness, and ability to enhance the overall experience. The soundtrack is described as killer and unique, contributing significantly to the game's aesthetic and combat dynamics, although some noted that certain tracks can become repetitive during longer play sessions. Overall, the vibrant sound design and engaging music are highlighted as standout features that elevate the gameplay.

    • “The soundtrack truly shines with flying colors!”
    • “Just play it for the soundtrack, it's awesome.”
    • “Its really really solid and well made, unique feeling and satisfying with heart and kickass music.”
    • “Some of the songs are shorter loops and wore on me over the course of 30 minute runs though.”
    • “The soundtrack is also fast and fitting, though at times a bit overwhelming.”
    • “Music okay.”
  • graphics18 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beauty and polish, with a strong aesthetic theme that enhances the overall experience. However, some users noted inconsistencies, such as bland environments and awkward character animations, which detract from the visual appeal. Overall, while the visuals are a highlight, they are not without their flaws, impacting gameplay in certain instances.

    • “The aesthetic is great and everything from the gameplay to the visuals is highly polished.”
    • “There's detail to every character portrait and graphic, and the space station the game takes place on is a vibrant, strange, but (mostly) grounded setting.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, the battles are smooth, the music is cool and it has a story!!!”
    • “While graphics is the least priority for me, most of the maps are kinda bland or ugly, and character models either look weird or have odd idle animations (making Rona in particular stand bizarrely in certain cutscenes).”
    • “This can make some things very hard to see, and is yet another example of graphics getting in the way of the gameplay in this genre.”
    • “The game's visuals, while not the best, have a strong theme to it that applies to almost the entire game, reflected in its variety of enemies, weapons, maps, and characters.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding in the game to be a mixed experience; while it is expected in a roguelike and can be enjoyable, many note that it feels excessively slow and tedious, particularly regarding stat upgrades and perm upgrades. Some attempts to innovate the grinding mechanics are seen as poorly executed, detracting from the overall enjoyment.

    • “Grinding is extremely slow, but the stat upgrades and costumes are ancillary for the most part.”
    • “The permanent upgrades are also kind of grindy.”
    • “Attempts at changing the formula end up being tedious and poorly made.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized as fun and engaging, particularly when experimenting with various weapons and skills. Players find the characters, especially Rona, to be cute and amusing, with memorable lines that add to the overall comedic experience. Overall, the game is rated as both cute and funny, enhancing the enjoyment of gameplay.

    • “Really funny to play with multiple weapons and skills.”
    • “Cute and funny, and Rona deserves many head pets and belly rubs.”
    • “She'll give you a funny look and say that it tastes like raw eggs, haha.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    Metallic Child is praised for its excellent optimization, running smoothly at 60fps and 4K resolution even on lower-end PCs, where other games struggle. However, users note that the performance boosts from permanent upgrades are minimal and inconsistent, and while the game is enjoyable, the mouse and keyboard controls can be cumbersome compared to controller use.

    • “Metallic Child is really well optimized for being a 3D game, as it ran at 60fps and 4K resolution on my potato PC, while other games barely work at 30fps in low/medium details at 1080/780p.”
    • “Very enjoyable, slightly addicting game; mouse and keyboard controls are cumbersome to play with, but the game is well optimized for controller use.”
    • “The permanent boosts (super cores) are all garbage; they provide a very tiny boost to your performance and are completely random.”
    • “The optimization in this game feels half-baked, with many features that don't seem to work as intended.”
    • “I expected better performance optimization, but the game often lags and stutters, making it frustrating to play.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke strong feelings, with many players reporting that it made them cry. The touching and well-written story, despite its brevity, resonates deeply with players, enhancing the overall emotional experience.

    • “The story is also rather touching and well written, though quite brief.”
    • “Made me cry.”
    • “I cried.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Users report stability issues with certain boss weapons, particularly noting that the freezing effect on enemies lasts only briefly before reverting, which can disrupt gameplay. Additionally, there are concerns about the reliability of shooting mechanics while using protective shields.

    • “I get these freezes that stay for about a second before going back to normal.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game features vibrant and unique designs that may not appeal to everyone, but overall, the characters are well-crafted despite some technical issues like bugs and hitbox problems.

    • “Character designs won't appeal to a wider audience, and aside from that, there are issues with bugs, hitboxes, and movement.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “I found the character arcs predictable and uninspired, which detracted from my overall enjoyment of the game.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization in the game is criticized for its poor implementation, featuring odd quirks and unsatisfactory upgrade options that detract from the overall experience.

    • “The monetization system feels exploitative and heavily favors players who are willing to spend money.”
    • “I find the in-game purchases to be overpriced and not worth the value they provide.”
    • “The constant push for microtransactions detracts from the overall gaming experience.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Reviewers note that "Metallic Child" suffers in replayability due to its narrative-driven design, which tends to limit the variety and freshness typically found in roguelite games.

    • “The variety of characters and playstyles keeps me coming back for more; every run feels fresh and exciting.”
    • “With multiple endings and unlockable content, I find myself diving back in to explore every possibility.”
    • “The dynamic environments and random events ensure that no two playthroughs are ever the same, making it endlessly replayable.”
    • “It seems that whenever a roguelite takes a more narrative-focused approach, replayability takes a hit, and it's no different with Metallic Child.”
    • “After completing the game, I found little incentive to dive back in; the lack of varied content really hampers replayability.”
    • “The game feels repetitive after the first playthrough, and I struggled to find reasons to replay it.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

Buy METALLIC CHILD

Play time

6hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
6-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News