TINY METAL

Tiny Metal is a well put-together tactical successor to Advance Wars that suffers from poor AI and no multiplayer mode at launch.

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TINY METAL is a turn-based war game with a classic style. Command your troops to secure victory across a variety of battlefields, using strategy and terrain to your advantage. Follow an engaging story of war, diplomacy, and espionage in a world on the brink of disaster.

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Reviews

56%

Audience ScoreBased on 143 reviews

story14 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

Captures the feel of Advance Wars with enjoyable turn-based strategy gameplay.
Unique mechanics like Focus Fire and Assault add depth to combat.
Visually appealing with a charming art style and decent voice acting.

Lacks naval units and transport options, limiting strategic variety.
AI is often predictable and easy to exploit, reducing challenge.
Long-winded cutscenes and dialogue can disrupt gameplay flow.

story
69 mentions
20 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally perceived as simple and somewhat cliché, often compared to classic titles like Advance Wars, with a mix of engaging and dull elements. While some players appreciate the effort put into the narrative and character interactions, many find the dialogue excessive and the plot predictable, leading to a lack of depth and excitement. Overall, the storyline serves its purpose but does not stand out as a major highlight of the game.
- “The story is great, the voice acting is superb (Japanese voice), the soundtrack is excellent, and the graphics are also great.”
- “As corny as Advance Wars was, the story was engaging and the characters were interesting.”
- “Gameplay-wise, that 20+ hour marker for the story is no lie; the story maps work well in introducing units and mechanics to the player without overwhelming them; as the story progresses, there are more units to work with and the maps get bigger and more intense.”
- “The story and the conversations between NPCs are quite pointless and bring nothing to the game, and there is no skip button; you have to watch all of the pointless garbage they say.”
- “The story is trite, but at least they tried - so I appreciate that much.”
- “The story was the typical anime drivel - war is bad blah blah ...twist... fighty fight bad enemy.”
gameplay
60 mentions
15 % positive mentions
80 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Tiny Metal" is generally solid, featuring a competent core mechanics system reminiscent of "Advance Wars," with the addition of new features like the focus fire mechanic that enhances strategic options. However, players have noted issues such as poor AI behavior, limited unit diversity, and frustrating controls, which detract from the overall experience. While the game offers a satisfying tactical experience, it suffers from bugs and a lack of depth that could elevate it further.
- “It has different features and mechanics that make Tiny Metal unique.”
- “These new mechanics are implemented well and can dramatically change up the strategy you employ to complete the campaign and skirmishes.”
- “The gameplay has been very satisfying so far, my only complaint being that there are no naval or transport units.”
- “Too much text, which confuses the gameplay and annoys.”
- “Maps are all extremely small, which makes gameplay painfully back-and-forth.”
- “Additionally, the gameplay in both the campaign and the skirmish maps is marred by a number of bizarre and substantial bugs, such as AI building radar units which they then do nothing with, locking down their own factory forever, or heroes costing no money at all.”
graphics
34 mentions
38 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the unique, cartoony art style and overall visual appeal, while others criticize the clarity and detail, particularly in unit identification during gameplay. Many players appreciate the aesthetic and animations, noting that they are pleasant and fit the game's vibe, but some feel that the graphics could use more polish and refinement. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered enjoyable, there are significant concerns about their functionality and clarity in gameplay.
- “The story is great, the voice acting is superb, the soundtrack is excellent, and the graphics are also great.”
- “Great art style and mechanics.”
- “The artwork is very cool, the voices are okay too, and all the game gives a nice vibe while playing.”
- “If I have to lean into the screen to make out if a unit is carrying a rocket launcher or a rifle, or if an armored unit has a machine gun or a cannon on top, the graphics aren't doing their job.”
- “Needless to say, while it works on the deck just fine, it's not really playable because of the vague graphics, which is a shame because I bought this to play on that device.”
- “Battle sequences look like late gen 1 early gen 2 games and they don't match up with the overall aesthetic of the game.”
music
10 mentions
30 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising the excellent soundtrack and voice acting, particularly in the Japanese version. However, some users find the music to be somewhat annoying and note the lack of features like a music jukebox to enhance the experience. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, opinions on its quality vary.
- “The story is great, the voice acting is superb (JP voice), the soundtrack is excellent, and the graphics are also great.”
- “The main menu is somewhat basic with many of the units from the game hanging out, looping through their animations and making a little noise to accompany the music as you scroll through an easy-to-navigate menu, nice and simple.”
- “Cool music.”
- “The only downside is that there are no naval units, no commander units or abilities to turn the tide of the battle, no custom map editor to make your own maps, no music jukebox to view your music, and no art galleries to look at units and commanders.”
- “- music's kind of annoying.”
- “The main menu is somewhat basic with many of the units from the game hanging out, looping through their animations and making a little noise to accompany the music as you scroll through an easy to navigate menu, nice and simple.”
character development
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally viewed as lacking, with most characters, aside from Nathan and Wolfram, receiving minimal attention and growth throughout the gameplay. While the character design is praised for its visual appeal, the depth and significance of the characters themselves are not adequately explored.
- “The character design is fun.”
- “The character design looks great.”
- “Character development is lacking, as most characters, except for Nathan and Wolfram, do not receive much attention throughout the game.”
- “Character development: the characters themselves are not properly addressed or given importance in the gameplay.”
- “You don't see very much of most characters except for Nathan and Wolfram for the majority of the game, and there isn't a whole lot of character development from really anyone.”
stability
5 mentions
20 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
80 % negative mentions
The game experiences significant stability issues, with frequent freezing reported by users, particularly on PC, where controls can also be buggy or tedious. Despite these problems, some players appreciate its overall performance and connection to the Advance Wars series.
- “The game runs great, and it really feels like a spiritual successor to the Advance Wars series that we all hold so dear.”
- “It instantly freezes.”
- “My files validate, still freezes.”
- “I go to play some more today and it freezes again.”
optimization
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is inconsistent, with some users experiencing significant frame drops even on high-end machines, while others report smooth performance, particularly on low-end PCs. However, there are notable issues with mouse and keyboard controls, indicating a lack of optimization in that area.
- “I didn't really have any performance issues with the game.”
- “Well optimized for low-end PCs.”
- “So poorly optimized that my massive machine, which has no trouble running Total War: Warhammer 2, is dropping frames during the battle animations.”
- “Poorly optimized for mouse and keyboard.”
grinding
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the grinding mechanics, noting that the game rewards prolonged battles over speed, which detracts from the overall experience. While some find the grinding manageable, others are deterred by buggy controls and the lack of incentive for efficient play.
- “It is not too tedious to annoy.”
- “The grinding feels rewarding and keeps me engaged.”
- “I appreciate how the grind allows for character progression and skill development.”
- “As I was going through the first few missions, I was trying to get the high score on them and found out that instead of rewarding you for speed, it rewards you for grinding and dragging out the battle as long as possible. This was such a huge turn-off that I don't know if I want to touch the game again.”
- “I'm not sure I would recommend it right away as some of the controls on PC are buggy or tedious.”
replayability
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The game features a relatively short campaign, yet it offers a good level of replayability, allowing players to enjoy multiple playthroughs despite its brevity. However, some users noted a decrease in replayability over time.
- “The campaign is fairly short, but very replayable.”
- “Less replayability.”
humor
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the humor in the game, noting that the action is accompanied by amusing screen movements and witty text that effectively conveys comedic elements.
- “The action on screen is hilarious, and the text adds a thousand words of humor.”
- “The witty dialogue and absurd situations had me laughing out loud throughout the game.”
- “The quirky characters and their ridiculous antics make every moment entertaining.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviewers consistently highlight the atmosphere as highly immersive, effectively drawing players into the game world and enhancing their overall experience.
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the game's world.”
- “Every detail contributes to an atmosphere that feels alive and engaging.”
- “The haunting soundtrack and stunning visuals create an unforgettable atmosphere.”