There are a whole lot of series that I’d love to see get tactical RPG spin-offs with beautiful pixel art. Metal Slug is one that I admittedly didn’t think of before Metal Slug Tactics’ announcement, but the recently released demo for the upcoming title has shown me that I should have. In the time I spent playing, I was enraptured by the exciting gameplay and brilliant art, and I can tell I’ve only seen a fraction of the game.
Throughout the demo, you use iconic Metal Slug protagonists Marco Rossi, Eri Kasamoto, and Fio Germi, with Tarma Roving being unlockable through completing a run. Each character has different skills and weapons that provide an extra layer of strategy to each turn. Mix in the upgrades and additional skills you receive through completing missions, and you have a frequently changing group of characters to tackle different goals with.
The gameplay is fairly standard for a tactical RPG, with you moving the crew around a grid while attacking foes using weapons and skills. It’s easy to get a handle on swinging the camera around the map and maneuvering your units, as everything can be done smoothly with a few keys and the mouse.
“I like that you’re safer so long as you’re against cover on any side, as this opens up more viable strategies with each turn since you aren’t constantly switching what side of a barrier you’re on.“
A neat mechanic comes in the form of cover, which grants the character placed against it additional shielding from enemy attacks, regardless of the enemy’s position around you. I like that you’re safer so long as you’re against cover on any side, as this opens up more viable strategies with each turn since you aren’t constantly switching what side of a barrier you’re on. Additionally, attacking an enemy who is in a cross-section between two of your units leads to a snazzy sync attack for additional damage, which makes for some fun combos.
There are several types of missions to take part in throughout the demo, which covers the first region of the full game. From eliminating certain targets to racing to another end of the map with foes trying to gun you down, the variety of objectives makes each run different enough from one another to make repeat playthroughs consistently exhilarating.
I actually didn’t know going in that this game has roguelike elements, so in my first run, I used up all my good ammo on easy missions. Once I got into the swing of things, I was able to play smarter while preserving my resources and thus got more out of it. Fulfilling secondary conditions in each mission can net you extra bonuses like ammo refills and more currency, which can help both the present run and later ones.
After doing a certain number of missions, I was greeted with a boss battle against an enormous and intimidating boat that was stuffed to the gills with cannons. Dubbed Big Shiee, this vessel had me running across platforms on the water as the ones behind me sank with each turn, making for a pleasantly stressful encounter that had me juggling a few different tasks. I found this to be a unique approach to a boss fight in a tactical RPG, giving Tactics an unexpectedly novel edge.
“Metal Slug’s character and world designs have always been delightfully cartoony, and Leikir Studio has perfectly carried on this look with the sharp visuals of Tactics.“
On a related note, a recurring theme in the demo for Metal Slug Tactics was that I consistently thought I wouldn’t be able to win a stage before figuring out a move that would turn the tide. I’m not entirely sure how this sensation was accomplished, but it made for an exhilarating experience with each mission I took on.
Pixel art is my very favorite visual style in video games, so Metal Slug Tactics and its gorgeous art appeal directly to my sensibilities. The characters and environments just ooze style, with all of the different attack and movement animations being remarkably smooth and filled with little charming quirks. Metal Slug’s character and world designs have always been delightfully cartoony, and Leikir Studio has perfectly carried on this look with the sharp visuals of Tactics.
I genuinely can’t wait to play the full version of Metal Slug Tactics when it releases, as I was deeply impressed with the demo every step of the way. If you’re itching for a tactical RPG with its own unique style and quirks, then you’d be doing yourself a disservice by not checking out the demo for yourself.
