After more than 3 years since its initial reveal, Metal Slug Tactics has finally arrived for PC and modern consoles. The title takes the beloved Neo Geo run n’ gun series and reimagines it as a turn-based tactics game, complete with a visual aesthetic and sense of humor true to the original Metal Slug titles. More than just a tactical re-skin of a beloved IP, though, Metal Slug Tactics makes great use of its license to introduce some compelling mechanics that both push the envelope for the TRPG genre and honor the core gameplay loop of the original games in the series.
Interestingly, Metal Slug Tactics is one of several games in a growing resurgence of popularity and interest in the TRPG. Between AAA highlights from earlier in the year like Unicorn Overlord and the continued popularity of Baldur’s Gate 3 introducing a whole new audience to turn-based, tactical combat, the TRPG (or even games that utilize turn-based combat with a variety of strategic and tactical options) is arguably more popular than ever, meaning Metal Slug Tactics could have been a simple cash-in on a beloved IP. Instead, it’s one of the year’s more compelling turn-based tactics games for how it blends the genre’s core elements with classic run n’ gun gameplay.
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The original Metal Slug games are some of the more challenging and fun titles in the run n’ gun genre, delivering pure arcade thrills along with a substantial difficulty curve. It’s not exactly what most would imagine translating well to a turn-based tactics game, where careful and precise movements rule the day more than frantic moving and shooting. Metal Slug Tactics excels as both a new entry in the Metal Slug series and a unique turn-based tactics game by figuring out a way to strike a balance between the series’ past and the new genre territory of its spin-off.
Metal Slug Tactics rewards players for moving as far as possible across the battlefield, awarding both Armor points and Adrenaline for traveling long distances before using each character’s action point. The traditional turn-based tactics grid is still present in Metal Slug Tactics, but a helpful color-coding system shows which locations are ideal for players to run to in order to flank enemies, synergize with teammates, and quickly burn through missions. Even though it’s a turn-based tactics title, Metal Slug Tactics still emphasizes the run n’ gun gameplay of the core series. It’s a system that should make its way into future titles in the genre, offering a new and more action-oriented approach to turn-based tactics.
In addition to Metal Slug Tactics‘ emphasis on run n’ gun gameplay in a turn-based tactical setting, the title’s visuals and presentation offer plenty of nostalgic throwbacks to fans of the classic games. Though it doesn’t use the exact same visual style as the core Metal Slug series, Metal Slug Tactics‘ vibrant pixel art and animations do a good job of referencing the classic games while introducing a similar, but different, art style. Combined with subtle story references to the nonsensical plot of the original games and the use of iconic sound effects, Metal Slug Tactics is a trip down memory lane for series fans.
Despite it being a single-player experience, Metal Slug Tactics still finds a way to incorporate the co-op focus of the original games via the synergy attacks with teammates. Coordination of party members across the battlefield is essential to a quick victory, with plenty of visual cues to help players land on an ideal setup between advantageous distance and cooperative attacks. Striking a careful balance between the core games and a new genre, Metal Slug Tactics sets a great example of how to execute a spin-off of a classic IP.
Tactical
Strategy
War & Military
- Franchise
- Metal Slug
- Released
- November 5, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Leikir Studio
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong