Metal Slug Tactics is a new tactical RPG by Leikir Studio in which you battle enemies via a roguelite tactical system.
Metal Slug is perhaps one of my favourite ever series. The run’n gun gameplay combined with beautifully animated 2D graphics makes it a series I always find myself returning too. And here, in 2024, we have a new entry to the series, and this time, it’s a tactics game.
First off, the developer Leikir Studio in partnership with Dotemu, have done a fantastic job in capturing the spirit of those old Neo Geo games. The 2D pixel art style remains, but what they have captured really well, is the animations. Animations are often an underappreciated art form, with people often thinking more about the aesthetics of pixel art without really considering them in motion.
In Metal Slug Tactics, the enemies all have exaggerated attack and death cycles, bosses have crazy spinning objects all over them, background characters and objectives are all carefully considered, it really works. It really feels like this is a lost Neo Geo game. Too often modern versions of classic series go a bit too crisp with the artwork, or a bit too fluid in the animation. Metal Slug Tactics strikes that balance perfectly, and if the game wasn’t a roguelite, you could probably convince someone via the screenshots alone that it was a real retro title.
On with the gameplay then. The tactics system is fairly simple. Each level is set out on a grid, in which other sections of level can appear and disappear via in game events. You can move your characters, shoot with a weapon, or fire off a special ability via the adrenaline system. There are many different abilities in the game, from ones which boost protection to ones focused on attack, there’s really a lot on offer. Like all tactics games though, it ends up being a bit of a puzzle.
You see, in order to complete each level optimally, you really need to use the ‘sync’ system. If your characters are placed correctly in relation to each other and the enemies, then one on of them attacks, they all join in. This is the only way to defeat enemies quick enough to survive, so planning out moves is key. The game is quite generous though, in that it allows you to roll back turns and moves and reposition if you clicked in slightly the wrong spot.
The simplicity of the tactics system makes sense because this game is more about action and quicker levels than long drawn-out battles. This fits in with the overall roguelite design. You go from stage to stage, levelling up, getting drops of weapons and buffs, capturing regions and defeating bosses. It’s not revolutionary in that department, and the game does a good job of tying a story to a roguelite too. Metal Slug has never been a game that needed an epic story, so the design here makes sense.
There are some elements of the gameplay though that may turn off some gamers. Some of the bosses are hard – and require you to adapt your playstyle significantly to survive. For example, the first boss you’ll come across is a giant ship with loads of cannons. It can destroy whole sections of the map, which if your guys are standing on, will kill them too. This forces you to move fast and destroy the main objective as quickly as possible – which may conflict if you normally like to pick each enemy off carefully one by one.
There’s a fair bit of content to unlock. There are several regions with different objectives, and each run will likely be a little bit different. There are several characters to pick from once you’ve unlocked them, and some side story events you can get through fulfilling certain conditions. I wouldn’t say it’s jam packed with content, but there’s enough there to keep you satisfied.
If you look at this game on other review websites and Steam, you’ll see that there are people complaining about bugs and crashes. I personally haven’t come across any in my time with the game, but it’s something to be aware of before making your purchase. In addition, the game is currently priced at £20.99 on Steam. That feels a little bit high for a roguelite, I’d like to see it around £5 cheaper for me to give it a whole hearted recommendation.
Ultimately though, Metal Slug Tactics is a great little game. The graphics and overall style are just beautiful, the music and sound is classic, and the gameplay is fun. If you’re into tactics games and love the SNK art style of old, then you’ll get a real kick out of this one.
Metal Slug Tactics is available on Steam here.
