Metal Slug Tactics PS5 Review. It’s been a minute since we’ve had a high-profile release for the Metal Slug series that wasn’t a revision of a previous version, and Metal Slug Tactics arrives to change that and also inject a new bit of life into the legacy series.
Moving away from the run-and-gun action of the series, Metal Slug Tactics (as the title suggests) goes down the tactical route, with a focus on speed and dynamism at its core. The result is a convincing new step and a solid foundation to build on in the future, even if there’s some clunk to be refined.
Metal Slug Tactics Review (PS5): Warfare from a New Angle
A New Approach
Despite the genre shift into something totally new, Metal Slug Tactics feels like a natural pivot for the series and fits like a glove. There’s no dramatic reinvention of what fans know, this is a new standalone entry in the series that fans will love.
In more ways than one, this feels like a celebration of a cult classic that will be played for years to come, embracing its classic arcade routes and perhaps setting down foundations for what may come in the future.
Classic characters make their return, songs are remixed and the world is explored through a new lens that welcomes both veterans and newcomers to the war torn world of Metal Slug, while also feeling inspired in its own right. There are no shortage of franchises that attempt to reinvent themselves for modern sensibilities and end up losing themselves in following trends – Metal Slug Tactics smartly makes use of the roguelite structure to harken back to the repetitious arcade nature of the original.
While narrative isn’t something that I would normally look for in a game like this, that doesn’t mean there aren’t some small character moments peppered throughout the game to enjoy. After fulfilling certain conditions on the battlefield, you can unlock small dialogue exchanges between characters that flesh out their backgrounds and connections, not dissimilar to a game like Hades in its progression. While not as dynamic as others, these small vignettes were nice rewards for smart and strategic play.
A Modern Twist
The tactical RPG genre invites expectations of a slower pace and thoughtful moves being at the centre of the plan when thinking about how to play. And while you absolutely need to be thinking and coordinating your team, there’s a focus on movement and pace that I’ve not quite come across before.
Instead of managing an extended battalion, you only take a small team into battle at a time – with each character having a specific area of expertise to use strategically. Compared to the micromanagement that almost feels like a necessary evil of the genre, this is refreshingly fast-paced and quick to understand. Where Marco may be better at close range, Eri may benefit from putting space between herself and the enemy.
You can also have units climb into the titular Metal Slug on certain maps to really deal out damage, but limiting their mobility in the same stroke.
With such a small team, you’re encouraged to make the most out of what you’ve got. Positioning your units in sight of the same enemy can set off synchronisation skills and these are key to dealing with enemies in a quick way, before reinforcements overwhelm your small squad.
The other way to properly deal with your enemies is directly tied to moving around maps and gaining resources. As well as making sure your units are sheltered under cover before an enemy turn, you’re encouraged to move them as far as possible while still keeping them safe, as indicated by bright green spaces. Moving your units in such a way gives them the ability to dodge a certain amount of damage in the next turn, which is vital for survivability.
This ties directly back into the run n’ gun part of the original Metal Slug series, and the importance of moving around and not being a sitting duck. You also gain “adrenaline” through moving, which opens the door for special moves that are specific to each unit, further carving out their niche in your lineup. I enjoyed slowly building my roster over the course of run after run and working out who synergised with who. The small teams meant that I was never being forced to consider widespread angles, keeping a strong focus.
While it might not be the grandest strategy game of all time, it certainly lands the mark where it counts, despite some oddities to do with the cover system and how positional attacks aren’t something you really need to take into account (You can be behind cover and an enemy flank you but you’ll still benefit from the protection – which seemingly defies logic).
Once you embrace these small wrinkles, the game does manage to work well, and is enjoyable from the small encounters to the larger boss encounters at the end of every region.
From Battle to Battle
Keeping with the emphasis on pace, each mission in Metal Slug Tactics is relatively short and is a smaller challenge in each overall run. While the roguelite has been a fixture of various releases over the last few years thanks to a few prominent trailblazers, it feels like Metal Slug manages to use it to its advantage in this new entry.
Each region of the game offers its own challenges and it’s easy to jump in and out of a run at your own comfort. There’s no need to commit to a long run over the course of hours – you can hop in and complete a map or two without worry.
Between each run, you’re able to upgrade and adjust your team to make your next go smoother. As with any rogue-lite, don’t expect to beat this on your first attempt. I say that because I went into Tactics feeling like I was totally missing something from the gameplay loop. I felt like I was doing things wrong – and to be fair, I was. Learning is a major part of succeeding in Metal Slug Tactics and you do need to swallow your pride somewhat – the same as any of its genre siblings.
Early on, the game can feel brutally punishing and that might be enough to shake your confidence, but just stick with it a bit and let the game take shape. With how many characters are unlocked after beating run after run, this is a marathon and absolutely not a sprint to the end. This is a blessing and a curse – despite having spent a week or so with this game, I feel like there are still things I’m discovering about this game and its core loop.
While the game is certainly transparent with how it works, that doesn’t mean that it totally nails the landing in terms of minute-to-minute gameplay. While being functional, I found the UI and managing my units to be a massively finicky process that took some real getting used to. It isn’t enough to sink the experience but more than once I had to wrestle with selecting even the option to use one of my limited turn resets.
This small inconsistency underpins the entire experience and some small adjustments could lift things quite a bit.
The one concession that I’m still grappling with is the lack of an immediate way to retry a battle in the middle of it. This comes down to my own expectations being rocked than it being an actual legitimate problem, but there’s a real pressure to do things as right as you can without making any mistakes.
A Faithful Style
Returning to the testament earlier, Metal Slug Tactics doesn’t reinvent what already works, it only builds on that legacy. And that extends doubly to the presentation of Metal Slug Tactics, which excels in maintaining the classic style while bringing it to a new perspective.
Gorgeously detailed pixel art is complemented by hand-drawn animations that are equally expressive, and supported by a soundtrack composed by the magnificent Tee Lopes. All the stops have been pulled out to celebrate the history of the series and usher in a new age of military action.
There’s a fluidity to the experience here that speaks to how SNK want to bring this franchise back. You’d be forgiven for thinking that Metal Slug is a premier franchise for them based purely on the production value; special moves have animated cut-ins and each animation is full of energy. Maps pop into existence as you move through them almost like dioramas – it’s a great time.
There’s a real feeling of accomplishment with Metal Slug Tactics that had me smiling despite my grievances with the UI. In an age of retro revivals and returning to the greats of the past, this feels like a particularly strong offering in an extensive catalogue, while also doing something brand new.
Classic characters and bosses are brought back in an incredibly stylish package that will be a brand-new treat for fans who have stuck around for the long haul, with some great moments throughout.
Metal Slug Tactics is out now for PS5, PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One.
Review code kindly provided by publisher.