Metal Slug Tactics (2024) [PS5] critique

“The ballot is stronger than the bullet.”
-Social Justice Resource Center

Macho American soldiers invade foreign soil to overthrow tyrants in a game coincidentally launching on Election Day in the United States. Leikir Studio and Dotemu converted SNK’s classic run-and-gun arcade series into a new experience for Marco, Fio, Eri, and crew that’s now focused on meticulous isometry and strategy, although Metal Slug Tactics never forgets its origins. Forgoing longwinded exposition on geopolitics and the epic scale wars so characteristic of Tactical Role-Playing Games, smaller skirmishes and mission-based progression both emphasize momentum above all else. Synchronicity between members of your 3-unit team creates a need for alignment and placement for the best damage output: lining up line of sight and arc of fire for multiple units causes them to “sync” which allows them to tack on an extra attack on top of the initial one. Although different weapons, items, and special abilities play a role in complicating synchronized attacks, this extra damage is crucial to achieving victory with such a small army on the field.

Diving for cover and maximizing movement to accrue dodge points are essential for survival. The game regularly prompts players to run further in order to build up this defensive advantage. Running takes us back to this series’ original genre. Gameplay hybridization is on full display, topped off by stat progression via XP, upgrading weapons, and earning new abilities and items in a vaguely roguelite manner. There is no saving between missions (sorry, save scummers) so you complete a run or fail and start over. Very arcade.

There’s so much that is wonderfully unique about Metal Slug Tactics and it successfully increases the pace of a subgenre known for being much more methodical and cumbersome, but that may dismay purist TRPG fans. For those looking to find something fresh among TRPGs… mission complete.

Special thanks to Leikir and Dotemu for supplying us with a copy of Metal Slug Tactics for this review.

The 8-bit Review

Visuals: 8.5/10

Audio: 7/10

Gameplay: 7.5/10

Accessibility: 4.5/10

Difficulty: 8/10

Replayability: 7.5/10

Uniqueness: 9/10

Personal: 7/10

Aggregated Score: 7.4

Red formerly ran The Well-Red Mage and now serves The Pixels as founder, writer, editor, and podcaster. He has undertaken a seemingly endless crusade to talk about the games themselves in the midst of a culture obsessed with the latest controversy, scandal, and news cycle about harassment, toxicity, and negativity. Pick out his feathered cap on Twitter @thewellredmage or Mage Cast.