Grid-Based SRPG Action Has Never Been So Explosive
We knew the dormant Metal Slug franchise was returning in the form of the grid-based SRPG Metal Slug Tactics, but we didn’t know the game was heading to Nintendo Switch. The announcement dropped earlier today as part of Nintendo’s Indie World Showcase presentation alongside a striking gameplay trailer.
Although the video is quite short, it packs a lot into its 45-second runtime and does an excellent job of showing off what players can expect from Metal Slug Tactics. If this trailer is anything to go by, the final game will be an incredibly slick pixel art extravaganza with intricate 3D level design.
In the trailer, we’re treated to a quick glimpse of a headquarters packed with nods to the long-running series’ history–and a Terry Bogard poster–before the four apparent protagonists, frontline powerhouses Marco, Eri, Fio, and Tarma, head out to fight. The headquarters layout is very detailed, contains specific areas for each character to hang out in, and looks like a treat to explore.
Once the crew gets moving, we’re shown some quick glimpses of some specific levels, how characters move, and what the series’ titular Metal Slug tanks look like in action. The animation is incredibly smooth and the sprites are very detailed, making the game a visual delight even for newcomers to the series.
The video also shows off destructible environments, special attacks, and levels that combine shuffled layouts and hand-crafted terrain tiles with subtle roguelite elements. The result looks like it’s going to be incredibly fun and boast a ton of replay value.
If that’s not enough to get you invested, the video also contains a giant mechanical laser dragon/snake that the protagonists must fight. Because who doesn’t love giant mechanical laser dragons/snakes?
Metal Slug Tactics will be available for PC and Nintendo Switch in 2022.
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