Metal Slug Tactics

Metal Slug Tactics lives up to its stone-cold classic namesake from SNK’s golden era with its painstakingly detailed pixel art, head-bopping soundtrack, and snappy structure. It magnificently translates the run-n-gun series into its first turn-based tactics game, but doesn’t sacrifice substance for cheap nostalgia, either.

Metal Slug is a great fit as a turned-based strategy game, but overly luck-dependent roguelike elements and some outdated ideas for how to define enemies slow its march to war.

A smart, stylish adaptation that beats the odds to capture Metal Slug's spirit in another genre, with a few irritating bugs

"They've successfully encouraged the always-keep-moving approach of Metal Slug proper."

The side-scrolling shooter transforms from brainless barnstorming to thoughtful grenade tossing in a work of turn-based tactics - but its arcade soul remains intact.

From the moment it was announced Metal Slug Tactics was a winner in our eyes. Marrying the SNK classic with the turn-based tactics genre is a golden idea on paper. Hearing it’s a roguelike in the vein of Into the Breach was the coup de grâce for this game being anything but a banger. And we’re happy to say it lives up to those lofty expectations.

There is a good game here, sometimes a great one. Excellent art and animation, smart gameplay twists, and a genuinely refreshing pace really add some exciting new depth to the tactics genre and are huge positives. But it takes a while for the experience to smooth out and actually become enjoyable, and restrictive gameplay design choices don't do it any favours, either. Metal Slug Tactics is one for the tactics fans looking for a fresh take, but just know you'll have to put in some work to see the best parts of it.

Metal Slug Tactics tends to play it safe while simultaneously encouraging players to not play it safe. With few bells and whistles, everything just feels slightly different, rather than a mind-blowing change in gameplay.

It nails the run-and-gun feel of Metal Slug, and somehow transforms that into a tactics game, and that’s a hell of an accomplishment. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got an itch, and the only salve is another run.

To quote the Metal Slug series' now-iconic POWs, "Thank you!!"