The roguelite is a genre that has gained a lot of popularity lately. There’s a new game in the genre almost every other month, and for fans of the genre it’s awesome since they can enjoy more games consistently. However, for those who aren’t familiar with the genre or do not know how to gauge what is good, questions arise. What makes a roguelite accessible for newcomers? What is so good about the genre? And with this glut of roguelite games, it is challenging for developers to answer these questions since there has to be a balance between challenge and reward to compel gamers to keep playing. Metal Unit is the latest game in this genre and it combines 2D platforming with roguelite elements. It works fairly well, though some things definitely could have been done better.
In Metal Unit, you take the role of Joanna along with her her trusty mech, Unit 11 and a cat-like AI companion. The robo-cat worked with her missing sister but cannot disclose what happened to her because, well, reasons. The game’s story is full of anime tropes and nonsense and for those who aren’t into anime or such it might be offputting. Regardless of that, gameplay and the roguelite elements complement each other well, making Metal Unit a fun time sink if you can overlook the anime-esque approach to the plot and dialogue.
Gameplay has you traversing several selectable areas in the map and after a series of small stages you eventually end up in a camp. The camp is a hub where you can do several things including purchasing items and new weapons (specific weapons/equipment unlock different Metal Unit forms) with the gold you obtain from defeating monsters. You can also synthesize equipment for random drops, rest in your tent to regain your health, or even explore a randomly generated mini-dungeon to get a rare weapon or piece of equipment. For the latter two options, you can only choose one per visit, since leaving the dungeon or resting in your tent will make the in-game night pass which forces you to continue until you reach and defeat the boss….or get destroyed by the numerous enemies you have to fight.
Combat is quite polished and I like how Joanna is portrayed as a weapon master. I commend the developer for giving so many different attack animations depending on the main weapon equipped. Combine that with all the tools at your disposal such as your ranged weapons, sub-weapons, and add-ons (not including your ultimate attack) and the metal units are a force to be reckoned with! But even with an impressive arsenal, dying is inevitable as it is a fundamental mechanic of the roguelite genre. Your goal is not to defeat the game on your first try but instead to get as many items and permanent upgrades as you can to make subsequent runs easier. The real appeal here, and in this genre in general, is to see how far can you go or what can you get in each try. I like that the game doesn’t hold your hand but is also not unfair to players. One notable detail in Metal Unit that was particularly helpful on runs was that at the beginning of each stage there is a small hint directing you as to what to look for in the stage (example: “You will need a giants strength to break that rock”). With a hint like this, the game is referring to an upgrade you need to apply to accomplish a level-specific side goal, a useful way to give hints for secondary goals.
As you can see in the screenshots, the game has great pixel art as well. Each area is finely detailed and I like all the elements that comprise the stage as a whole. Imagery like the trees, waterfalls, and temple-like structures are fantastic. Even some NPCs you encounter, such as someone that is calmly fishing and blissfully unaware of all the enemies in the area, add to the overall ambience of Metal Unit. However, there were some things that I think could have been improved. Enemy variety for example was fairly limited and I wish that enemy actions and attack patterns had more variety. Thematically, while I like anime I feel the game was made in that style just for the sake of it and Joanna’s suggestive movement while the game is paused feels wholly unnecessary to me. If the game gets a sequel I hope that they improve enemy variety and attacks and keep the anime tropes to a minimum since the way the characters interact with each other in cutscenes feels forced.
Bottom Line: Metal Unit is a good way to get into the roguelite genre, the combat feels fluid, and the music and art style are good. I feel that Metal Unit has a lot of potential but it definitely fails to capitalize on some of it due to design choices that even now do not make sense for me.
A Review code was kindly provided for this review.