How Metal Slug Tactics Brings Shoot 'Em Up Vibes to Flip Based Strategy

Metal Slug Tactics is a major departure from the run-and-gun mayhem the series is usually known for, bringing the 2D side-scrolling shooter series into the realm of isometric tactical RPGs. Leikr Studio's tactical approach Metal Slug also benefits from a highly replayable rogue-like foundation that encourages players to experiment with builds, team compositions, and strategies for many more hours than a typical franchise entry.




Game Rant sat down with Leikr Studios CEO Aurelién Loos to discuss the team's approach to Metal Slug Tactics given the series' history of offering adrenaline-fuelled shooters. Loos talked about the game's movement system and how it's an expression of the run-and-gun gameplay, along with the team's reasoning for going with a tactical RPG in the first place.



Classic run-and-gun shooters like Metal Slug couldn't feel further from the deliberately, undeniably slow pace of tactical RPGs, but Leikr Studio infused its tactics game with a surprising amount of shooter DNA. Aurelién Loos noted that the game's movement system was a fundamental element. IN Metal Slug Tacticseach tile a character moves generates adrenaline—essentially “mana” for special abilities—along with Dodge, the game's primary means of mitigating damage. Tying offensive and defensive capabilities to movement cleverly expresses drive-and-gun gameplay, as each character should move as far as they can each turn.

I think the biggest advantage of working in this universe is that it forces us to think in a completely different way. We didn't just create a regular tactical RPG because, i
Metal Slug Tactics
it's all about movement. You have to keep moving; you must make a move each turn if you want to generate dodging to protect yourself or adrenaline. You need adrenaline to use your most powerful attacks and abilities…It was very beneficial because we created something new. It's always fun to create something new, but what really drove us to do it was wanting to have that strong DNA as one
run-and-gun
game in a tactical game.


Another element of Metal Slug Tactics channeling the frenetic gameplay of the series is Enemy Count; players are often significantly smaller during each encounter. Fighting large groups of weaker enemies makes every turn punchy and visceral as handfuls of enemies are eliminated with one or two solid tactical plays. In combination with the movement system, Metal Slug Tactics feels like a game that belongs in Metal Slug franchise.

Adrenaline Metal Slug Tactics

Translates Metal Slug gameplay for a turn-based tactics game sounds like a serious challenge, which begs the question: why did Leikr Studios go this route instead of sticking to the guns of the series? Aurelién Loos says this is due to the studios' previous experience with turn-based roguelike games. Instead of trying to create the next main line Metal Sluga new version of the series felt like a safer bet.


When we started to think about
Metal Slug
– because we are big fans of
Metal Slug
especially me
Metal Slug 2
—We discussed it and thought about what we could bring to the table. You can still only open the older one
Metal Slug
games, and they are still fun and relevant today. But our studio has no experience with run-and-gun games, so it would have been very ambitious to say, “Oh, we want to make the next
Metal Slug
.” We considered it and made a proposal that fit more with our DNA, which leans towards tactical and strategy games.

Ultimately creating a tactics game inspired by Metal Slug has resulted in a game with unique ideas that might not have been realized if the team had worked within a different IP. Because of this, Metal Slug Tactics is both an authentic Metal Slug game and a strategy game that stands on its own.


Metal Slug Tactics

Tactical

Strategy

War & Military

Franchise
Metal Slug

Developer
Games Studio

OpenCritic Rating
Strong

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