I got the chance to play a short preview of Leikir Studio’s upcoming entry into the iconic Metal Slug franchise, Metal Slug Tactics, and frustratingly enough it took me several “game over” screens just to complete my first mission. At first, I thought this was just due to the game being obscenely difficult (being a lifelong fan of the turn-based strategy genre myself), but upon changing my approach, I realized: this isn’t meant to be played like a normal turn-based strategy game, this is meant to be played like a Metal Slug game.

The run-and-gun playstyle of the original titles doesn’t seem like one that would mesh well with the often slow and methodical turn-based squad strategy genre, but Metal Slug Tactics finds creative ways to implement the movement, co-operation, and set-pieces synonymous with the franchise into the formula. The adrenaline system in the game rewards players for maximizing movement, awarding points based on distance travelled that can spent on special abilities. The “synchronization” mechanic allows other squad members to fire on an enemy being attacked in their line of sight, allowing for massive combos and encouraging the player to coordinate their characters as a team. And of course, the implementation of Metal Slugs and Slugnoids as single-use and borderline-overpowered deployable vehicles makes progressing through runs feel even more worth it. Metal Slug Tactics urges the player to play fast and aggressive, and that’s what made it such a unique and compelling stand-out to me.

Metal Slugs Tactics is also incredibly charming, with fantastic isometric pixel art and sprites paired with colorful and emotive hand-drawn anime art. The game has a cute sense of humor, with tongue-in-cheek features such as reviving your fallen comrades with arcade tokens, enemies accidentally engaging in friendly fire, and vibrant sprite animations for heroes and villains alike. Each playable character is perfectly unique in both design and loadout, and brings an equally important specialty to the battlefield.

The preview was, however, just a preview, and there were many major aspects of the game that I simply didn’t get to experience enough of to make up my mind on. The roguelite system allows for creating  calculated builds as you progress through a run, but since I only got to play the first 5 missions, I didn’t get to see this mechanic go very in-depth at all. This also dampened the potential of buying upgrades between missions, as most of them are for items you find randomly as you advance through a run. Changing the difficulty of a run didn’t appear to actually change much, and I had just as easy of a time completing missions. In many ways, it felt like I was only scratching the surface of Metal Slug Tactics, and I’m unsure if those roguelite elements will be as effectively implemented as the other new mechanics in the game.

That being said, the preview was still highly enjoyable and I completed four total runs of the full demo experience. In a sea of grid-system turn-based strategy games, Metal Slug Tactics stands out thanks to its innovative mechanics and well-executed fan service. Whether it will stand out in the even larger sea of roguelite/roguelike games currently on the market, is something that only time can tell. Proving to be more than just a strategy title with a licensed IP slapped on to it, Metal Slug Tactics is shaping up to be a must-have title for Metal Slug and indie strategy fans alike. Those who enjoyed games like Into the Breach, the X-COM franchise, or Pathway should absolutely keep an eye out for when Metal Slug Tactics releases later this year in Fall of 2024.