The Metal Slug series is famous for its chaotic run-and-gun action, detailed pixel art, and unique humour. Metal Slug Attack Reloaded takes a different approach, reinventing the franchise as a side-scrolling tower defense game. This enhanced port of the 2016 mobile game brings its strategic mechanics to consoles while dropping microtransactions. However, its reliance on gacha mechanics and grinding remains a central feature.
Transitioning a mobile game to consoles presents many challenges. Metal Slug Attack Reloaded tries to maintain the series’ charm while adjusting to its new platform. It introduces fast-paced, tactical gameplay that feels simple to understand but tough to master. A massive roster of collectible units and army combinations adds variety, encouraging experimentation across its many missions. Despite these strengths, the mobile origins are hard to overlook.
Longtime fans will appreciate its nostalgia-driven presentation, including colourful pixel art and familiar units from across the series. Meanwhile, the shift to tower defense may surprise those expecting a more traditional Metal Slug experience. Does the game successfully merge its arcade roots with its modern mechanics, or do its mobile limitations hold it back? Let’s break it down.
Familiar Faces, Thin Plotlines
Metal Slug Attack Reloaded doesn’t stray far from the lighthearted storytelling the series is known for. General Morden’s Rebel Army threatens the world once again, and the Peregrine Falcon Squad steps in to save the day. Marco Rossi and his team lead the charge through a loosely connected series of battles that serve more as set dressing than a driving narrative.
The main campaign features quick cutscenes that provide a basic outline of the conflict. While these scenes include familiar characters and scenarios, they rarely build into something meaningful. Instead, the real storytelling happens in Another Story, which focuses on specific armies and their unique missions. Each mission ties into a broader lore, with quirky characters and bizarre twists that reflect the series’ playful tone. If you are a fan of Metal Slug you’ll appreciate these deeper dives into the game’s world, even if the overall plot lacks depth.
However, inconsistent translation quality undercuts the experience. Some sections are clear and engaging, while others feel rushed and unpolished. This unevenness makes it harder to connect with the narrative, especially if you are new to the series and unfamiliar with the series’ lore.
While the story isn’t a central focus, its lighthearted tone fits the game’s chaotic style. It’s enough to provide context for battles and sprinkle in a few memorable moments. For those willing to dive into the side missions and lore, there are occasional gems to uncover. Just don’t expect a story that matches the depth or complexity of its gameplay.
Strategy Meets Chaos
Metal Slug Attack Reloaded trades the series’ iconic run-and-gun action for tactical tower defense battles. Each mission tasks you with summoning units to destroy the enemy base while protecting your own. Units are summoned using Action Points (AP), which regenerate over time or increase through upgrades during each match. This balancing act between deploying units and enhancing AP regeneration keeps battles dynamic.
The variety of units is impressive, offering everything from soldiers and tanks to Martians and giant slugs. Each unit has unique abilities, such as launching missiles, creating shields, or unleashing devastating melee attacks. Using these abilities strategically, along with your base’s support moves, can turn the tide in tough battles. My favourite was triggering the Metal Slug Attack, a kamikaze strike that wiped out an enemy wave just when I thought I was cornered.
One of the most satisfying moments came when I cleared a particularly challenging mission by experimenting with my deck. I swapped in anti-air units for an enemy swarm of flying enemies that had frustrated me for hours. The rush of watching my strategy finally pay off made the grind worth it—at least temporarily.
While the gameplay is fun in short bursts, the grind becomes noticeable over time. Unlocking and upgrading units requires replaying missions to gather medals, tickets, and gears. The absence of microtransactions means you’ll need patience to make meaningful progress. For some, like me, the repetitive grind takes away from the game’s fun, while others may enjoy the experimentation it encourages.
Despite its flaws, the gameplay combines fast-paced action and tactical planning effectively. If you are a fan of strategy games, there’s plenty here to enjoy. Though, grind and sudden difficulty jumps can get really frustrating.
Nostalgic Visuals, Mixed Audio
Metal Slug Attack Reloaded stays true to the series’ pixel-art roots, delivering colourful, detailed visuals that evoke nostalgia. The 2D sprites are as charming as ever, with soldiers, tanks, and Martians bursting to life on the battlefield. Unit designs showcase the series’ playful creativity, whether it’s a zombie soldier or a giant mechanized slug. The stages, however, are less inspired. The overuse of brown tones makes many maps blend together, making it hard to track the action.
The game’s performance holds up well, even during chaotic battles filled with explosions and waves of enemies. Despite the visual clutter, I never encountered slowdowns or crashes, which speaks to the polish behind the port. Still, the overwhelming number of effects during combat can make it hard to keep track of units.
On the audio side, the classic Metal Slug sound effects and music are here but feel dated and repetitive. The soundtrack fits the action but grows repetitive over time, and the reused voice lines can become grating. At one point, I had to turn the volume down because hearing the same lines every few seconds got really annoying.
While the game’s visuals look great for the most part, the repetitive audio and bland stage designs are a big disappointment.
Metal Slug Attack Reloaded is a Nostalgic Yet Flawed Experience
Metal Slug Attack Reloaded offers a unique twist on the franchise’s formula, blending nostalgic visuals with tower defense mechanics. Its expansive roster of units, fast-paced gameplay, and classic Metal Slug charm deliver moments of fun, especially for longtime fans. However, the game struggles to overcome its mobile origins, leaving behind repetitive grinding, difficulty spikes, and uninspired design choices.
The decision to remove microtransactions is commendable, but the reliance on gacha mechanics and resource grinding remains a sticking point. If you’re patient and enjoy experimenting with unit combinations, there’s plenty of strategic depth to uncover. For me, the joy of clearing tough missions with a carefully planned deck was satisfying, even if it required replaying stages for upgrades.
That said, the game’s appeal will depend heavily on how much you are willing to overlook and put up with. If you’re looking for a smoother, more polished experience, you’ll be disappointed. The game feels like a missed opportunity to modernize the series’ formula.
Metal Slug Attack Reloaded is a curious experiment—one that delivers some memorable moments but struggles to reach its full potential. For longtime fans, there’s still enough charm here to enjoy in short bursts.
Metal Slug Attack Reloaded
Summary
Metal Slug Attack Reloaded is a decent, nostalgic experience with noticeable flaws. It’s best suited for hardcore fans of the franchise or those willing to tolerate its mobile-game roots.
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