Reviewed by Eva Cekanska
Metal Saga, a brand new role playing title from the people at Atlus, is a promising game and a unique one at that. Post-apocalyptic scenery, imaginative monsters and characters, extreme freedom of missions and tasks as well as an offbeat sense of humor make Metal Saga an entertaining play. Unfortunately it falls short of expectations on other fronts, most notably there is almost no real sense of progression or accomplishment. That is not to say the game isn’t worth a try, especially if you’re particularly keen on open ended scenarios and vehicle customization, but it definitely does not follow the RPG mold we’re all used to.
What I found most intriguing while playing Metal Saga was the storyline. In short, people have built a super computer to solve the pollution problem; unfortunately the solution was the complete eradication of human beings. This is known as the Great Destruction, frightening stuff, I know. Earth has been destroyed and only some humans remain, hunting and salvaging whats left of civilization. You play the game as a young hunter, just entering the highly pressured world of scavengers. Your goal is to seek out the materials needed to build a new civilization.
I’m sad to report that’s pretty much the entire plot. The idea is that as a hunter you will report to the hunter’s office, pick up your mission and go complete it for some sort of cash compensation. With that money you can buy or rent a new vehicle, or upgrade something you already own. While I’m not entirely certain that this capitalist economy would work in such dire circumstances, the game is about amassing wealth, so don’t be fooled. Thankfully, there are tons of cool things for you to blow your earnings on, especially in the form of upgrades for vehicles, including a paint job, guns… you know the customization drill. Plus, the ending actually hinges entirely on how much money you manage to earn, so don’t be afraid to give in to greed. Hey, you’re already rebuilding a civilization from scraps of material which caused the demise of billions of people, if you can sleep knowing that, I don’t see what could possibly stop you. Oh wait, yes I do, the gameplay.
When you head out into the big bad world of Metal Saga, your vehicle is at once your weapon and your best friend. Take good care of it, don’t be afraid to add a mechanic to your party. It goes without saying that the vehicle you’re using directly affects your firepower. Of course even if you’re just walking around you’re still able to attack, but the bigger the target the bigger the loot, so size does matter in this game. The battle style is that of a typical RPG game and you also have the regular three characters in your party. You can control all of them and their respective vehicles. There is nothing like magic in this game, but there are some stellar attacks from up above that the characters on foot can perform, such as ordering homing missiles on the baddies. Of course this costs money, and so does fixing your vehicles post-battle. This part of the game can actually become quite irritating because sometimes the amount you make hardly covers the repair costs, not to mention the time and effort.
Thankfully, there is one saving grace I haven’t discussed in full yet. The quirky sense of humour Metal Saga offers is really something special. Not only do you get to fight some truly hilarious enemies, but the people you meet are quite unique. My favorite character, Klepto Cobain, speaks almost entirely in the lyrics of Nirvana. Now I was never a giant fan of the grunge era, but he’s absolutely hilarious. Another gem is the used tank salesman, MC Hamir. To top it off, there are some truly bizarre boss fights, including an enemy who is too lazy to attack! Of course the enemies you encounter on a more frequent basis are just as odd and will definitely keep you wondering who or what you’ll be fighting next. If there is a quality that makes Metal Saga shine above other games, it is definitely the innovative, highly imaginative sense of humor. The only slightly confusing aspect of naming characters after one-time stars of the music world is why the soundtrack for Metal Saga is so disappointing.
Last, but certainly not least, if you ever get bored with your hunter duties while playing Metal Saga, there are several mini games to keep you occupied. As always there are a few memory style games, in which your aim is to press the correct sequence of buttons in order to do something to your character. I’m sure you’ve played this before, so I won’t go into how frustrating and surprisingly rewarding those games are. You can also try your hand at arcade style shooting, casino or racing.
All in all, metal saga is quite unique in the roleplaying genre. It incorporates a unique and fun storyline, excellent (if somewhat disturbing) sense of humor and the ability to play an extremely open ended game. You really are your own boss when playing this title from Atlus. Unfortunately this is also its greatest downfall, as sometimes it almost feels as if there is nothing holding this package together. If however you don’t necessarily play RPGs for the epic chance to save an entire world, this title may just spark your interest.