Morbid Metal by SCREEN JUICE (Early Access Preview)
Morbid Metal has been on my radar for some time now, thanks to its promise of Rogue-like structure, character action combat reminiscent of games like Devil May Cry and Bayonetta, and a science-fantasy aesthetic that frankly doesn’t get used enough. I mean, that’s just peanut butter and chocolate right there.
A project that began as the work of a solo developer before expanding to a small team and ultimately finding a publisher in Ubisoft (of all companies), its Early Access release is upon us. After spending a few hours with it, I can safely say that if the folks at SCREEN JUICE are able to iterate on what’s already here, this has the chance to be something pretty special.
Metal on Metal
On a dystopian Earth, a mysterious Operator has created you, a sentient, shapeshifting AI. Your purpose? Hunt down your brethren and evolve in order to restore Earth.
Morbid Metal’s premise and structure are very reminiscent of most modern action Rogue-likes. You move through a series of procedurally-generated rooms, fighting hordes of robots out for your life. Defeat them, and you gain upgrades and advance; die, and it’s back to the start. There’s also, of course, the requisite meta-progression fueled by in-game resources.
However, while its structure is familiar, what really impresses about the game is its gameplay. Morbid Metal’s particular brand of hack-and-slash combat packs plenty of oomph, and unlocking the different forms for your character gives you access to some pretty impressive combos.
I’m especially a fan of the slow but powerful Ekku, who can gain super armor on his special attacks that stun enemies. Being able to switch between the characters at the touch of a button is also excellent.
When not in combat, you traverse the terrain, dodging traps and occasionally doing an optional platforming section for some increased rewards. It all moves at a very good clip that reminded me more than once of Warframe, not the least of which because of the vaguely samurai/ninja aesthetic of your human robots.
Bluelight Sonata
In terms of its design, Morbid Metal is impressively strong out of the gate. There’s a decent amount of things to unlock, from different starting abilities to modifiers that can unlock during your run. The number of abilities for your characters overall is currently limited, but that’s expected to change over the course of its Early Access period.
It also runs tremendously well. My PC hit the recommended specs, but only just, and I was able to run it at max settings with a pretty consistent 120+ FPS and no hiccups. For a game that looks this good, that’s honestly impressive in this day and age.
In terms of flaws, the biggest one is ultimately that it needs more content. What’s on offer provides a great time, but seeing the same combinations of enemies and skills repeatedly through your runs starts to get repetitive after a while.
The game will also definitely need some difficulty tweaks over time. It’s pretty challenging from the get-go (in a satisfying way), but some optional encounters, like the game’s arenas, are often so stacked against you that it rarely feels worth it. The first boss is also hilariously more challenging than the second one, often because you’re fighting the camera as much as the boss itself.
The Verdict
If it gets the expansion and refinement it needs, Morbid Metal has the potential to be a real highlight among the sea of Rogue-likes currently available. As it stands, it’s a fun, well-designed, and visually stunning game that, while currently light on variety, feels great to play and will drag you along for more runs well after you were supposed to go to bed. In short, it’s a good time.
Morbid Metal is available via Steam.
Watch the trailer for Morbid Metal below:
