Five Things to Know Before You Dive into Metal Slug Tactics
Metal Slug Tactics—available now on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass—features the iconic run ‘n gun soul of the original SNK series translated into gripping tactical gameplay.
As you gear up your squad to face the gargantuan war machines and merciless soldiers of General Morden’s army, the Peregrine Falcon HQ is disclosing on Xbox Wire an exclusive tactical dossier with crucial information about the operatives under your command and on how to start your war campaign on the right footing.
Meet the Magnificent Nine
Your first tactical choice will be selecting the operatives to deploy on the battlefield. Make sure your squad is well-rounded, synergic, and, most of all, aligned with your playstyle!
Marco Rossi is a proven battlefield commander and a well-rounded soldier who can easily fit into any squad composition. His abilities focus on enhancing and supporting his allies and empowering their synchronizations with him.
Eri Kasamoto specializes in explosions and elevated attacks. Her kit includes explosive abilities that take advantage of height, and her mobility allows her to be effective in nearly any situation.
Tarma Roving is a powerhouse that is constantly in the thick of battle. Most of his attacks have a short range, allowing him to stack Dodge. His playstyle, albeit primarily defensive, allows for devastating precision strikes.
Fio Germi manipulates the battlefield to her liking, moving allies and enemies with her abilities. She also has a solid offensive skill set, enabling her kit to snowball quickly once the situation is in her favor.
Trevor Spacey uses top-secret nanotechnology to control the minds of his opponents temporarily. Stalking the battlefield like a ninja, he delivers devastating strikes before retreating into the shadows. The more enemies he hits, the more he can reposition and strike again!
Nadia Cassel can count on her mines to deny enemy mobility, and the robots she summons can act as decoys, support, or guided bombs. Her immediate damage output is lower than average, but she makes up for it with delayed damage and situational setup.
Ralf Jones is a mobile brawler who gives his best when charging into the enemy lines like a raging bull: he can gain bonus actions when he defeats enemies using his special abilities, effectively stacking frag after frag.
Clark Still is a defensive melee character who repositions enemies with throw abilities. Like his fellow Ikari Warrior Ralf, he gives his best when close and personal, with melee attacks that debuff his foes and counter their cover bonuses.
Leona Heidern leaves lingering images behind her each time she synchronizes, gradually flooding the battlefield with units that can also sync with her allies. Depending on the battle’s flow, she can capitalize on her afterimages offensively or defensively.
We Run, We Gun, and We Get Things Done
In Metal Slug Tactics, the original series’ run ‘n gun spirit is kept alive through a damage reduction mechanic that takes movement and covers into account.
The further your soldiers move, the more Dodge Points they gain, effectively reducing or even wholly canceling the damage from enemy strikes. Ending their movement in a blue cover square will grant them additional Cover Points that will be added to the overall damage reduction provided by their Dodge.
Once a cover is destroyed, the damage reduction points it provides are also gone, so think twice before crouching behind a bullet-riddled truck (they also have the rude habit of exploding once their hit points are gone) and keep moving!
Adrenaline: Feel the Surge
Running is also how you get Adrenaline, which powers some of the most impressive abilities your operatives can unleash! Maximizing Adrenaline gain with passive abilities like Team Leader (+2 Adrenaline for each sync) and Weapon Mods such as Impressive (+1 Adrenaline every time the weapon kills a foe) is the key to controlling the battle flow.
For example, Marco’s Determination trait reduces the Adrenaline cost of his special abilities by one every time he participates in a sync. His Efficiency trait, on the other hand, awards a bonus action if you activate a special ability that had its cost reduced to zero. Have Marco sync with his teammates often and enjoy some zero-cost gunslinging mayhem!
Think Before you Sync
Performing syncs with your allies is fundamental for defeating the numerous threats Morden will send in your way: for every attack you perform – either with your base weapon, your secondary weapon, or an Adrenaline-powered skill – every teammate who has a direct line of sight with the foe you attacked will perform a free attack with their base weapon!
Syncing is a key mechanic to master if you want to progress in Metal Slug Tactics: position your soldiers carefully and take advantage of battlefield control abilities such as Fio’s Nudge and Clark’s Argentine Backbreaker to move your opponents into your team’s crossfire!
Iconic Weapons and How to Mod Them
Metal Slug Tactics features nine emblematic weapons from the Metal Slug universe: handgun, knife, grenade, shotgun, heavy machine gun, rocket launcher, grenade launcher, flamethrower, and laser rifle – all with their unique perks and utility. As you progress in your campaign, you can unlock new weapon kits for your teammates, but there’s more!
You can obtain Weapon Mods by completing specific missions, and they will be a very important asset in your progression: from piercing enemies to ignoring cover to simply dealing more damage, there are dozens of Mods in Metal Slug Tactics that you can pick and mix to maximize your efficiency in battle!
This is a quick breakdown of some core mechanics featured in Metal Slug Tactics. Mastering positioning and syncs, building a cohesive squad, and optimizing your weapons are just the basics! You’ll need to hone your tactical skills to a razor-sharp edge to defeat Morden’s war machines once and for all.
Are you ready? Mission Start! Metal Slug Tactics is available now on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Metal Slug Tactics
Dotemu
$24.99
PC Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass
Metal Slug Tactics brings the explosive charm and nostalgic fun of the cult METAL SLUG series to the tactical scene. Get ready for an intense ride through the best of both worlds: classic arcade action and roguelite tactical thrills. Jump into the combat zone and revive your METAL SLUG nostalgia in a whole new way!
TACTICAL RPG WITH ROGUELITE ELEMENTS
Metal Slug Tactics offers a fresh perspective on the iconic battles of the METAL SLUG series. Lead your squad to victory through strategic guile and superior firepower in a perfect blend of classic action and tactical depth. Unleash powerful special attacks and shape the outcome of each encounter!
Accumulate experience after each battle to unlock new weapons or bonus perks to upgrade your team’s firepower and tactical skills.
Assemble your team and rewrite the rules in this modern tribute to a cult classic!
GET YOUR GEAR, SOLDIERS! MISSION START!
Choose between iconic brothers-in-arms from across the METAL SLUG series and create the perfect team to stop Morden’s devious plans.
Determine the best weapon loadouts and mods to maximize combo efficiency on the battlefield.
Launch simultaneous attacks with the “SYNC” mechanic to deal massive damage to the enemy. And if your team is in trouble, you can always call in some reinforcements and watch the big guns at work: heavy artillery, airstrikes, the glorious METAL SLUG itself – you name it, you get it!
FIGHT YOUR WAY TO VICTORY
Embark on an exalting campaign through beautiful, hand-crafted maps to end the war and defeat the infamous Rebel Army once and for all! You’re going to face many challenges, so brace yourself for countless deaths, but don’t give up and push through.
Whether you’re a skilled veteran or a new recruit, play and replay your favorite missions, learn precious strategic insight from each adventure and hone your skills with each hard-fought victory.
Gain experience, level up your operatives, adapt to your enemies, and remember: every defeat is a lesson, yet triumph awaits those who refuse to surrender!
STORY
Donald Morden is back! After years of hiding in a country opposed to the World Government, the devious General patiently staged a coup. Now, he is finally ready to take revenge upon the World with the army he has secretly gathered throughout the years.
The Peregrine Falcon Squad will have to do everything in their power to make it through the enemy lines and take down General Morden before the war escalates into catastrophe!
