Metal Slug Tactics is a Fresh Take on a Classic - E3 2021

So far, E3 has been a better show than some of us may have anticipated. Sure, in large part that’s due to Elden Ring, but there was another game revealed late yesterday that got my blood pumping and my hype growing: a little trailer for a brand-new Metal Slug game!

Let me introduce you to Metal Slug like you’ve never seen it before: slow and thoughtful!

Metal Slug Tactics reunites Marco, Eri, Fio, and Tarma as they lead the Peregrine Falcon Squad into a new battlefield through dynamic, strategic combat. Players wield classic METAL SLUG weaponry, leveraging skill trees, perks, and a super attack-fueling adrenaline system to outwit and demolish flanks of the series’ signature villains.

Paired with gorgeous pixel art and fluid animation which faithfully channels the series’ timeless aesthetic, Metal Slug Tactics is a natural extension of METAL SLUG’s beloved visuals. Each mission’s heated battle is energized through original music by Tee Lopes (Sonic Mania, League of Legends, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, and Streets of Rage 4’s Mr. X Nightmare DLC among other titles). Metal Slug Tactics is both a respectful homage to an all-time classic and an imaginative new way to celebrate the renowned series.

So yeah, it’s a Metal Slug game, but instead of running and gunning through gorgeous pixel environments, you’re carefully planning moves and setting up combos in gorgeous pixel environments. As a fan of both tactics and Metal Slug, consider me extremely excited.

That said, it’s still a ways before it’ll get on our plates. It’s possible to add it to your Steam Wishlist already, but there’s no price or release date attached to the thing. The only thing we’ve really learned is that it’s a single-player game, which isn’t surprising given the nature of the title, but disappointing, as the previous game’s co-op was always one of its stronger features.

In either case, I hope we see more of this title in the coming months.