Video Game Review: Unmetal

Unmetal

Publisher: Versus Evil

Genre: Action Adventure

Nintendo Switch

Now that Konami seems to be out of the Metal Gear business, there is a massive void in the stealth genre. Every now and again we get a solid stealth game, but none of them have successfully captured the magic of the Metal Gear franchise. Unmetal is a the latest indie stealth game to give it a shot, and there is no denying the game’s influences.

Just a glance at Unmetal makes it clear that the Metal Gear series has left a mark on developer Unepic Fran. Everything from the gameplay to presentation, to even the protagonist screams Metal Gear. In Unmetal, protagonist Jesse Fox has been jailed for a crime that he did not commit. Now the action hero needs to escape from a military base while uncovering something bigger.

Unmetal looks a lot like a modern take on the old top-down Metal Gear games. At the same time, Unmetal does a fantastic job at being its own game. The game has a sense of humor that most games in the genre simply do not. It’s satirical in the ways that it pokes fun at the genre’s tropes. What’s even better is that the game is genuinely funny too. The characters are full of charm and the script makes the most of the silly nature of the game.

When it comes to the gameplay, Unmetal isn’t perfect, but it’s still a fun time. Stealth is highly encouraged in Unmetal. Players will gain experience for taking out enemies without being seen, so sneaking around is obviously the optimal way to play. The stealth is further pushed by the fact that players can’t actually kill any guards due to the game’s rules (Which is somewhat explained in the story). If the player wounds a guard with a lethal weapon, the player will need to use one of their med kits to save the guard or they will get a game over screen. It can be a bit frustrating being forced to play a certain way, but Unmetal does so well at being enjoyable that it is easy to overlook.

One of Unmetal’s biggest strengths is how rich the level design is. Every room is full of items to find. The stages demand exploration, which always keeps the player engaged. Every character including the generic guards feel alive due to silly little lines that get thrown around. There are tons of characters to talk to and interact with, making the world of Unmetal feel great to be in.

The entire story is being told as a flashback, leading to a fun narrative that injects itself into the gameplay and presentation. Jesse Fox is an unreliable narrator, so sometimes when asked what happened in a specific room, the answer can be foggy. Solving puzzles can reveal optional stages and dialogue for Fox to tell about. Questions can be answered regarding confrontations (Like how many tentacles did a sewer monster have?). It’s little things like this peppered throughout Unmetal that makes the game a delight to play.

The gameplay does have a few hiccups, and most of them are a result of the controls. The gunplay is lacking in almost every way. Aiming isn’t rewarding, and as a result players will just want to focus on close quarters combat. Players will also run into a few issues here and there just because of the button mapping. I found myself more than once picking up a body or attacking a guard when I wanted to do something else, just because they shared the same button. It isn’t a deal breaker, but it is frustrating. Every now and again, there is a frustrating stage that just isn’t fun to play due to a gimmick or two. There are also some boss battles that simply feel unfair and again, not fun to play against. These moments don’t happen often, but they are still worth mentioning.

Overall, Unmetal is a game that leans on its presentation more than the gameplay. As solid as the gameplay is, the presentation is what makes this game special. The graphics look great, with clean 2D visuals that are full of charm and easy to follow. The animations are crisp, but also not anything too crazy. Unmetal looks just good enough to stay engaging without overloading the sense. The humor and cutscenes are all well done. Some of the character models have some weird anatomy, but they don’t break the experience. The sound effects and music call back to a simpler time in Metal Gear’s history, leading to tons of nostalgia.

Unmetal is a homerun as both a parody and a fun game to play. The gunplay and action sequences are disappointing, but the stealth and exploration more than makes up for this. It’s a love letter to the games that inspired it, and a well written one at that. Anyone who misses the Metal Gear franchise or just wants a silly stealth game to play will want to check out Unmetal.