In the not-so-distant future, the world of Metal Bringer from PLAYISM and ALPHAWING unfolds a gripping tale where humanity stands on the brink. A roguelite action-packed adventure awaits as you step into the shoes of Suria Yugia, abruptly awakened from a thousand-year slumber by your trusty robotic sidekick, Bud. You find yourself in the Meru Laboratory, a complex specially crafted for you, with the chilling realization that the facility has been operational for a staggering 8,766,009 hours. The sinister S.I.V.A. system has taken over, determined to keep humanity suspended in cryosleep against their will. As Suria, you face a challenge too perilous for a direct fight, necessitating the use of Labors and Arms. Labors are humanoid machines you control, while Arms are formidable mechs designed to boost your combat abilities.
As you embark on your journey, your first task is constructing your Labor. This involves selecting components like a head, body, and weapons for both the left and right sides. Each component has unique attributes that affect attack speed, power, and available actions. Weight is a crucial factor too, influencing your Labor’s agility. Long-range weapons bring additional considerations such as reload speed and bullet dispersion, and many can inflict status effects like burn or freeze. To add a personal touch, you can customize your Labor’s appearance from the available color palette, tweaking skin tone, eye color, outfits, and even the hue of your weaponfire.
Navigating your character involves using the left analog stick, while the right stick lets you aim freely. Unleash your arsenal with L2 and R2 to fire your left and right weapons, jump with X, and interact via the Square button. For quick maneuvers, the Circle button is your go-to. While Labors are formidable, locating an Arms to pilot offers a significant advantage. Just hit down on the D-Pad to board one. Camera angles can be adjusted with L1 and R1. As you progress, you’ll discover Arms parts to mix and match with your current setup. Engage the lock-on feature by clicking the right analog stick, an invaluable tool in heated skirmishes or boss battles.
Throughout the game, you’ll collect D Chips, essential for upgrading and empowering your Labor, enhancing your performance in future runs. Improve attributes like HP, defense, and arms programming, or focus on weapon types ranging from swords to gravity cannons. Each upgrade embellishes your strategic approach, allowing for unique playstyles.
On your travels, don’t forget to gather Blueprints to install apps on your Labor for each run. These can be found or acquired during excursions, augmenting your capabilities immediately and unveiling new app options for later. Whether it’s boosting weapon charge speeds, enhancing jump strength, or refining homing capabilities, these upgrades are crucial to your development.
Let’s not forget the collectible trophies! Metal Bringer boasts a full list, including a coveted Platinum trophy. With 24 Bronze, 13 Silver, and 3 Gold trophies, your objectives are varied. From surviving new locations to vanquishing bosses, or tuning your Labor a hundred times, reaching these milestones provides a rewarding challenge. Each accomplishment, like achieving a massive 500-hit combo or dealing immense damage with melee and ranged attacks, adds an extra layer of motivation during your deep dives into the game’s world.
In essence, Metal Bringer is an enthralling rogue-lite experience where you, as Suria, fight for the survival of humankind from the confines of the mysterious Meru Laboratory. It’s available now on PlayStation 5 for $19.99, offering thrilling gameplay wrapped in a richly developed futuristic storyline.
This review was created using a PlayStation 5 copy of Metal Bringer, graciously provided by PLAYISM.
