Metal Eden is stylish science fiction and feels like the single-player essence of the great arena shooters of my youth.
Real classic first-person shooters have become a rare commodity. Nowadays, it feels like everything needs PvP, service stuff, seasons and a battle pass right away.
But there are exceptions, bright spots for single-player fans. For me, one of them is already Metal Eden, the new game from Reikon Games.
The Polish indie studio recently made a name for itself among cyberpunk fans with Ruiner from 2017, but is now swapping the top-down perspective for a first-person view.
Nevertheless, both titles show parallels. They are dark, fast, brutal – and above all extremely stylish Just take a look at the trailer:
Metal Eden is coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series consoles on May 6. I’ve already spent around 90 minutes blasting my way through two early sections of the campaign and am now really looking forward to the release.
What is Metal Eden about?
In Metal Eden, I take on the role of a so-called Hyper Unit called Aska. Hyper Units are highly developed war machines on two legs. Their sole purpose: to complete the most hopeless missions completely alone and far behind enemy lines.
Askas’s mission takes place in the high-tech city of Moebius. The futuristic metropolis in orbit around an alien planet was attacked by a virus, turned against its inhabitants and now serves as a prison for the consciousness of human colonists.
To free them, Aska must overcome Moebius’ defense systems: heavily armored security robots, flying killer drones, and cybernetic monstrosities want to get to my titanium helmet.
Although the focus is clearly on fighting, Metal Eden tells a story about technological progress , the endless greed of megacorporations and the concept of humanity in a world where everything is artificial – including people.
Table of Contents
Dystopia in neon light
Since Aska herself tends to be monosyllabic, the Nexus usually serves as the narrator – an incorporeal consciousness that regularly contacts me via radio and, in addition to motivational slogans (“Burn them all down, Hyper”) also raises philosophical questions (“Isn’t a dream from which we never wake the same as reality?”).
In combination with the driving electro soundtrack and the dystopian wasteland of skyscrapers shimmering in neon light, a coherent overall picture emerges that seems to be clearly inspired by cyberpunk classics such as the manga Blame! or Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan.
No, you shouldn’t expect any deeply branching role-playing dialogues or audiobook-length conversations in Metal Eden. Nevertheless, I do glean some exciting theories and food for thought from the fields of AI and posthumanism here, which I hope will be explored in more depth later in the game.
Memories of classics
And how does it play? In a nutshell: Fast, uncompromising and in a very pleasantly old-fashioned way. As Aska, I move along linear paths through the futuristic setting; exploration doesn’t play a significant role in Metal Eden.
Instead, it’s all about fighting: the machine forces of the megacity appear at fixed points, and then Metal Eden turns into a real arena shooter, which brings back pleasant childhood memories of classics like Quake or UT.
There are jump pads everywhere for extra high (double) jumps. I collect power-ups like armor by running over them. I don’t regenerate life energy automatically, but have to keep an eye out for blue HP packs. It feels like the good old days, but in top modern Unreal graphics. Which brings us to the fights!
This is how gunplay is done right
With a shotgun, plasma cannon and co., I expertly dismember charging cybernetic opponents into their individual parts – and I mean that quite literally: enemies literally burst, with bots flying metal pieces in a shower of sparks. This is exactly what satisfying hit feedback should look like.
I aim from the hip, not via the rear and front sight (ADS). Instead, in the spirit of the 90s, I use the right mouse button for a classic secondary fire function.
My laser pistol, for example, can lock onto enemies and fire homing missiles at them – provided I’ve got the appropriate upgrade.
Double jumps, wall running, a graphical hook, and quick dashes to evade enemies add a big dash of Ghostrunner or Mirror’s Edge to the firefights and give me numerous movement options for every situation in the skirmishes. I haven’t felt this agile since Doom Eternal!
Brain in, core out
Metal Eden may be old-school, but it’s definitely not a brainless shoot-out. Instead of just shooting everything to pieces, I have to use different tactics depending on the opponent.
This is where the core system comes into play:At the push of a button, I can rip the cyber core out of smaller enemies. I can then hurl it as a projectile and collect ammunition from the wreckage.
But the core has many other uses. For example, the green glowing armor of the heavy guard robots makes them immune to projectiles and must first be cleared aside.
If I incorporate a freshly harvested core instead of throwing it away, my next melee attack is strengthened and literally beats the armor plates off the thick opponent. Clear the way for my firearms!
Hmmm, upgrades!
In the heat of the moment, I have to constantly make strategic decisions in Metal Eden : Do I use the core for fresh ammo or do I want to burst armor? Do I use my jetpack fuel for double jumps or to activate Max Payne-style slow motion?
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The skill tree adds even more depth and exciting synergy effects. There, I exchange collected resources for upgrades. Depending on the path I choose, I can then, for example, draw my own armor with enemy cores, freeze opponents with cryo powers, stay in the air for a short time or pull power-ups from far away to me.
With a little weapon crafting, I can further refine the build of my hyper unit. Towards the end of my 90 minutes in Metal Eden, my shotgun was even able to fire armor-piercing bullets around corners and my pistol fired a kind of chain lightning that jumped from target to target.
What do we like, what remains to be desired?
Time for a short conclusion with my most important pros and cons.
Positive
- Atmospheric setting: If, like me, you have a weakness for cyberpunk scenarios, you will never tire of the surreal backdrop.
- Crisp fights: Cool, powerful and yet a bit like in the old days – nostalgia is skillfully mixed with modern elements here.
- Everything from a single source:Even Metal Eden’s menus and HUD fit into the setting like a fist on an eye. And that soundtrack!
Still unclear.
- Variety:How much depth will unfold after several hours and are there more enemy variants and cool bosses?
- Story: Does Metal Eden really exploit the narrative potential of its premise or does it stick to loose ideas and meaningless phrases?
- Spielzeit: The developers promise »8 unique missions«, but how long will they be and is it worth playing them multiple times?
Editor’s conclusion
Whoever is responsible for the design of the world and the characters at Reikon Games deserves a raise in my opinion. Metal Eden bleeds coolness and style out of every pore!
From the fantastically animated cyber-monsters to the cyberspace-inspired menus, everything has been thought of. I also love the flow of the game – combat, movement and narrative complement each other wonderfully, without one part dominating and wearing thin. Metal Eden just flows.
If the developers can maintain this level and keep the gameplay fresh for many hours, then the new Doom in May will suddenly have serious competition from an unexpected direction.
