Metal Eden Review by Gabriel “Fauno” Zissou

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Metal Eden’s Adrenaline-Filled Single-Player Odyssey in Digital Dystopia

Metal Eden surprises with its simplicity, offering only essential options and focusing entirely on single-player gameplay across eight adrenaline-filled stages. Upon completing each stage, players can compare their stats. The game envisions a future where Earth’s resources are depleted and interstellar colonization has failed, leading humanity to create Moebius Station as a means of digitization. Players assume the role of Aska, a hyperconsciousness possessing military expertise and equipped with an auto-submachine gun. Guided by Nexus, a collective consciousness, Aska embarks on a mysterious mission through the station, encountering frequent cutscenes and waves of enemies reminiscent of Doom (2016). Nexus’s guidance of Aska through Moebius Station includes explanations of humanity’s past, delivered with a rebellious attitude akin to Johnny Silverhand from Cyberpunk 2077. Beyond Aska and Nexus, Metal Eden features additional characters. While the initial relentless action and constant shootouts may feel overwhelming, the game contains a deep and rich lore that could inspire additional games. Therefore, the player should pay attention to the brief dialogues between fights. Reikon Games has clearly packed a wealth of content into a compact experience, similar to Doom (2016).

Metal Eden’s Twisty Ending and Unresolved Questions on Brutal Difficulty

However, the game’s momentum wanes around the 45-minute mark of the second half, culminating in a disappointing ending. Without revealing spoilers, the ending introduces an unwelcome twist that undermines the established tone. The final boss battle feels too easy, and the narrative concludes abruptly, leaving unresolved questions. Metal Eden maintains an intense pace with well-balanced phase lengths. Like Doom, its stages deliver a rush of adrenaline, making the end of each mission a welcome respite. The Normal difficulty setting is more challenging than usual, suggesting that players primarily interested in the story may want to begin on Easy Mode. Higher difficulties, especially Brutal, require precise execution, but all levels are fair and accommodate both gameplay enthusiasts and story-driven players. The storyline remains compelling, despite the disappointing and somewhat unexplained ending. Character progression feels somewhat slow compared to the rapid pace of the phases. Selecting less useful upgrades can create challenges, especially on higher difficulties. Some players may find it unsatisfying that they cannot fully maximize their character’s potential in a single playthrough because certain upgrades are inaccessible until subsequent runs. While this limitation did not significantly affect a playthrough on Normal difficulty, it may be more noticeable on Brutal.

Metal Eden’s Weapon Variety and Impressive Performance on Xbox Series S

Metal Eden’s arsenal offers considerable variety, featuring weapons suited for diverse combat scenarios. Some weapons excel against armor, while others inflict greater health damage. Noteworthy options include a submachine gun ideal for eliminating airborne targets and a plasma weapon capable of quickly dismantling shields. Also, the shotgun fires three rounds in rapid succession. Most weapons, including the starting pistol, remain useful even in the late game. However, the revolver becomes largely obsolete once the player acquires the ray gun. The game also incorporates a “Ball Mode,” where Aska transforms into a ball, similar to Samus in Metroid, and navigates the levels, providing a refreshing change of pace. Beyond its gameplay, Metal Eden impresses technically. On Xbox Series S, the game runs smoothly at 1080p and 60fps. Despite the intense on-screen action, the game exhibits no lag or screen tearing, even with Vsync disabled. Bugs are infrequent, limited to a few minor instances of wall clipping, and the game experienced no crashes during the playthrough. The soundtrack is memorable and complements the intense gameplay. Its blend of cyberpunk beats and synthwave enhances the combat sequences.

Metal Eden’s Voice Acting Elevates Characters and Gameplay, Reflecting Passionate Craftsmanship

The voice acting enlivens Metal Eden’s characters, adding emotional depth to the story through strong performances in both English and Portuguese. The quality dubbing further enhances the characters’ authenticity. Overall, Metal Eden is a worthwhile experience that reflects the developers’ passion for combining elements from their favorite games. Although the game has some late-stage flaws, they do not overshadow the engaging story, compelling characters, and thrilling gameplay reminiscent of Doom. In summary, Metal Eden distinguishes itself in the first-person shooter genre by prioritizing quality over scale, demonstrating that a focused and well-crafted experience can be highly impactful.

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