Gameplay Feedback and Suggestions

[Diligence]

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Metal Bringer is a fast-paced roguelike mech action game that seamlessly blends deep customization, engaging combat, and a visually striking art style. It offers players the opportunity to construct their ideal mech, engage in large-scale battles against hordes of enemies, and uncover an intriguing narrative about humanity's survival against AI-controlled machines.

At its core, Metal Bringer is a roguelike where you select and equip weapons before venturing into battle. Once deployed, it's up to you to survive against waves of enemies, using agile movement and strategic combat choices. One of the standout mechanics is the ability to find, pilot, and even dismantle enemy mechs, salvaging their parts to customize your own build. Each run offers new weapons, upgrades, and research opportunities, ensuring fresh gameplay experiences and deep replayability.

The combat has a satisfying mix of fluid movement and intense encounters, whether you are playing as a pilot or controlling a massive mech. The game encourages experimentation with a variety of weapon combinations and custom builds, leading to endless potential for personalized playstyles.

Customization and Progression!

Customization is one of Metal Bringer's strongest features. Players can:

Equip different mech parts to optimize speed, defense, and firepower.

Unlock new weapons and abilities to refine their combat style.

Modify visual aesthetics, allowing for unique mech designs, from sleek and futuristic to colorful and quirky.

Progression carries over between runs to some extent, as players retain certain upgrades, currency, and researched components. This helps mitigate the punishing nature of permadeath while maintaining the challenge expected from a roguelike.

Visuals and Presentation!

The game's aesthetic is a striking blend of pixel-perfect visuals with chunky outlines, subtle dithering, and a modernized retro-futuristic design. The combination of voxel and pixel art gives it a unique, almost nostalgic, charm. Additionally, the game features a ray tracing option, which enhances lighting and reflections, making explosions and environmental effects more visually impressive.

Story and Setting!

Metal Bringer takes place in a world where AI-driven machines known as "Labors" have taken over, forcing humanity underground. Throughout the game, players uncover pieces of the lore, gradually learning about the rise of AI dominance and the remnants of human resistance. While the story isn't groundbreaking, it adds depth to the experience, giving context to the high-octane action.

Controls and Performance!

The game plays best with a controller, with an optional "Shooter Mode" control scheme that enhances aiming and combat precision.

Button remapping is recommended, particularly swapping L2/R2 with L1/R1 for more comfortable attack inputs.

While the game runs well on PC, performance on the Steam Deck is generally solid, though there may be occasional frame drops in densely populated combat scenarios.

Text readability on the Steam Deck might be a challenge due to small font sizes, and players renaming creations may need to manually bring up the on-screen keyboard.

Similarities to Other Games!

Fans of roguelites will appreciate the progression system and procedural variety akin to Hades or Risk of Rain 2.

The large-scale battles evoke a musou-like feel, with weaker enemies being dispatched effortlessly while stronger foes provide a challenge.

The mech customization and UI bear similarities to older Armored Core titles, making it a great choice for fans of that series.

The developer previously worked on Samurai Bringer, and elements of its fluid combat and customization ideas carry over into Metal Bringer.

Sound Design and Music!

Sound effects are well-designed, giving weight to explosions, gunfire, and mech movement.

The music, while energetic, can become repetitive as it primarily cycles between two tracks. Many players recommend muting it and using external music instead.

Final Thoughts!

If you're unsure about diving in, the game offers a demo that provides a solid introduction to its mechanics. However, note that progress does not carry over to the full version.

For fans of mechs, roguelites, and high-speed action, Metal Bringer delivers a compelling and customizable experience that is both exhilarating and rewarding. Whether you're dismantling enemies for parts, piloting massive war machines, or uncovering the remnants of a lost civilization, this game has plenty to offer. A must-play for those who love deep customization, flashy combat, and a unique visual style!