I really like indies as a result of they’ll do nearly something, any approach. Triple-A titles can break from the pack, however most of their qualities are time-tested and protected; in any case, there’s traders’ cash on the road. Indies include goals, imaginative and prescient, and minimal worries about threat. That’s how we get titles like Metal Century Groove, which, whereas tough across the edges, introduces some fascinating concepts about storytelling and makes an attempt to construct on the small rhythm RPG subgenre.
Metal Century Groove’s speechless protagonist grows up in a peaceable world obsessive about Tenzerk dance battles and official competitions. Tenzerk are big, piloted mechs able to sick dance strikes. Our hero, joined by childhood pal Seny, goes from a hand-me-down, broken Tenzerk to a world-class mannequin early on with assist from a neighborhood shut-in professor. Modest beginnings progressively escalate to high-stakes dancing as successful a match turns into extra a matter of entry to world-defining choices slightly than bragging rights.
Bragging rights nonetheless take middle stage, although, as Rhymerie—this world’s social media app—calls for our fixed consideration. After each single battle, our hero should submit an image and caption to earn cred from the plenty—likes and feedback. That is the place Metal Century Groove’s narrative spiders out everywhere.
We navigate small maps and areas, operating into opponents Pokémon-style as they run into us after we cross their paths. The dialogue ranges from shallow to existential. Just a few simultaneous but distinct speaking factors and themes weave collectively. Feedback about social media’s necessity regardless of its vapid qualities always draw our consideration, but we additionally get feedback about capitalism, work-life stability, battle, historical past, and the mega-rich, all whereas the script teeters between infantile banter or deep, relatable notes about maturity.
Metal Century Groove is everywhere. A number of well-known characters enter our circle as we acquire prominence within the Tenzerk world, all with their very own drama, historical past, and squabbles. I used to be repeatedly drawn into their points whereas making an attempt to avoid wasting the world, acquire fame, and study concerning the millennia of human civilization’s historical past. The writing’s as wanton because the mechs, and whereas I appreciated a number of of the themes mentioned, I want it had been extra centered, or at the least had a extra uniform tone. Is that this meant for teenagers or adults?
For these involved about social justice, Metal Century Groove prominently and always attracts consideration to who’s homosexual, bi, cisgender, or transgender. Characters change id over time, and a lot of the core solid appear to be queer. What I respect about this side of the sport is that it by no means overtly talks the necessity to settle for folks for who they’re, however feedback on the subject nearly passively with out coming off as preachy. Granted, a number of of the characters talk about who they’re drawn to or who they had been in a relationship with so incessantly that it will probably really feel somewhat pressured.
It is a rhythm sport with level-ups, expertise to study, gadgets to spec Tenzerk with, and surprisingly numerous playstyles throughout mechs. At Metal Century Groove‘s coronary heart, we’re timing button presses when the circle overlaps the opposite circle on the squiggly line. Nothing new there. What modifications up the method are the Tenzerk talents.
When deciding on one in all three beginning Tenzerks—and also you’ll accrue about 5 all through Metal Century Groove—the abstract clearly signifies what gamers can anticipate, and the complexity ranges, starting from low to excessive, are correct. Low complexity isn’t essentially worse, however it could depend on extra skillfully timed presses and cautious customization to earn victory relying on the issue degree. Excessive-complexity Tenzerks boast immense energy and depart extra room for error, however it’s important to make investments the time in studying the extra concerned design that borders on convoluted.
For instance, a low-complexity Tenzerk may construct up electrical energy over time with one key press, after which different key presses will expend the battery. Gamers should alternate button presses, however all it’s important to do is maintain the battery up to make use of the highly effective talents allotted to the opposite three buttons. Conversely, a high-complexity Tenzerk spawns two floppy disks throughout every eight to 12 beat leg of the tune (about eight to 12 beats), that are low-level to begin.
Cautious planning permits gamers to improve the disks over time, generate new ones, and determine which of them to delete from the deck for that tune. On this approach, the complicated Tenzerk begins gradual and permits the enemy to get a powerful begin, however cautious planning will slingshot the participant quickly forward of the opponent, making for some dramatic battles.
Every Tenzerk may be custom-made with distinctive mods. Initially, they’ve just one mod slot, however over time, they acquire a mod slot after defeating every of the 4 fitness center leaders. The mods are genuinely attention-grabbing, and one will not be essentially higher than one other. Metal Century Groove as soon as once more proves that it may be taken extra critically with authentically troublesome selections and high-demand gameplay if that’s what a participant desires. This makes the uneven storytelling even tougher to simply accept, as a result of I felt like I used to be enjoying a youngsters’s sport at occasions. The visuals don’t assist.
At first, I feel most individuals will dismiss Metal Century Groove for the visuals alone. That is under no circumstances a high-end title, however like most issues, you get used to it will definitely. Metal Century Groove appears like a youngsters’ sport, and perhaps that’s what they’re going for.
What I’ll say is that regardless of its blocky, plainly coloured exterior, the fashion is unmistakable. If I weren’t so centered on successful battles and watching the circle transfer on the road on my display screen, I’d in all probability love watching the robots battle. What I at all times get a kick out of is how when the battles begin, the robots land, decimating the surroundings round them—timber, buildings, or no matter else is in the way in which.
What’s a rhythm sport with no stellar soundtrack? Good query! Metal Century Groove doesn’t have dangerous music, however I’m by no means ever going to hearken to any of those songs exterior of this sport. At first, I believed the soundtrack was huge and various, however at a sure level all of it runs collectively and nothing stands out. A pair tracks caught my consideration, like a heavy steel tune, however most of what’s right here is poppy, saccharine nonsense that seems like Prime 40 stuff. Not my factor, perhaps it’s yours, however even then—nothing stands out. Don’t anticipate Crypt of the NecroDancer or Metronomicon.
Metal Century Groove is basic indie sport fare: new concepts everywhere. I applaud the distinctive storytelling and unbelievable design behind the Tenzerks when it comes to the rhythm sport, however there’s merely nothing right here to make me fall in love.
I don’t assume any of the themes actually landed, as a result of there have been simply too many to deal with in a twelve-hour jaunt, and the tune choice made the perfect a part of the sport a chore to embrace. The Tenzerk have daring, imaginative design, however after studying a Tenzerk, timing notes and falling right into a sample occurs too shortly. For its novelty, I can advocate Metal Century Groove, however as an enduring, packaged deal, I’m not certain I’d recommend anybody seize this.
