Tears of Metal Review

Tears of Metal Review (Early Access - In Progress)

Storming the Scottish battlefields as Braveheart himself is fantasy fulfillment as you hack and slash your way through hundreds upon hundreds of enemy soldiers with gameplay reminiscent of Dynasty Warriors, but infused with Hades style boons and roguelite systems.

Roguelites and Musou’s are nothing new, but Tears of Metal delivers on both promises and still manages to feel fresh since fighting as William Wallace in the medieval era is unique premise, especially with the dark fantasy twist and bold aesthetic. The combat depth went beyond expectations due to the militia support and otherworldly clan boons that you can accumulate during runs. Outside of the sword fodder, there are bosses, mini bosses and elites, which are all fun to face and provide different challenges.

The gameplay loop is satisfying, but it’s missing the dopamine drip feed you get from incremental progress that the best in the genre have perfected. Progression is a major issue as you aren’t rewarded with enough currency after a run and permanent upgrades are too costly. Each act takes place in a different part of medieval Scotland, but all the levels contained within each act lack visual distinction. When you combine the negligible progress made between runs with the limited visual identity of each act, Tears of Metal lacks the addictive quality needed, but hopefully this can be remedied throughout Early Access.