UnMetal Review | Parody done right
Making a good parody of an opera is not an easy task, you must give the feelings that a spectator would have had when first approached the original work and also make it different and entertaining enough so it doesn't feel like a stale retelling.
Games might be even harder since a developer must also copy the game mechanics, it would explain why these types of games aren't popular.
UnMetal is a parody of the old Metal Gears and I wanted to see how well it fared.
Aesthetics
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Sneaking inside an enemy base |
The pixel art used is clearly reminiscent of the title the game aims to spoof, while also expanding it with the usage of more vibrant colors and bigger sprites, you could put a screenshot of the game and its source material side to side and see all the inspirations it took. This is true only for the in-game graphics though, the pixel art used in the cutscenes is much more redefined, all of this is true for the animations too.
There aren't that many particle details, but the few used are effective to satisfy the view, they are pleasant enough for the eyes while remaining clear to see.
The voice acting has been well managed, keeping a fine balance between serious and corny. Andrew Miller, the voice actor for the main protagonist, has been tasked to imitate the voice of David Hayter, the original voice actor for solid snake, and I think he has done a good job, his performance was on point and it was nice to listen overall.
I've enjoyed the soundtrack, it fits the mood of the game and changes based on the situation of the player, making it nicely thematic.
The various sounds are ok, nothing noteworthy, but also nothing broken except for the sound emitted by the bosses during their fights when they get hit, which seems misplaced, it's like a sound that a fantasy creature would make not a human.
In short, the game looks and sounds pleasant.
Game Mechanics
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Many bosses are going to be fought |
The title is a stealth game from a top view prospective, with a central focus on sneaking around, finding stuff to use and combine to solve puzzles, plus a boss fight in every level.
The main character is able to punch, roll and use many weapons.
The last ones vary from strong and fast but loud, to other that are quite but slow. It's almost always better to use your punches, since you are going to need the ammunition against the bosses.
The boss fight themselves are fun and action filled, but if you are a fan of a more hardcore stealth approach you aren't going to enjoy this.
When you get hit, you start to bleed and you either use a basic bandage, which stops the bleeding and no much else but can be used infinitely, or a medic kit, which stops the bleeding and also heals you gradually but can only be used once.
When spotted, the game spawns so many guards that you get overwhelmed and end up dead.
It wouldn't be so bad if it didn't also lock all the doors, making an escape almost impossible, though this seems a problem more relegated to higher difficulties and it shouldn't happen on lighter ones.
To save the game, you must use an urinal in a bathroom, but there are also carryable basins which are used to make a quick save and reload, useful before tricky parts.
The stages are varied, each one follows a theme with which it bases its challenges and obstacles.
There are some levels where they focus on a throwaway gimmick, they are nice, even if not connected to the main gameplay loop.
There are 3 difficulty selections: easy, normal and hard, plus a check for ironman mode.
The difficulties influence the amount of guards that are going to chase you when spotted, the damage you take when hit and the health of the bosses, while ironman is another layer of difficulty applicable where you can't do normal saves, only quick ones.
The only reward for the extra challenges seems to be an achievement and nothing else.
An unusual aspect of the game is the fact that, if you neutralize enough guards without being spotted, the protagonist levels up and the player can choose between one of two upgrades.
Despite the small selection, the upgrades are varied enough to have made me do conscious choices based on my preferred play style.
Also, due to narrative reasons, you can modify certain aspects of the game in specific situations, such as the number or type of enemies you are going to fight.
Playing on hard, it took me 9 hours and a half to beat the game.
Essentially, the main gameplay loop is serviceable and it's split up with some action sequence to make the game more entertaining, but may not be fit for a pure stealth fan.
Narrative
Get used to this scene, you are going to see it often
Get used to this scene, you are going to see it often
The general setting is framed around the main protagonist, Jesse Fox, who has been restrained by the allied forces and, put under investigation, forced to explain why he was flying an enemy helicopter. He tells he was arrested for a crime he didn't commit and brought to a jail where he broke out.
From here the adventure starts and it will lead us right in the middle of a conflict and getting involved in something bigger than before thought. A lot of question will rise during the game, but everything will make sense in the end.
I think that the writing managed to keep a good balance between the satire and the drama. The goofiness of the situations were funny when opportune, while also spicing things up with some degree of high stakes in some situations, allowing for a wide variety of reactions while keeping everything coherent.
All of this is applicable to the characters as well.
There aren't any secondary stories, but it's possible to have some variations for the ending based on the actions executed during the game.
In conclusion, the game offers a good blend between serious and funny, without sounding incoherent.
Recommendation:
With a refined gameplay and a narrative well balanced between funny and interesting, UnMetal is a worthy stealth game and good parody of its source material, even if hardcore stealth fans may not appreciate it.
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