Metal Assault

Metal Assault is a side-scrolling shooter for people who want quick runs, simple weapon juggling, and that arcade rhythm of moving, firing, and surviving one screen at a time. By our assessment, it is at its best when it stays lean and lets the action stay busy, because that kind of game lives or dies on feel rather than on systems. The downside is also plain: without a lot of depth, stages and enemies can start to blur together, and repetition shows fast. In practice it is the sort of game you learn by doing, with little pause between mistakes and another try. It sits closer to old arcade action than to modern shooters with long progression trees, and that makes it a clean fit for short bursts. People who want uncomplicated run-and-gun play may get along with it; anyone looking for a richer campaign will not find much here.