Metal Eden is a new project from the Polish studio Reikon Games, known for the stylish isometric action game RUINER. This time, the developers decided to go beyond the usual genre and present a full-fledged 3D first-person shooter. The game is positioned as a representative of the fashionable boomer-shooter trend in a post-apocalyptic cyberpunk setting. Although the authors claimed a large-scale story and an "open world", in reality, the project focuses on concentrated action.
Simple, but Undeveloped World
The events of Metal Eden unfold in the distant future, where humanity is on the verge of extinction. The last attempt to survive was the creation of the "Möbius" project — a giant orbital station in which digital copies of human consciousness are stored in special cores. However, what was conceived as a new Eden quickly turned into a nightmare: artificial intelligence went out of control, and the station's corridors were filled with killer robots.
The main character is Aska, a cybernetic warrior with a wide range of abilities. She has to go through the deadly sectors of the station, destroy aggressive robots, and free the people locked in the cores of consciousness. The plot is presented exclusively through cutscenes and dialogues, which makes the narrative look fragmented and unfinished, and the story itself loses depth.
And although the story itself does not always hold attention, the visual style and soundtrack more than compensate for its weaknesses.
The game impresses with the elaboration of levels: each location is painted with rich colors, emphasizing the mood of what is happening. Bright lighting and a contrasting palette create the feeling of a living digital nightmare, in which the boundaries between the virtual and the material are blurred.
Pulsating electronic music perfectly synchronizes with the combat dynamics, sets the pace, and increases the tension. The sound effects of weapons and the environment are worked out in detail: every shot feels powerful, and the metallic hum of the corridors enhances the feeling of being in a dead place, once conceived as a technogenic utopia.
Vigorous, Beautiful, but Monotonous Gameplay
The passage of Metal Eden is based on two constantly alternating stages. The first is related to moving through the corridors of the space station: the player explores the environment, collects resources, finds new weapons, and discovers hidden secrets. The second stage is battles in arenas, which become a real test and allow the combat system to unfold in full.
The combat system is based on a formula familiar from DOOM Eternal: acrobatic movement, juggling the arsenal, and using executions. The last two elements are especially important, since many enemies have strong protection. To break through the armor, you have to either use specialized weapons or take risks and go into close combat. Executions not only open up enemies, but also increase the subsequent damage from firearms.
The execution mechanic in Metal Eden is implemented through the "core extraction" system. Any ordinary enemy or weakened target can be instantly eliminated by tearing out their energy core. It can be used in two ways: throw it like an improvised explosive, dealing area damage, or absorb it, restoring health and strengthening the next hand-to-hand attack. The second option is especially valuable — an enhanced strike can completely break through the enemy's defense and often decides the outcome of the battle.
The arsenal in Metal Eden is small, but thought out to the smallest detail. Each of the seven types of weapons has its own purpose and is revealed in certain situations. Basic weapons are suitable for ordinary opponents when the execution is on cooldown. Energy weapons and grenade launchers are most effective against heavy armor, and the shotgun combines perfectly with melee attacks. At the same time, ammunition is strictly limited: one magazine in hand and one in reserve. This system forces the player to constantly change tactics and weapons, and not rely on one convenient option. At the same time, there are always points in the arenas to replenish ammunition, health, and armor, but in order to get to them and survive, you have to actively use the entire set of acrobatic capabilities.
Mobility is the second pillar of gameplay. Aska can do double jumps, perform dashes, run along walls, and use a grappling hook. In certain segments, she can transform into a ball to roll through dangerous zones and attack enemies with rockets or electrical impulses. The system is complemented by trampolines and monorails: in corridor episodes, they dilute the monotonous movement, and in arenas they open up new options for maneuver.
The leveling system is divided into two areas: weapon improvement and Aska's development. Each weapon has two paths of evolution. So, a pistol can be turned either into a laser rifle or into a launcher with self-guided missiles. The shotgun, in turn, receives an alternative mode: to shoot in bursts or release ricocheting charges. A special dust is used for upgrades, which can be found in the corridors or knocked out of enemies.
Character development is based on collecting special cores. They are found in secret zones between arenas or drop out after key battles. Leveling is built around modifying existing abilities: you can reduce fuel consumption for dashes, increase the effectiveness of executions, or increase damage from certain types of weapons. The only exception is the skill of slowing down time, which the player receives in the story already at the first level. All other upgrades are variations and improvements of basic mechanics.
A One-Time Game
The campaign is designed for a relatively short playthrough: an ordinary player or a veteran on maximum difficulty can complete it in about eight hours. On the one hand, the game does not have time to get bored and keeps a high pace until the very credits. On the other hand, for some, this duration may not be enough, especially considering that there is almost no additional content after the finale.
The structure of the levels is generally linear, with rare branches to search for secrets and resources. Sometimes there are puzzles and hidden zones, but they do not change the overall impression: Metal Eden is primarily focused on dynamic battles. There are not many bosses here, and the game relies more on battles with crowds of opponents, which are comparable in intensity to meetings with local bosses.
A separate problem is the lack of a full-fledged New Game+ mode. Despite the extensive improvement system, it is impossible to go through the campaign a second time with already open upgrades. This reduces the motivation for repeated runs: most players will get the most impressions in one playthrough.
The only reason for a repeat run is to complete it on increased difficulty. A novice unfamiliar with the genre can replay the game for the sake of experimenting with weapons and abilities or for the sake of a challenge, but this is where replayability ends.
Diagnosis
Metal Eden is a concentrated action game in which the developers have collected all the best from the classics of the genre. The game does not try to be sprayed on thoughtful narrative or mainstream mechanics. It offers the player what boomer shooters exist for: drive, dynamics, and style.
The combat system keeps the player in good shape until the last seconds of each battle, and the combination of parkour, specialized arsenal, and execution mechanics turns each fight into a real test and makes it fascinating in its own way.
However, the plot, despite an interesting premise, quickly fades into the background, and the characters remain schematic. The campaign is short, and the lack of a full-fledged New Game+ mode reduces the motivation for repeated playthroughs, especially among genre veterans who are used to playing on maximum difficulty.
As a result, Metal Eden feels like a dose of "fast dopamine". The game is vigorous and exciting, but there is a risk that only a few will remember it the next day.
