Metal: Hellsinger

There isn’t anything like Metal: Hellsinger. Diehard metal fans will no doubt fall in love with it instantly, but the overall experience is satisfying and compelling enough to serve as a gateway into the metal genre for newcomers. It perfectly embodies the passion, energy, and emotion that all metalheads share.

The story may not tempt you back, but the formidable soundtrack and combat will. This is the Doom/Guitar Hero mash-up we didn’t know we wanted. [Issue#20, p.83]

A solid, well executed rhythm action shooter that keeps things simple to provide a fun and replayable experience. Metal Hellsinger fires on most cylinders, with only an issue of variety scuppering the overall package. Come in for the blistering soundtrack from some of Metal’s greats. Stay for the moreish gameplay a heavenly combo, despite the hellish subject matter.

Metal: Hellsinger is exactly what I hoped it would be – a balls to the wall, headbanging, visceral experience that nails the aesthetic and feel of the premise. The soundtrack is superb and perfectly suits the setting and narrative, and everything is carried along by an interesting and well-voiced narrative. Even if you are not a big fan of metal (and why the Hell wouldn’t you be?) this is an excellent rhythm shooter that absolutely slays.

Metal: Hellsinger is the first-person shooter/rhythm game mashup I had no idea I wanted. Being a fan of metal helps as metalheads are clearly the target demographic, but the developers didn’t use metal as a gimmick to sell an unremarkable game. The gameplay in Metal is fast paced and unforgiving where the player constantly has to fight for their own survival. This a great first-person shooter regardless of what an individual’s taste in music might be. Metal: Hellsinger combines great FPS and rhythm game mechanics in way that brings challenging and rewarding gameplay to a hellscape any metalhead would love to visit.

With vocals from the likes of Trivium’s Matt Heafy and System of a Down’s Serj Tankian, the music of Metal: Hellsinger will go down a treat with metal fans. The fact that it’s married with gameplay that is equally impressive, then, should speak volumes. This is a unique first-person shooter that not only uses music to drive the action, but also uses it as a reward. And with both music and gameplay of such a high standard, only those who absolutely abhor metal need not jump in.

I finished Metal: Hellsinger wanting more, and honestly, that isn’t a bad thing. For the money you’re paying I do have to question its price tag, but what you’re getting here is a hard-hitting package of rhythmic, raucous violence. If the devs at The Outsiders can tighten up its weapon and level design for any future entries, then the future of FPS games may become hell for other franchises.

In its way of transforming the fast FPS into a raging rhythm game, thanks to the support of an impeccable soundtrack, Metal: Hellsinger gave us a few hours of pure adrenaline. The gameplay loop is mastered, the instinctive handling and the multiple levels of difficulty allow you to create an à la carte experience. The fact remains that the content is a little too light, since we will complete the main campaign in 5 to 6 hours depending on the desired challenge. The challenges, however, allow you to extend the lifespan, but it is above all the interest in scoring and the desire to climb the world rankings that will allow you, or not, to play Metal: Hellsinger for more than 10 hours. As it is, it's still an experience to try if you like "Doom Like" and big guitar riffs.

Metal Hellsinger is a refreshing take on traditional demon killing, Doom shooting, and rhythm based heavy death metal music. It features some truly immersive and satisfying gameplay mechanics, especially when you click with the beat and blow off demon heads while rocking out to the beat of System of a Down. However, the game’s difficult learning curve and lack of variety may be off putting to some.

Metal: Hellsinger is an absolute head-banger of a game with amazing tracks to accompany each level, but it's rhythm-based gameplay does little to stop it from constantly reminding you of the games that inspired it, games that are fundamentally better executed in their core gameplay. It's repetitiveness and lack of any innovation doesn't make it a must-play game for shooter fans, but it's music does for any heavy metal fan.