On paper, Metal Hunters is a severe left flip for World of Tanks developer Wargaming. However simply because the developer’s subsequent mission is rooted in a sci-fi, futuristic setting with larger-than-life mechs doesn’t imply they’re not tapping into their 27 years of multiplayer experience for this mech hero shooter.
I spent about 45 minutes racing different mechs to an extraction level in Metal Hunters’ battle royale-lite extraction mode, attempting out half of its seven-character launch roster. Though I hit just a few snags as I bought myself used to controlling a building-size robotic formed like a spider, I might see Wargaming’s multiplayer pedigree on full show.
Other than a brief tutorial, which launched me to Metal Hunters’ motion and controls, I spent all of my time in a single mode. This extraction-based mode was form of like a scaled-down battle royale: just a few squads of two are dropped onto a map and despatched towards factors of curiosity, selecting up useful stuff alongside the best way. Every mech is totally loaded out with weapons and skills, so as an alternative of weapons or armor like in Fortnite, you’ll choose up varied upgrades on your mech’s stats, therapeutic objects, and expertise factors.
Whereas you’ll find some loot within the wild, many of the upgrades and loot you’ll discover in-match come from downing close by NPC drones. These weaker enemies are scattered throughout every map and put up simply sufficient of a battle that they’re a ache to cope with if one other squad is attacking you as nicely.
Completely different factors of curiosity pop up in the course of the match, supplying you with and your non-AI opponents one thing to race towards towards one another, creating random chokepoints round useful provide drops. Ultimately, an extraction level will get marked on the map, beckoning all remaining squads in direction of the ultimate goal. When you get there, you’ll must defend the extraction level (or assault it if somebody beats you there) for a short while earlier than the match ends.
This was all the time the very best a part of the matches I performed, as gamers descended on the chokepoint attempting to outflank one another utilizing their mechs’ varied toolkits to their benefit. Possibly the agile Fenris makes use of their velocity to flank an unsuspecting duo as they attempt to keep management over the extraction level whereas the self-healing Razorside attracts cowl, ducking behind cowl to patch themself up. Or perhaps the sniper, Heartbreaker, would possibly submit up behind the defensive, map-controlling Weaver as they arrange defensive limitations to guard their glass cannon teammate.
I performed all 4 of these mechs in numerous matches, favoring Heartbreaker and Weaver probably the most. Weaver has this extraordinarily satisfying Gatling gun that simply melts enemy well being and shields and their motion felt the very best. Aiming down sights with Heartbreaker reveals weak factors in each enemy, delivering additional reward for affected person, exact play.
If there was any drawback with the demo I performed, it was the in-between stuff. Whereas it was enjoyable to choose off weaker enemies, seize their loot, and discover different gamers, the maps all felt a bit of too massive up till the tip. I’m sure a few of this got here from the truth that I used to be enjoying towards AI-controlled bots in an early construct of the sport, however that inconsistent tempo felt at odds with the comparatively fast match occasions.
To offer the crew at Wargaming the good thing about the doubt, the studio is a well-oiled multiplayer machine at this level. Simply because Metal Hunters trades historic context for futuristic fiction doesn’t imply the studio’s throwing the infant out with the bathtub water. It’s clear that Wargaming has been by means of just a few multiplayer sport launches prior to now based mostly on its launch plans.
Beginning out with a manageable scale for its upcoming early entry launch on April 2nd, Metal Hunters goes to launch with 7 playable characters, one mode, and only some maps to begin out—and no monetization. This calculated method to launch, with the promise of latest content material each 5-6 weeks, exhibits this crew’s pedigree and tact relating to multiplayer video games. This method provides me a whole lot of religion in Wargaming’s capability to hearken to its participant base and take suggestions because it strikes towards an eventual 1.0 launch. Wargaming even teased the primary new character coming to Metal Hunters post-launch, reiterating its dedication to three-month seasons.
In case you’re hoping to hop into Metal Hunters, you received’t have to attend lengthy, because it launches into early entry on April 2nd.