Metal: Hellsinger throws you headfirst into a rhythmic hell, where demon slaying and headbanging go hand-in-hand. This innovative FPS fuses fast-paced action with a unique musicality, creating a gameplay experience unlike any other. But does it maintain its breakneck pace all the way to the fiery depths, or does it falter in the face of repetitive foes and a short campaign? Let’s grab our metaphorical axe and dive into the review.
A Symphony of Brutality
The star of the show in Metal: Hellsinger is undoubtedly its music. The game boasts an incredible soundtrack featuring renowned vocalists from the metal scene like Serj Tankian (System of a Down), Matt Heafy (Trivium), and Mikael Akerfeldt (Opeth). Each level boasts its own original metal song, perfectly synced with the combat, that dynamically builds intensity as you chain kills and rack up your Fury meter.
Graphics: 8
Sound: 7
Controls: 8
Story: 7
Engaging: 9
Overall: 7.8
Slaughtering demons to the beat is immensely satisfying. Landing hits in time with the rhythm increases your Fury, which unlocks a brutal ultimate ability and transforms the soundtrack into a heavier, more intense version. This creates a euphoric loop, pushing you to play more aggressively and rewarding your skill with an even more powerful musical experience. The music itself is fantastic, blending classic heavy metal with modern influences to create a truly headbanging experience.
Shooting in Time
The core gameplay of Metal: Hellsinger revolves around this rhythmic combat. While it shares some similarities with fast-paced shooters like Doom, the focus here is on maintaining the flow of the music. You have a standard arsenal of weapons at your disposal, from shotguns and pistols to a devastating bow and a close-combat skullcleaver. Each weapon feels impactful and satisfying to use, and strategically switching between them to exploit enemy weaknesses is key to maintaining your rhythm.
The enemy variety is decent, with different types of demons offering unique challenges. Some telegraph powerful attacks that require dodging in time with the beat, while others require specific tactics to dispatch efficiently. The combat is at its most exhilarating when you’re in the zone, dodging, shooting, and switching weapons all while keeping the music pumping. It’s a fantastic feeling to clear a room of enemies while the music intensifies to a crescendo – a testament to the tight integration of rhythm and action.
A Tale Sung in Screams
The story of Metal: Hellsinger is relatively simple. You play as the Unknown, a half-demon being seeking revenge on The Red Judge, ruler of the eight hells. The narrative unfolds through voiceovers between levels, providing some background on the world and the Unknown’s motivations. While the story itself isn’t particularly deep, it does enough to set the stage for the relentless slaughter that follows.
Visually Striking, Infernal Charms
Metal: Hellsinger is a visually striking game. The hells you traverse are diverse and impressive, ranging from molten wastelands to frozen plains. The enemy designs are grotesque and detailed, and the animations are fluid and brutal. The art style perfectly complements the heavy metal theme, with a dark and gritty aesthetic that feels right at home in the depths of hell.
A Short but Sweet Symphony
One of the weakest aspects of Metal: Hellsinger is its length. The campaign can be completed in around 10 hours, and there is little replayability beyond chasing high scores on leaderboards. While the core gameplay loop is addictive, the lack of variety in objectives and enemy types can make subsequent playthroughs feel repetitive. The game would have benefited from additional levels or a greater emphasis on secrets and collectables to encourage exploration and repeated visits to the hells you conquer.
Multiplayer: A Missed Power Chord?
The complete absence of a multiplayer mode is another missed opportunity. While the focus is clearly on the single-player campaign, a well-designed competitive or cooperative mode could have significantly extended the game’s lifespan. Imagine battling alongside a friend, slaying demons in perfect rhythmic unison, or testing your skills against other players in score-based challenges. The core mechanics of Metal: Hellsinger seem tailor-made for a frantic and engaging multiplayer experience, so its omission is a disappointment.
Boss Battles: A Symphony of Sighs
The boss battles in Metal: Hellsinger are a bit of a letdown. While the visuals impress, the encounters themselves devolve into repetitive patterns of dodging attacks and whittling down the boss’s health bar. There’s a distinct lack of strategic depth here, and once you’ve figured out the pattern for one boss, the others become predictable. This formula becomes tiresome by the latter half of the campaign, especially considering the bosses rely heavily on similar attacks with minor variations.
A Heavenly Conclusion
Metal: Hellsinger is a breath of fresh air in the FPS genre. It seamlessly blends fast-paced action with rhythmic elements, creating a gameplay experience that is both engaging and satisfying. The music is outstanding, the combat is brutal and fun, and the visuals are striking. However, the short campaign length, lack of multiplayer, and repetitive boss battles hold the game back from reaching its full potential.
Final Verdict
Metal: Hellsinger is a game best experienced by those who crave a unique and innovative shooter. If you’re a fan of heavy metal and enjoy fast-paced action with a rhythmic twist, then this game is definitely worth checking out. However, if you’re looking for a lengthy campaign with a deep story or extensive replayability, you might want to look elsewhere.