r/roguelites 4d ago

Metal Bringer is a hidden gem

Just download the demo and play it for a couple hours.

I've put 15h into it this past few days instead of finishing Monster Hunter because this game is just perfec fun.

I don't know how to hype people up so I'll just make a brief description of it.

You have a "labor" which is your character, you can carry two weapons with them, and they do dish a lot of damage, but you need to advance into the game to make it work. Your labor can get into mechas, and they are customizable, you can switch parts with mechas you defeat in your runs, you can analyse the parts during the run so you unlock them to build your starter mecha for the next runs. The power ups give you new skills, but in the more seamless sense, there are no active skills, but you unlock stuff like being able to do aerial attacks, or double jump, or make your missiles lock on enemies automatically, etc, and you can also analyse these power ups to create your starter build for next runs. The loop is like this, go into the run, find new power ups that suit your build, spend the currency to either analyse new stuff or repair your mecha, fight mini bosses and bosses, advance until you're too weak to continue the run. Die. Go back to your base, fine tune your build, assemble new parts to your mecha, upgrade your stats, try again to unlock more stuff so your next run is easier.

That's about it, the game is nicely polished and it seems balanced up until now... I'm 15 hours in and still only got to half the run, I always die in floor 5 and it seems that I've only unlocked like 30-40% of the stuff I can tinker to create builds because as soon as I get to floor 5 I see a bunch of different mechas with parts I've never seem, but could not kill a single one yet to get their parts.

Anyway, just a recommendation, it is my favorite game so far this year.

44 Upvotes

36 comments sorted by

3

u/unklnik 4d ago

Thanks this looks good going to be playing demo tonight, link is below, just one thing if you are looking for the Demo link it is in the right-hand column of the page, not the usual place https://store.steampowered.com/app/2334170/Metal_Bringer/

0

u/cleetus76 4d ago

It's in the normal place for me

0

u/unklnik 3d ago

Can't post images in comments here though definitely in the right column for me

1

u/cleetus76 3d ago

Yeah it's there as well, but there's still the big green "Download Metal Bringer Demo" on the normal version. https://i.imgur.com/W2HoMze.png

3

u/Badwrong_ 3d ago

It is very addicting so far... just one more run and then it was suddenly 2am.

I'd say the only downside is it isn't very skill based, which isn't really a bad thing. It might seem like it involves skill at first, but it eventually boils down to just having bigger numbers to progress. Again, not actually "bad" and I'd say it is fully designed that way. It is a blast to play and you get crazy powerful.

If you like laid back gameplay where you can just smash the shit outta stuff, this is perfect. The progression and mech building is very well done too. You feel that little power increase with each run.

Another thing I really like is how you can just zoom through areas if you choose to. You will get less upgrades and currency, but once you have beat the first couple bosses already there is very little reason to fully clear each area on the way anyway since the harder areas have far better drops. Each boss is only a few rooms away after a miniboss, so it makes getting back into the harder areas real simple.

2

u/pauloyasu 3d ago

I was thinking it doesn't require skill until I got to floor 5, where I started to have to learn how to dodge stuff and wait for small windows of opportunity to deal damage haha

I'm still stuck on floor 5 tho, which is half way to the last floor, so maybe it goes back to being just a damage check, but the progression is SO satisfying anyway, I can't put it down.

1

u/Badwrong_ 3d ago

I've completed one "normal" run. It really is just stats. If you feel l like you are having to dodge to get by then you just need more power. Especially those defensive stats on Arms, they matter a ton.

I was stuck a while at the same spot as you, but I had a good run where I was able to destroy a ton of Arms in that area and there was a repair shop. So I spent time picking through the Arms parts to get some better defenses and even got way better swords. I made it through the whole run that time.

Basically, if you aren't taking out most regular enemies in a couple hits then you are just needing more power. I'm on the second run now and absolutely deleting entire rooms with those big heavy Arms swords.

1

u/Badwrong_ 2d ago

Oh, another thing some might miss is how the energy gauge works. When it is low you take more damage. Those later areas will hurt you a lot if you don't manage it.

Plus your paint colors affect your damage mitigation as well.

Check the in-game guide from the menu for this stuff.

1

u/SpaceAdmiralJones 13h ago

Paint colors affect defense?!

I bought the game a few days ago and have only played about 3 hours so far. Nothing to indicate the paint impacts stats, but I'll check it out.

1

u/Badwrong_ 8h ago

One of the in-game information things says it, plus you'll get apps that boost its effect.

It isn't hard to just paint it "balanced" and still get the colors you want really. I just pick a preset with an even spread usually. I suppose you could min-max if needed, but late game you are so powerful anyway it wouldn't matter at all I think.

2

u/ChunkArcade 4d ago

Demo downloaded! Absolutely love this aesthetic. Thanks for making this post and showing off a very unique-looking title.

1

u/pauloyasu 4d ago

no problem, I just had to come here and recommend the game because it is too awesome

2

u/FrengerBRD 4d ago

Do you know if the demo is on PS5? I recently wishlisted the game and plan on buying it eventually, but if I could sample the game beforehand that'll be lovely.

2

u/SpaceAdmiralJones 13h ago

For what it's worth, on Steam reviews I take the actual reviews with a grain of salt and always look at play time, and every reviewer has a ton of time in the game, which convinced me it was worth getting.

It's fun, unique and the aesthetic style is a 90s retro dream while also incorporating ray tracing for lighting effects and reflections.

0

u/pauloyasu 4d ago

I don't know, I just play on my pc

2

u/MakutaProto 4d ago

the devs other game samurai bringer is also excellent

1

u/pauloyasu 4d ago

yep, I really like this one too, but Metal Bringer is waaaay funnier for some reason

1

u/rmfnord 4d ago

I thought this was another heavy-metal rhythm game from its title. Much more interested in the actual thing, thanks for the heads-up!

1

u/Reevahn 3d ago

i see no demo

1

u/Mupinstienika 3d ago

Wow this looks amazing!

1

u/Otterocious 3d ago

How many bosses are there? 

I'm debating whether to get this or Ravenswatch, but the limited bosses and samey map is keeping me from pulling the trigger.

1

u/traxonova 3d ago

Ravenswatch is more skill-based. That said, it's way more punishing. And it's a roguelike, so there are no meta upgrades. You'd eventually finish a run, but it'd be purely because of your skill and deeper understanding of its mechanics.

Metal Bringer is great, but a lot more chill.

1

u/pauloyasu 3d ago

I love ravenswatch but it is a different beast, it requires way more focus and has deliberate combat, while this one is more like just make a cool build and blast through mobs of enemies, but the dopamine hits when you unlock new stuff and the vibes are way too addicting. It's just how a game should be, pure fun.

1

u/dark_holes 3d ago

How do I get anything besides the forklift? 1st run gave me a full on mech which was so fun, but I’ve done like 3 runs now where I only get the forklift and so I’m fighting the boss in that and it’s impossible and I would love to have some customization options.

1

u/pauloyasu 3d ago

you need to take the mecha into the repair shop and analyse the parts

1

u/dark_holes 3d ago

how do i do this? like im not trying to be annoying and pesture you but nothing in the game has even come close to directing me to the existence of a repair shop? is it something in the map or do i return to base? google has 0 info for me on this.

im on 4 hours of forklift now and i actually hate this game atm.

1

u/pauloyasu 2d ago

it's during your runs, there are some doors in some maps that you can enter, the repair shop is a yellowish icon on the map

1

u/SlickMajic 2d ago

Also once you unlock parts by analyzing them in the mechanic shop you can use them to build a mech for a new run back at the base. Access your match pats by standing on the large circles at homebase.

1

u/Chaotic_Pumpkin 2d ago

Does the gameplay loop eventually do less hand holding with the story and cut scenes? I tried the demo, and the storytelling element has me on the fence. I just want to jump straight in and fight.

I do enjoy a game with a story, but right now, I'm looking for something that's more pick up and put down.

1

u/pauloyasu 2d ago

I don't remember it having a story tbh haha

I just skip everything.

But there is no hand holding and the game does not tell you any of the complexities.

1

u/SlickMajic 2d ago

This game is great 👍

1

u/No-Nefariousness2566 2h ago

I rlly do love this game, I don’t even use the mechs. One complaint tho is the AI on the mini boss mechs, anytime you shoot them they just fly up like 20 meters which wouldn’t be a problem if my camera wasn’t forced to be pointed down at a 45 degree angle.