On May 6, 2025, the sci-fi shooter from developer Reikon Games and publisher Deep Silver will be released, which I have already had the chance to play as a preview. I'd like to tell you what I experienced here.
ASKA hears voices in your head
Run, don't stop
ASKA is uniquely equipped to cause death and carnage in fun and creative ways, even within the limited scope of this preview build where I got to play the first two missions. The rhythm of exploration and combat means you have to approach each combat encounter with the thought of how to best utilize these areas. With the rapid introduction of wall running and grappling, the game emphasizes the idea that breakneck speed is not only desirable, but almost mandatory. Especially if you don't want to be eliminated by the enemies, which means it pays to keep moving instead of turning over every stone and risking being finished off. Standing around for too long is punished badly, so it is essential to keep moving.
Passive abilities and ASKA's skill tree
There is no shortage of weapons in Metal Eden. At the start, you have a mediocre assault rifle that overheats quickly and is only good for short bursts of fire before you find a pistol that apparently shoots rocks, because the thing hits like a hammer. Of course, there is also the obligatory shotgun, which takes out the enemies with flying colors. The PIG store serves as a hub for upgrading ASKA's weapons with passive properties and alternative firing options. With the passive abilities it is possible, for example, to fire three bullets in succession, which can be very useful in the final areas. It is also possible to change the colors and brands of the shooting irons, which I thought was pretty cool. ASKA's skill tree focuses on the core system, branching out into three different sub-categories that enhance their core tearing, core power and protective suit respectively. However, aside from the gameplay, what stands out most about Metal Eden is the detailed graphics. The pre-rendered cutscenes introducing ASKA and the real-time 3D environments show an impressive level of visual detail, from the textures, lighting and shadows to the character and weapon models. Thanks to Unreal Engine 5, Metal Eden is definitely one of the better looking games this year.
