PAX West - Tears of Metal

The Japanese genre for hack'n'slash is Musou, and it's one many of us have played. Back in the PS2 era, there was a launch title known as Dynasty Warriors. Taking place during historical China, Dynasty Warriors put players on massive battlefields and fought thousands of soldiers at a time in hack'n'slash action. The formula has remained relatively unchanged but has become very popular in recent years. Examples include Fate/ Extella LINK of the Fate series and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, a prequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Coming hot off the release of Bloodroots in 2020, studio Paper Cult is at it again with tears of Metal. Tears of Metal is a Musou game, done in their respective vision. Here, instead of ancient China, the game takes place in ancient Scotland and has foes fighting a great darkness that has enshrouded the beloved country.

Conquer Fear and Conquer Death

Tears of Metal is a hack'n'slash action game, but the big draw is that it isn't an action game but a Musou game. Paper Cult is taking the genre into its own terms and its own setting, but infusing it with roguelike features. My demo had a very quick run with a few simple stages that ended in a boss fight. Between visuals that reminded me of a graphic novel and the top-notch combat, Tears of Metal is shaping to be one to look out for in 2025.

The visual look has a cel-shaded, noir look, with pulpy illustrations and animations. This is the same team that made the incredibly bloody but satisfying Bloodroots, after all. The team has a penchant for good,k satisfying action. Here, I was wielding my sword and commanding my troops with ease. The initial hacking and slashing were incredibly satisfying, and it came with a combo system to be mindful of when facing tougher enemies. I almost got lost in the sauce and remembered I had objectives that needed to be completed.

Rip and Tear

The first stage finished quickly and I was quickly moved to another stage inside a village. Here, Tears of Metal showcased the simple but effective commands in commanding troops. Troops can be positioned in a certain direction to attack and achieve objectives. The enemies were tougher too, drawn in by the dark magic of the Meteor that fell on the land. The next stage introduced magic infusion.

By the time the boss came around, I was a formidable warrior, complete with infusing my sword with fire and striking down foes with impunity. The boss was a larger, possessed enemy that wasn't a cakewalk. Healing, dodging, and using my army was important. However, like Bloodroots, aggression can be a valuable ally. I kept swiping, blocking, and dodging until I inevitably achieved victory. As the demo ended, there was a grander tease of many more levels, with plenty more bosses to fight, loot to obtain, and roguelike elements to explore.

Tears of Metal

While Tears of Metal is still in development, the game is shaping to be another killer app along the lines of Bloodroots. Its presentation is unique and its gameplay is sharp. While I wish it was more of a traditional game than another roguelike, the elements are there for an incredible experience that reinvents and takes full advantage of what a Musou game can offer. This is a game to look out for in the coming year as it is shaping into one of the best.

Tears of Metal is in active development.