Metal Saga
In this barren wasteland an amalgamation of concepts collide in wild fashion more akin to Weird Science than Mad Max. Instead of being a straightforward and generically designed RPG, Metal Saga is indeed an odd duck. It doesn't tell its tale in normal fashion (you have to talk to people to get the whole picture), it doesn't pit you against a-typical villains (how many times have you battled machine gun wielding bees?) and it most certainly isn't easily accessible. If you stick through it all though you'll find a rewarding and deep experience that is, for the most part, unlike anything you have played before. This is both a good and a bad thing since that single fact will split the gaming audience right in two.
Gameplay:
Right from the start the open-ended nature of Metal Saga is omnipresent. In the very first conversation of the game you are given two options: become a hunter or become a mechanic. Here I was thinking that the game would change your skill-set depending what you picked, but boy was I wrong. I selected mechanic and found myself watching an ending for the game where the hero did nothing in life and never went on an adventure. Then the credits started to role. Needless to say I started over and went back in with the determination to be a hunter.
Beyond that point the game really opened up. And when I say opened, I mean it in every sense of the world. There is precious little structure to the flow of story and development meaning that most of the time you'll be wandering this barren land simply talking to people. Plot progression becomes a moot point and much of the story that trickles out every now and then is minimal at best and often cliché. The game's interesting premise is certainly not aided by its presentation but what the game lacks in cohesiveness it makes up for in uniqueness (most of the time).
Fortunately, like every other RPG, you don't have to fight the great evil all by yourself. Along the way you are joined by a band of warriors such as a busty gunslinging cowgirl, mechanic and dog equipped with a bazooka. To say that the cast is eclectic would be an understatement but the fact that the game doesn't take itself seriously makes the theme work. You'll often find yourself laughing at the ludicrousness of it all though that easily is one of Metal Saga's strengths and points of appeal.
Beyond your party one of the main goals in the game is to seek out new tanks and pimp them out beyond reason. You see, you don't possess Limit Breaks or the ability to summon insanely powerful beasts. Therefore the main theme behind Metal Saga is "Have tank, will fight!" Upgrading and customizing these machines is one of the more enjoyable parts in the game but it's not without its fair share of headaches. You often have to travel around looking for one particular engineer to work on your ride and you're also restricted to a certain amount of weight. This all leads to the wasting of time and headache inducing inventory problems later on, but they are both things that you can work around with some patience.
As far as the actual gameplay side of things is concerned much of the game is broken down into tried and true genre staples. Walking around the world map elicits random encounters with enemies, which is often a talking point among RPG enthusiasts. I'm in the camp that doesn't mind them to a degree but after a while it's nice to see a game change pace; sadly Metal Saga isn't that game. These encounters prove to be challenging early on in the game but if you level up around the same area for a while (like the game suggests you do) you'll have an easier go of it. Needless to say though, this also makes the game tedious after a while, especially since the experience system is proportional to your challenge.
Combat itself is another generic feather in Metal Saga's cap. Turn based gameplay is relatively drab and featureless though things get a little more interesting once the tanks are involved. Boss fights easily provide the best experience all around because the random encounters get to be a little bothersome after a while.
Exploring in general is one area where Metal Saga falters a little as well. Because of the open-ended nature of the game walking into the wrong quadrant will often result in you getting the crap kicked out of you. The difficulty level spikes dramatically every now and then but because there is a certain non-linearity to the game it's very hard to determine where to go and where not to go. You're given some clues by the dwindling amount of experience points that you receive from enemies but it can still be a pain.
Overall Metal Saga isn't a bad RPG per say, it's just not the strongest one on the market. There are plenty of things to like about the game with its open-endedness, crazy characters and off beat presentation. The random battles become rather tedious, combat can be a drag at times and the item management system is rather perplexing at times. Diehard RPG fans looking for something a little skewed may want to take notice with this game but folks who just like mainstream affairs will want to stick with Final Fantasy and that ilk.
Graphics:
Post apocalyptic stuff is often drab and lifeless; hence the name of the genre. Metal Saga is no different with a no frills presentation and sparse locations that feature limited textures and variety. The real design attention of the game obviously focuses more on its characters than trappings. Inspired by anime and filled with monsters and characters that are just "out there" don't be surprised if you stumble across something that makes you do a double-take.
Audio:
In RPGs there are a few things that are important to their enjoyment; the first being an empowering soundtrack that draws you in and sets the mood. In Metal Saga the tunes certainly set the mood but after hearing the same song for hours on end I'd say that it certainly does nothing for making a positive impression. To put it bluntly the music selection is decent but its reused to the nth degree and becomes rather repetitive. The second thing that makes the sound of an RPG, in today's market at least is the inclusion of voice acting. Unfortunately there isn't really any to be found here so the soundstage is nearly as barren as the game's post apocalyptic atmosphere.
Conclusion:
RPGs are probably my favorite gaming genre and because of that I spend most of my game time playing them. There's just something about a forty hour adventure where you set out to save the world and build characters that is just tirelessly fun for me. Metal Saga is a worthwhile addition to the sea of RPGs out there but it's certainly not flawless. There are many gameplay quirks and after a while the game because rather monotonous. The presentation also doesn't help much with its desolate atmosphere and downtrodden nature. Luckily the personality of its characters helps lift things a bit.
If you're looking for an RPG to pass the time with while you're waiting for the next great adventure Metal Saga is definitely worth looking at. As things stand I can only see hardcore RPG fans looking for something different to get the most out of it.