'Metal: Hellsinger' Review: Doom's Ambitious, but Lackluster Descendant

 

 

Source: Funcom 

Reviewed on Xbox Series X

         When someone thinks of first-person shooters, they might think of games like Call of Duty, Battlefield, Halo, Doom, and many other shooters that have cemented themselves in the gaming industry's history. The latter-most title being one of the most influential games in history, for its action-packed and fast paced gameplay, combined with the stellar use of heavy metal that defined its soundtrack. Funcom and developer The Outsiders' Metal: Hellsinger is a tribute to these two elements, and The Outsiders' debut game satifies in its gameplay to an extent, but its soundtrack is out of this world. While the game falters and stumbles in many ways, Metal: Hellsinger is a game no one will forget any time soon.

        Hellsinger is an ambitious take on the FPS genre, and that's really the best way to describe it as a whole: ambitious. Both the gameplay and music are intertwined in a way never seen before in its genre. The main flow revolves around the use of rhythm, beat, tone, and layers of heavy metal. When playing the game, the crosshairs use a beat mechanic that is perfectly synchronized with the song currently playing, allowing the player to shoot and kill demons in heart-pounding, euphoric action. The gunplay is responsive, engaging, and at times, pulse-pounding. The rhythm is so essential to the gameplay that the player deals more damage and gains a higher score if they shoot or dodge in perfect synch with the music. Enemy variety is also good, with demons like basic cannon fodder, long range shooters, and even large demons that will chase the player with devastating damage. The player's arsenal of weapons is also good, with a sword and demonic skull as the featured selections. However, players can unlock a powerful shotgun, a pair of revolvers that cleans up demons left and right, a crossbow that fires explosive bolts, and a pair of sickles shaped like ravens. Each weapon has a unique moveset that plays in unison with the beat rhythm mechanic that is the highlight of Hellsinger. The movement is fluid, and it never felt strange to move or shoot. Much like Doom, Hellsinger merges gameplay and music in a way that makes the gameplay experience an absolute thrill when playing.

        The music is the highlight of Hellsinger, with blood-pumping, energetic, and fantastic metal composed by the band Two Feathers. The soundtrack is also joined by several major musicians and singers from the metal genre, including Serj Tankian of System of a Down. The game also features Alissa White-Gluz of Arch Enemy, Mikael Stanne of Dark Tranquility, and many more. Each of the eight levels in the game has its own unique song, each having incredible production, lyrics, and instrumentation that will make even non-metal listeners bang their heads up and down to the beat. In fact, the demons' hearts, the explosive floating rocks, and even the torches on the wall all pulsate and flare with the music's rhythm, making for an enjoyable little detail. Additionally, the music is layered, meaning more instruments will be added depending on the player's overall performance. The better the score, the more refined the music becomes, and it is a fluid and incredible joyride. 

 

 

         Unfortunately, the positives stop there. As the common saying goes, ambition can only go so far. While Metal: Hellsinger has incredibly ambitious and unique gameplay, it is also very restrictive. Players are punished vehemently if they cannot quickly learn the mechanics and the beat rhythm gameplay. The damage done to demons if not in tempo with the songs is minuscule, but the damage received from demons is drastic. If the player dies three times in a mission, they have to restart all the way from the beginning, which is simply too large of a punishment. The beat rhythm mechanic felt innovative and fun at first, but over the course of the game, it became increasingly gimmicky and clunky, resulting in a bittersweet experience when finished. Furthermore, the level design of the eight missions is repetitive, boring, and simply not fun. Players can expect to spawn in, walk into a big room with demons, clear the room, then repeat that process about two or three more times, then face the final boss of that level. This repeats itself throughout the entire game, and it becomes tedious rather quickly. Visually speaking, the levels are also bland, with most color palettes using a combination of brown and gray that results in a muddy and overall forgettable depiction of Hell.

        Hellsinger's story is also a mediocre experience. The player plays as The Unknown, a demoness who is out for revenge against the Red Judge, Hellsinger's version of the Devil. Throughout the game, the iconic voice actor Troy Baker narrates his character's thoughts on the Unknown's journey. While Baker's performance was overall adequate and charming, the same cannot be said about the Unknown, her conflict, or the Red Judge. The story was simple and short. Simple stories are in no way a bad thing, some of the greatest video games of all time have very surface-level plots (Super Mario Bros., Sonic the Hedgehog) however, Hellsinger makes the mistake in trying to gain the player's sympathy and emotional attachment to the characters. The plot did not have any stakes or reason for players to care, resulting in a plot that is overall very forgettable. To add to this, Hellsinger in its entirety is an incredibly short game. The experience can be finished in a single sitting, with the length lasting roughly around three to four hours. For an asking price of of $40, it's simply not worth an investment that large. If you're a member of Xbox Game Pass however, it's worth trying out.

      

        Overall, Metal: Hellsinger is game that takes one step forward, but two steps back. There is enjoyment to be found in this game, the initial gameplay experience, the weapon selection, the enemy variety, and the soundtrack are a blast. All of those elements rightfully deserve praise. However, if The Outsiders wish to become a well known and respected game developer, they will need to work on improving their stories, level design, and visuals. 

 

        Metal: Hellsinger is rated T for Teen, and is available now on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC for $39.99. Members of Xbox Game Pass can download and play the game for free. 

 

   Final Verdict: 6/10