However, roguelites aren’t meant to be about ongoing progression, it is about each run and the unique combinations and upgrades players get each run and going as far as you can. This is where Metal Mind excels and is the most wonderfully engaging.
Starting with the combat, Metal Mind will keep players on their toes in each and every encounter. The top-down, twin-stick shooter mechanics are smooth and fast. There is a purposeful lag in your aim and the character’s weapon, which is an odd mechanic which luckily doesn’t hurt the combat, but it also doesn’t add enough forethought or skill ceiling to be interesting. The bosses also consistently sat in that sweet spot, brutal and doable no matter the upgrades and weapons acquired.
This brings me to the next major part of any roguelite: in-run progression. Players collect a few different materials to spend on passive upgrades (which are accessible at any time, which is a nice change of pace), new weapons at random shops, or events and encounters.
Metal Mind is pretty generous overall, by the time I made it to the first and second bosses, I already felt pretty powerful and had a goal for future upgrades and weapons builds. The passive upgrades are incremental but noticeable and worthwhile. The weapons and armor add most of the flavor with new/unique abilities, wacky attacks, and deep variety.
Overall, Metal Mind is a solid entry in the massive list of roguelite games even though it doesn’t have a lot of new ideas. This may not be the best of the best, but it’ll be lots of fun for any gamer who has never tried or isn’t tired of roguelite games.
