The term Doom-like has been a term FPS enthusiasts have used for decades, but one that saw a major update with the release of 2016’s Doom reboot. Since then, we’ve seen a major shift in what kind of FPS titles are being offered to players. Some with more fantasy-horror roots that expand on Doom’s core premise of the undead, each with its own flair tossed in to change the flavor of gameplay. But with Deep Silver and Reikon Games’ Metal Eden, players are tossed into a horror-sci-fi adventure much more akin to a Cyberpunk nightmare.

Story and Gameplay

What attracted me to Metal Eden in the first place was its setting and themes. You play as an android named Aska who’s tasked with saving the world from basically some power-hungry tech company. But what unfolds and the true organic horror of it all is what enticed me. In a time when corporations and AI are so powerful, it’s easy to see how we could be headed towards this dystopian future. The game holds some really impactful elements, most potent being humans’ drive to live forever and just how inhuman we can become in the process of trying to make that a reality.

There are a lot of similarities in gameplay when it comes to Metal Eden and various other faster FPS titles that fall into the Doom-like sub-genre; the vast amount of enemies that take you on at one time, the importance of health and shields, and the overall function of how one enters battle in these titles versus a Call of Duty gunfight. But where I believe this title shines most is in two places: its movement and gameplay loop

The first is the fact that the gameplay is extremely fast in this title, and the game world does its best to push you forward in many ways. The movement and verticality of Aska in this title are of the utmost importance, as you are expected to be able to fight enemies at breakneck speeds. And that’s why I love this title, because whether you’re wall-running, blasting upwards because of launch pads, or dashing from one platform to the next, your mission is to outlive the enemies that are desperately chasing you.

Visuals and Sound

A reason why, for me at least, I really understood the gameplay was because of how terrifying some lf this game’s enemies are. The story elements and how they weave into who the in-game enemies are is kind of terrifying, and you’re reminded of this fact with the kill of every cyborg enemy that you dispatch. It really leans into some body-horror stuff that I love but didn’t expect to see from such a title. I was impressed.

The rest of the game both looks and sounds incredibly sleek as the EDM pulses through gameplay and dialogue. It’s a really cool game that knew the type of style it was going for but made it feel pretty original as opposed to just feeling like a fast-paced FPS version of Cyberpunk 2077 or something.

Feedback and Conclusion

I really enjoyed my time with Metal Eden, from the moment I picked up its gameplay. It’s a game with a clear identity; from its potent story elements to the horrors of its enemies and combat, I was hooked. With all that being said, I think that the most important aspect of all is that the game is fun. There’s a power trip you’re empowered to feel when you have the right flow of gameplay going, and it’s rewarding to clear wave after wave of enemies during these times. It isn’t an easy game, but it’s one worth playing again and again.