Metal Eden Review for Xbox – Shots and Vertigo

We analyze on Xbox, Metal Eden, a new FPS that drinks from many formulas, trying to find its own path.

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My first impression upon starting Metal Eden was that I was in for a treat with a title that knew what it wanted to deliver: a first-person shooter with a futuristic setting, intense combat, and a recognizable air reminiscent of other greats in the genre. After hours of playing on Xbox Series X, I’m left with the feeling that we’re dealing with a correct, occasionally entertaining game, but one that never quite manages to surprise, at least not as it should given its offerings.

Video Analysis

It clearly draws from references like Doom or Shadow Warrior, although with a slightly more paced rhythm and a sci-fi wrapping that, at the very least, gives it a certain unique air. The problem is that when you expect the shootouts and action to be the strong point, the game falls a bit short: enemies that don’t always react convincingly and scenarios that don’t fully exploit their potential make the experience not shine as much as it should and I would have liked.

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Technical Section

On Xbox Series X, we have two graphic modes available (I haven’t tried it on Xbox Series S on this occasion): quality and performance. The theory is the usual one: better visual detail in quality, more fluidity in performance. But on this occasion, I’ve noticed that the performance mode doesn’t run as smoothly as it should, something that for the style of FPS it is and its proposal can be uncomfortable at certain moments. It’s not unplayable by any means, but you can appreciate certain drops that break the promise of stability a bit. I’m convinced that a patch can solve it, because the rest of the technical set works well.

Visually, the setting of the monolithic city of Moebius has personality. That brutalist and decadent style perfectly conveys the idea of an artificial world in ruins, although occasionally the scenarios feel a bit repetitive. Where there is good work is in the animations of our protagonist, especially when you take advantage of the parkour mechanics or the sphere shield mode, which add dynamism to the action and variety, things that can be missed in some moments.

The sound section accompanies without standing out too much, so many shots and vertigo don’t let you stop to listen too much, they ambient correctly and are enough. The music seeks to elevate adrenaline, but it doesn’t get stuck like it happens in other more potent FPS. In any case, effects like shots, explosions comply, reinforcing that feeling of constant cyber war. The game comes with texts in Spanish and voices in English.

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Gameplay

This is where Metal Eden should shine, and although it has good ideas, it doesn’t quite manage to hit the mark. The base is the usual one: constant shots, mechanical enemies, and a movement rhythm where stopping means dying. It’s a game that demands continuous movement, chaining jumps, sprints, wall runs, and quick attacks.

The combat proposal has spark thanks to Aska’s arsenal and abilities. Turning into a shield sphere or using the gravitational hooks gives variety, and in the best moments, the action feels frantic and entertaining. Although that spark is diluted when the enemy AI doesn’t respond convincingly or when the scenarios don’t offer enough verticality or elements to take advantage of mobility. It’s as if the design asks for more than what it finally gives. At this point, it becomes a bit frustrating, in games like Doom or the aforementioned Shadow Warrior, everything happens in a much more organic way, and although the premise is the same, Metal Eden doesn’t quite shine or add that extra to compete with the greats of the genre. It has good ideas, moments that are fun, but over the hours, it doesn’t manage to hit the mark at 100%.

The game is also demanding, doesn’t forgive errors, and forces you to learn quickly to use all your tools; most likely, you’ll die several times until you learn the enemy patterns. That’s one of the crucial points; this learning becomes fundamental, but once learned, it repeats over and over, and the enemy patterns stop surprising. This can be a plus for those seeking a challenge, but it can also frustrate those who expect something more accessible (I played it on normal). What I’ve enjoyed the most, personally, is that mix between parkour and shootouts, because when everything fits, the game’s rhythm flows quite well. But these are moments from time to time, and it gives the sensation that with a bit more polishing in scenarios and enemies, it could have been something much more memorable, or at least, it would have climbed a couple of steps. We remind you that you have a demo available in the Store, in case you want to try it.

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Duration

Metal Eden‘s campaign offers around 8-10 hours of play, depending on the chosen difficulty and the time dedicated to exploration. It’s not a particularly long title, but it doesn’t give the feeling of being too short either: its structure of semi-open levels works well to maintain interest without needing to stretch it.

It’s a game designed more for intensity than duration. There’s no multiplayer to extend its life, so all the weight falls on the campaign. Once finished, it’s possible that you won’t feel like going back, unless you’re one of those who enjoy replaying on higher difficulties or want to improve all your weapons and abilities.

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Conclusion

Metal Eden is a correct shooter that fulfills in many aspects but rarely surprises. It has good ideas like parkour, sphere transformation, and a futuristic setting, but it never manages to stand out from the references it draws from. And that’s what weighs the most: when you play, you constantly think of Doom or Shadow Warrior and other greats in this genre within the FPS “kill, kill” category, and compared to them, it always stays a few steps behind.

The positive aspect is that, despite these shortcomings, it remains entertaining in specific sections, especially when the action unfolds and you take advantage of all Aska’s abilities. The technical design also has room for improvement, especially in performance mode, but nothing that a good patch can’t solve, as we’ve mentioned a bit above.

It’s not a title that will mark the year, but it can be a worthy entertainment for those who enjoy the genre and are looking for a futuristic alternative. In the end, Metal Eden is a reminder that, although the ingredients are there, it’s not enough to imitate the greats: that extra point of personality is needed, which here only appears from time to time, and maybe that’s the most frustrating part.

We thank Plaion for the material provided to carry out this analysis.