Developer: Kai Magazine Publisher: Kai Magazine Release: 2021 Genre: Action
The homebrew scene for the Sega Genesis is nothing short of fascinating. Usually when a platform rides off in to the sunset you never hear from it again. But thanks to a ton of documentation and more importantly the Sega Genesis Development Kit legions of bedroom coders are creating new classics to this day. Metal Dragon is a funny top down action shooter that you can almost mistake for a lost sequel to Mercs. While it looks derivative, and to an extent it is, the game excels thanks to solid action and a humorous script.
The year is 1989 and the Cold War rages on. Rather than open warfare nations use covert operatives to complete missions to sabotage their rivals. But now America’s greatest rival has kidnapped the President’s daughter to extort him. To prevent World War III the greatest secret agent code named Flaccid Snake is sent in. Unfortunately Flaccid Snake goes missing and now the job is up to you, Metal Dragon.
Metal Dragon is a homebrew action game developed by Kai Magazine Software originally for the MSX2. For that platform it was a stunning achievement but due to its lacking popularity in this day and age they ported it to the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive in 2021. Drawing inspiration from classic titles like Mercs, Commando, and Shock Troopers Metal Dragon offers a nostalgic experience for fans of 16-bit run-and-gun shooters while also being a cool parody along the lines of Parodius. The game does not take itself seriously and the script is genuinely funny. With its blatant Metal Gear style codec conversations it pokes fun of not just that series but tropes within video games themselves. The script elevates an already solid game in my opinion and makes it memorable.
The best way to describe Metal Dragon is Mercs with a dash of Metal Gear. That is clearly intentional. The gameplay is near identical to Capcom’s classic arcade game down to similar weapons. These special weapons cover the usual action game types such as a machine gun, shot gun, and the powerful anti-armor sniper rifle. However they have ammo although the game is a little bit generous with weapon drops on most stages. If you are having a run of bad luck the game overloads you with grenades to the point you can almost use them as the default weapon.
In terms of action Metal Dragon does not let up. Enemies attack in large numbers and spawn infinitely. While their aim is terrible they overwhelm you with their numbers. While I can appreciate the quick twitch action it does expose a few of the game’s weaknesses. Enemy variety is lacking and you will face the same four or five throughout the entire game. The pacing is also off. There are only four stages but each has two sections. Both are grueling in their length and unfortunately repetitive. More levels that are shorter with more variety would have been the better approach. That being said what is here is strong if a bit annoying.
The gameplay is very standard with few flaws. What makes Metal Dragon so memorable is its codec conversations. This is where the Metal Gear connection comes in. Metal Dragon is a self-aware dumb ass who drops movie references and says the quiet part out loud frequently. Metal Gear is the biggest target of his satire and let’s be honest, the scathing commentary has an air of truth to it. When his superiors tell him that this is a stealth mission he says screw that immediately and goes in guns blazing. He’s a man after my own heart. When I play Metal Gear it might as well be Contra in my hands. Hideo Kojima would quit the game industry in disgust if he ever saw me playing his games.
In Closing
Metal Dragon is a good game in the classic mold that combines humor and solid action to create something better than the sum of its parts. The developers nail the tone they were going for but most importantly it is not a crutch that hides a lackluster game. While it does not reinvent the wheel it does not need to. They do not make many like this anymore so cherish them when they appear.
