Get a look at the new Metal Slug Tactics, and look back at the series that was in a fresh dev diary

Time to get tactical once again, with a new Metal Slug Tactics developer diary from Dotemu and developer Leikir Studio.

Ah nostalgia

From the fan-favorite publisher Dotemu and developer Leikir Studio, Metal Slug Tactics is set to redefine the long-running SNK series. The new game will usher in a turn-based take on the formerly side-scrolling set of action games, changing things up fairly radically. We’ve been following along with the development of what’s looking to be a tactical gem, and part of the buildup fun has been via developer diaries.

The latest of those dropped today, delivering not only a look forward at Metal Slug Tactics, but a look back, at the legacy of the series. So if you’re a fan of Metal Slug in any form, it’s probably a video you’ll want to check out.

Metal Slug Tactics is both a respectful homage to an all-time classic and an imaginative new way to celebrate the renowned series, channeling METAL SLUG’s timeless aesthetic through gorgeous pixel art and fluid animation. The game’s highly replayable battlefields pair shuffled layouts from hand-crafted sectors of terrain with subtle roguelite elements, pushing players to adapt and overcome unpredictable clashes as they master dynamic, strategic combat.

Dotemu press release

As you can see, while Tactics will be a Metal Slug of a different sort, it’ll still have plenty of callbacks to what you might’ve played before. Fans can expect classic weaponry and enemies to both appear in the title, which will be joining new elements like skill trees and perks, plus a “super attack-fueling adrenaline system”. That should bring some pain on the baddies.

Metal Slug Tactics doesn’t have a release date just yet, but is inbound for the Switch, PC, and Xbox and PlayStation platforms some time this fall.