Metal Max Xeno Reborn review

Typically, upgraded rereleases bring nominal changes. But Reborn bucks trend, improving everything from the game’s engine, art, and tone. It’s still far from perfect but it’s a vast improvement.

Tragically, the Metal Max series has largely eschewed Western releases. From a financial perspective, that decision might be defensible. Although the series is often praised for its vehicular customization and a somewhat-linear approach to role-playing, the property has persistently demonstrated a bit less polish than many of its role-playing peers. The Japanese release of Metal Max 2 Kai was plagued with bugs, prompting the publisher to recall the cartridge. An already encumbered Data East declared bankruptcy five days later. While the original 2018 release of Metal Max Xeno Reborn didn’t completely devastate publisher NIS America’s financials, the game’s execution didn’t gratify critics or gamers.

With the release of Metal Max Xeno Reborn for the PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC, publishing rights were secured by PQube. With an inventory of improvements and changes, the franchise finally has a decent chance at attracting audiences on the other side of the Pacific Ocean. Although Metal Max Wild West might have been recently canceled, a trio of related titles just might get localized.

A Reprieve for the Fantasy Fatigued

Culturally, the series has relevance. Its post-apocalyptic setting and moniker provide an obvious allusion to the Mad Max films, offering a recognizable point-of-reference for many Westerners. The series’ first three entries were designed by Hiroshi Miyaoka, a close friend of Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii. (In return, Miyaoka helped with the development of the first three Dragon Quest titles). In Japan, the Metal Max franchise offered variance from the type of Euro-fantasy motifs that Horii nurtured, with the refrain, “we’ve had enough of dragon-slaying” jokingly used in Japanese commercials. The marketers had a good point, Metal Max’s dystopian environment and open-ended approach felt novel against the fantasy setting used by most RPGs.

With Xeno Reborn, developers Kadokawa Games, Cattle Call, and 24Frame have devotedly rebuilt the entire game’s engine. Gone are the nondescript sand dunes and a discotheque-looking Iron Base. Now, there is more texturing as you maneuver through the wastelands. Your headquarters even resembles a proper post-armageddon structure now. Both character models and portraits have been redrawn. While that means hentai artists Non Oda’s eccentric flamboyance is initially downplayed, purists can eventually unlock his work.

Better, But Not Quite a Top Tier RPG

Pleasingly, Reborn retains the feeling of fortification when you’re rolling across landscapes in the game’s signature tanks. Occasionally, premeditated environmental obstructions or the lure of items will tempt you with leaving your weaponized womb, and this feels suitably perilous. The remake also retooled vehicular control and now navigation feels like driving one of Halo’s Warthogs, rather than a remote-control toy. However, it’s still far too easy to get your attack vehicle jammed on a seemingly insignificant piece of environmental geometry.

One of the biggest adjustments changes how battles against subordinate enemies play out. In the original Xeno, you’re leading shot felt more like an action game as you attempted to get an adversary in your sights. But after a single attack, the game switched to a more traditional turn-based battle. Now, there’s little worry about getting a clear line of sight. Once you are in range, you select a firing vector that’s capable of eliminating multiple enemies. The system that determines a switch to turn-based in a bit erratic. There’s a meter filling when enemies spot you, but their tracking is peculiarly erratic and prone to player exploitation. But largely, this isn’t a significant issue since you’ll want to grind against literal “cannon fodder” as boss battles have been toughened. And Reborn isn’t always good at signifying danger. Often, little indication of how powerful bosses are. Fortunately, the only penalty is having to start over back at base.

Talis in now 50% less Emo

Mercifully, Xeno’s exposition has been given a much-needed revamp. The basic remains unchanged with the game depicting humanity on the precipice of extinction. Pitted against a supercomputer that created an army of killing machines, you play as a renegade whose default name is Talis, fixated with saving the last splinter of humanity. But here, Talis’ character seems less melodramatic, and less prone to punctuating the game’s cutscenes with a primal scream. Reborn retains the tautness of the original script and avoids becoming too longwinded. The upside is an emphasis on exploration as your gradually ebb away a meter that computes human extinction. But NPCs still seem to be defined by a single personality trait.

The big treat here are the two new possible party members. Now, gynonoid companion Po-M is playable, offering a curvaceous character to line-ups. But reoccurring series star Pochi might be the real draw. A Shibu-inu with a gun mounted on his back, this good boy comes with his own canine tech tree that extends playful indulgences like barking to debuff enemies.

Tanks for Your Efforts

Initially, your tank can carry a limited number of shells, obliging you to linger near your base of operations. But soon, you’ll be able to outfit your treaded vehicle with more powerful and plentiful guns, so you can venture deeper into Xeno’s maps. In execution, that means your first hour or so with the game might feel like a slog, but gradually the game’s more autonomous traditions emerge. Much of the trudging is also remedied when you uncover portals that can instantly teleport your vehicle and any salvaged items back to Iron Base.

Materials dropped by defeated creatures can be converted into parts and outfitted by Jingoro, the game’s resident tanker mechanic. Beyond upgrading basic performance and offensive output, you can also customize your tank, and later in the game, locate schematics that will let you build vehicles with larger capacities. Although customization isn’t as intricate as Armored Core or have the diversity of weaponry offered by Custom Robo, there are enough variable to make finding a balance between power, defensive stats, and offensive power feel elusive.

Conclusion

Although Xeno Reborn provides the ability to switch the classes and skills of party members, combat outside of the tank feels derivative. Sure, some of the specialized skills implant new stratagems, like healing the team or playing possum to dupe foes. But, mostly, combat with party members doesn’t feel distinctive, reproducing the mechanics of dozens of yesteryear’s role-playing conflicts and you trudge through diminutive dungeons devoid of remarkable elements.

Xeno’s initial release was a bit disappointing to those fortunate enough to be familiar with the series or newcomers looking for an alternative to Fallout’s familiar dystopia. While Metal Max Xeno Reborn occasionally irritates with an unpolished or archaic mechanic, it’s what the original should have been.

Metal Max Xeno Reborn was played on the
Switch with review code provided by the publisher.