Metal Black™ S-Tribute

A fun classic Shoot 'Em Up.

This is not the arcade version, most likely the Sega Saturn version. Don't worry, the 2 are extremely similar. This is the sequel to Gun Frontier, even though that game is a vertical shoot'em'up and this game is not, the name connection is likely due to most of the game staff being the same as Gun Frontier. This game was originally part of the Darius series, started development as Darius 3, even though they referred to as it Darius Part 22 internally. The Sega Saturn manual contains the plot of this game and the story of Project Gun Frontier 2. This game was planned on having 2 screens, like it's Darius cousins. Anyway, great game, worthy of being in any shoot'em'up fans collection.

제가 좋아하는 세기말 감성 느끼러 왔습니다 슈팅게임은 처음이라 사방에서 예고없이 튀어나오는 적들 때문에 너무 어려웠는데 두세번 엔딩 보다 보니 조금만 패턴 외워도 금방 익숙해질 것 같다는 생각이 드네요 OST 갓갓...

The best shmup that Taito ever made that wasn't called Rayforce or Darius Gaiden, lovingly ported to PC.

Metal Black is a horizontal arcade shoot 'em up from Taito. It features a unique upgrade and special attack mechanic where the player gathers a number of primary colored molecule looking pick-ups to increase the level of their weapons. This level also is what determines the player's special attack as it drains the levels during its use. Metal Black S-Tribute doesn't add much more to the game. The in game option menu is rather bare bones. The player has to open a separate menu interface that feels bolted on to the arcade ROM. Which is a little clunky as user interfaces go. Even this bolted on UI doesn't offer much beyond what many emulators have. Even the 'rewind' feature is a little clunky. It's less a rewind and more a constant stream of quick saves. Which is somewhat functional, if not odd and clunky. It's this UI that the player can set up their controls to have auto-fire. Which I recommend for old school shooters as a quality of life thing. As for the game itself, I also have this on the Egret Mini II. The Steam version is a little more convenient for me to play, but for some reason, doesn't feel as good. Though, this may just be me playing on an XboxOne controller opposed to an arcade stick. That said, this version doesn't feel too different from the mini console version. I never played the game in an arcade. Metal Black itself plays much like its era's shooters. The ship is a bit slow, the enemies shots are far from bullet hells and the game demands a lot of memorization to get far. I'd even say that Metal Black is an easier classic arcade shmup. Which much of the challenge being the amount of enemies that enter the play area from behind being the the most challenging elements. With a couple of beginner's traps sprinkled in. Metal Black also features a few bonus first-person rail shooter mini game between levels. I found them fun at first, but after a few play throughs, a bit of an annoyance as I wanted to get back to the side scrolling actual game. As Metal Black S-Tribute does not allow for credit feeding to finish giving the player only a few continues. Though, this version does have a save state help get around this. The graphics, music and sound are from my favorite era of gaming. Though, while the graphics are fine. The also are a little muddy, but not so much that the action gets lost. I just don't fine the graphical and color choices that striking. With the exception of the end of stage screen after boss fights that I thought looking great. Music and sound are pretty good. Nothing that is likely to make the best of lists, but work well for the game itself. Overall, Metal Black S-Tribute offers little more than just an emulated version on Steam. If someone just wants the game, it's fine. However, if someone was wanting a few features or other bells and whistles, they are going to be disappointed. I think the game is fine for about $5 which would be 20 games in an arcade at a 25 cents a pop.

Another legendary shmup from the Sega Saturn vault. This is one of the first games that got me into the long and expensive journey of Saturn imports over 20 years ago. Space horror, dystopian/post apocalyptic aesthetic with the awesome Taito soundtrack (composed by Yasuhisa Watanabe). Although it is very difficult to master, I feel like when you die it's because you made a mistake and not because it is impossible. I still love the genre but these 90s shmups are clearly cut from a different cloth.