I was interested in playing Morbid Metal because it initially reminded me of an early prototype I saw on TikTok, of a fast-paced cyborg action game an indie dev was working on. While I don’t think the two are connected, it did make me realize that I haven’t played an intense Hack n’ Slash game in a long time. I guess this is what happens when you fall down the Cozy hole—you get too warm to leave.
Honestly, I wasn’t fully sure what to expect from Morbid Metal, since I genuinely hadn’t heard or seen anything about it, which is surprising given it’s a Ubisoft-published game. Videos and screenshots initially led me to believe it would be a Devil May Cry-style Hack n’ Slash that prioritized intense challenge and encouraged flashy combat. And while it definitely shares that DNA, what is really on offer genuinely hooked me with its style and simplicity.
The story in Morbid Metal is fairly simple. Players take on the role of a seemingly sentient AI (the normal kind, not the terrible kind) that is being run through a post-apocalyptic simulation, spurred by the machinations of two mysterious forces. As players progress further into the simulation, they’ll gain a deeper understanding of the powers that be, what led to the downfall of civilization, and maybe attain self-actualization.
While it’s not bad, it’s a fairly standard cyberpunk story, as far as these tend to go. It’s interesting in its own right, but stories about AI trapped in a strange simulation always have some higher power at work—usually an allegory for religion or government—and an AI grappling with the concepts of transhumanism. Again, it’s not bad, but it’s not particularly remarkable.
But the story isn’t really where Morbid Metal stands out for me; it was the gameplay that REALLY got me. The game blends stylish Hack n’ Slash with some quick but light platforming and wraps it all together in an action roguelike that is incredibly fun and insanely engaging. Similar to games like Hades, players fight their way through room after room, being rewarded with combat upgrades upon every completion.
Combat controls are relatively simple. Players are given a basic combo, two special abilities on cooldowns and one ultimate ability. However, where Morbid Metal keeps combat interesting is in its use of a 3rd-person camera and its dodge mechanic. Unlike other action roguelikes that utilize a top-down perspective so players can keep track of everything on screen, Morbid Metal positions its camera on the ground, closer to the character, similar to Devil May Cry or Bayonetta.
This means players need to constantly be aware of their surroundings and keep watch for any attacks that may be coming from off-screen. And while this may seem unfair, especially in a roguelike game where the action is a gauntlet and health pickups are sparse, Morbid Metal bridges the gap by giving players a pretty generous dodge mechanic. In fact, the dodge mechanic works in two ways. If players move while dodging, they will perform a directional dodge. If they dodge while stationary, they will perform a spot-dodge, which, with the right timing, can open enemies up to devastating counterattacks.
“Visually, Morbid Metal has a captivating visual style blending cybernetic elements with more spiritual Japanese topography.”
It gives the flow of combat a really fast and fluid feel that, combined with the insane speed of slashing and specials, becomes impossible to put down. Morbid Metal takes things one step further by giving players three distinct “forms” they can switch between during combat to keep combos going or change their style of attack.
Flux, the default form, fights fast and up-close; Ekka hits hard with a wide range, but at a much slower speed; and Vekta hits a bit lighter, but uses ranged weapons to control the battlefield. In a lot of ways, the way you can seamlessly change between three distinct forms to completely change the flow of battle reminds me a lot of DmC: Devil May Cry. While it adds extra function to dispatching specific enemies, it makes the combat incredibly engaging by constantly keeping it so fresh and distinct at a moment’s notice.
Visually, Morbid Metal has a captivating style that blends cybernetic elements with more spiritual Japanese topography. Elements of cold steel floors and metal pipes clash against the more natural ruins and flora, backlit by a warm sunset. The tonal shift is made even more present during combat when a SLAMMIN’ techno-metal soundtrack kicks in and makes the gameplay even more intense and exciting.
Since Morbid Metal is still in Early Access, there are certainly some areas where a lack of polish is present. Despite the solid style of the game’s combat, there is a certain distinction of weight that feels lacking—Ekka’s attacks just feel slower than their counterparts, rather than feeling distinctly powerful and heavy. Furthermore, certain cutscenes feel like they’re missing key animations and play out kind of cheaply.
However, a lot of these things can be forgiven as I’m sure more tweaks and fixes will be made as Morbid Metal gets closer to its official launch. The foundation for something extremely fun and incredibly awesome has been laid, and with a little more time and polish, it could be one of the breakout action games of the year.
