|
|
|
METAL BLACK
review | SATURN
|
Publisher: Taito.
Developer: Ving. Released: May 1996 (Japan). Genre: Horizontal-scrolling shoot 'em up. Posted 8th September 2026. By Tom Clare © 2026 |
|
Originally mooted as an entry in the Darius series, Metal Black’s grittier vibe would see Taito repositioning the shooter as a standalone shoot ‘em up. However, it would have taken little time for fans to spot the similarities. Released in arcades in 1991, a Saturn port would eventually arrive in 1996. It was met with a muted reaction from critics and the gaming public alike, ensuring that, like so many other releases for SEGA’s system, it would not receive a Western localisation. Amid the prevailing winds of the time, it’s easy to see why. Flight combat games had begun tempting players towards immersive 3D experiences, whilst many stalwarts of the shoot ‘em up scene of the late eighties and early nineties (including R-Type, Darius and Galaga) had begun experimenting with polygons and pseudo-3D camera tricks to stay relevant.
The game is displayed entirely in English, however, meaning that whilst import prices might have been a serious barrier to enjoying Metal Black at the time of its release, language wasn’t. That said, even by traditional shmup standards, Ving’s port was a somewhat underwhelming outing by 1996. The spectre of Darius looms large over the project, with the excellent Darius Gaiden having already ported to the Saturn in 1994 with far more levels, significantly more adventurous design, and more exciting gameplay. MB is a frustrating endeavour; a blaster that provides pockets of fun and enjoyment that are too often undercut by ridiculous difficulty spikes and scruffy presentation.
The Beam is Metal Black's coolest feature, but be careful: bosses can use it too!
Things begin reasonably well, as the player pilots the Black Fly into a war-torn city. It’s an explosive beginning, with a mix of planes and biomechanical creatures swarming the player, and large chunks of the city being uprooted by mechs. It carries that alluring, retro-future vibe a lot of shmups embraced during the early 1990s, combining elements of space operas and disaster movies of the fifties and sixties. Nippy controls and simple, accessible gameplay mean you’re thrown right into the thick of the action. The game’s chief innovation is its Beam weapon system. Collecting tokens gradually powers up your weapon up to six levels, and it can be deployed at any time as a powerful beam attack. The caveat is, its power depletes until it’s all the way back at level one, meaning if you haven’t killed the enemy you’ve deemed necessary to unleash it on, you’re stuck scrambling to build up your once-again-puny gun. Interestingly, bosses can deploy beams as well, with clashes resulting in awesome red-blue electric storms, a visually arresting representation of the duel.
Metal Black quickly settles into standard fare: a space-based second level is memorable only for its boss hatching from the moon, whilst the caverns and psychedelic pockets of space that follow look garish and unadventurous. Based on a Taito F1 System arcade shooter, it was understandably starting to show its age, with rough backgrounds, unremarkable sprite design and limited, simplistic animations. Bosses are a little more interesting, though they come across as a little Darius-lite.
Metal Black quickly settles into standard fare: a space-based second level is memorable only for its boss hatching from the moon, whilst the caverns and psychedelic pockets of space that follow look garish and unadventurous. Based on a Taito F1 System arcade shooter, it was understandably starting to show its age, with rough backgrounds, unremarkable sprite design and limited, simplistic animations. Bosses are a little more interesting, though they come across as a little Darius-lite.
|
|
The other issue with arcade ports of the time centres on the lack of additional options for the console release. This is fine if the game in question is exceptional and replaying is its own reward, but Metal Black does little to lengthen its run time. Four difficulties aren’t much help, as the game is roundly too difficult and, strangely, I progressed almost as far on ‘Very Hard’ as I did on ‘Easy’. The player is free to adjust the number of starting lives a little, but otherwise, it’s like tackling an intensely difficult arcade game with just five credits. Well, 10 credits, if you make sneaky use of five more reserved for Player 2. Not exactly a heroic approach, but it should at least improve your prospects of seeing beyond Level 4.
There are a few bright spots. The game is more fun with a friend, where combined firepower lends you better odds. Some boss encounters are engaging for how unusual they are: most notably the third boss, an insect-like mecha that rolls a boulder, Sisyphus-like, up a hill. The bonus stages, which see players aiming a reticle over ships for bonus points, act as a nice distraction. Then there’s Taito’s music which is, as ever, very Taito. Expect the usual oddball mix of catchy refrains, grungy chords and kitsch space music. It’s not a soundtrack you’d pop on your car stereo (well, you can never be sure these days), but it’s undeniably eclectic, even if the sound effects make a bit of a racket.
There are a few bright spots. The game is more fun with a friend, where combined firepower lends you better odds. Some boss encounters are engaging for how unusual they are: most notably the third boss, an insect-like mecha that rolls a boulder, Sisyphus-like, up a hill. The bonus stages, which see players aiming a reticle over ships for bonus points, act as a nice distraction. Then there’s Taito’s music which is, as ever, very Taito. Expect the usual oddball mix of catchy refrains, grungy chords and kitsch space music. It’s not a soundtrack you’d pop on your car stereo (well, you can never be sure these days), but it’s undeniably eclectic, even if the sound effects make a bit of a racket.
|
|
Alas, Metal Black won’t spend a great deal of time in your Saturn; its shelf life measurable in days rather than weeks. The difficulty saps a lot of fun from the experience; the first couple of levels offer a stern but manageable challenge, but there are numerous points, particularly from Level 4’s caverns onwards, that leave you feeling utterly hopeless, as you’re carpeted with enemy fire, and dive-bombed by crafts. Whilst bosses can coax players into learning a few evasive tactics, being overrun is a different matter. A passable but unoriginal shooter that’s harmed significantly by its overbearing difficulty, as an import, it’s a difficult sell. Dated design and a lack of standout moments mean that, whilst competent, the only group to which a genuine recommendation can be made is Darius series diehards.
|
VERDICT
"A reasonable shoot 'em up, but a tough sell as an import. Metal Black is hindered by its ageing presentation and level design that provides a stern challenge but little in the way of thrills or memorable moments." OVERALL: 5/10 |
OTHER TAITO SHOOT 'EM UPS REVIEWED
Darius Gaiden (1996, Saturn)
|
Dariusburst (2009, PlayStation Portable)
|