I’ve been itching to play a fast-paced, kinetic first-person shooter for a while now. The challenge is finding a game that feels fresh and isn’t something I’ve already played, like Call of Duty. While Call of Duty is fantastic, I haven’t been into multiplayer lately, which is at the core of its appeal. Instead, I’m craving a single-player experience that would feel at least somewhat fresh.
Recently, while browsing the PlayStation Store, I stumbled upon Metal: Hellsinger. I remember reading about the game when it originally came out in 2022, and it seemed like it could be a lot of fun. However, the game was priced at $49.99, which felt was a bit steep.
I decided to use a helpful site I recently discovered called PSPrices. This site lets you track price trends for any game on the PlayStation Network and other storefronts. According to PSPrices, Metal: Hellsinger had recently been on sale for half off. I decided to hold off and wait for the next sale, and sure enough, I was able to snag the premium edition for just $19.99.
Kill Your Demons to the Beat
The gameplay of Metal: Hellsinger combines fast-paced, kinetic gunplay with rhythm-based mechanics. As players progress through each level, it’s best to time their kills and weapon reloading times to the beat of the song playing. Given the game’s title, it’s no surprise that the soundtrack features rock and metal bands. Slaughtering demons in sync with the beat maintains a score multiplier, boosting both overall points and damage output. As the player’s multiplier increases, elements of the song, such as vocals, are dynamically introduced, enhancing the experience.
The flow and pacing of combat felt very similar to Doom. Metal: Hellsinger features a mechanic called “Slaughter,” which is essentially a finishing move that causes enemies to drop health for the player. This mechanic feels reminiscent of modern Doom games, as they also require players to approach each kill strategically.
Rain Blood in Metal: Hellsinger
Metal: Hellsinger features six different weapons. Players can select four to bring into battle, with two being mandatory: Terminus, a sword, and Paz, a skull that shoots fire. Honestly, beyond the first level or so, I rarely used them—unless forced to in specific scenarios, such as completing Torments.
Torments are side content that runs alongside the main story. These contained combat challenges have specific rules that players must follow to complete them. They’re worth doing, as they serve as the primary way to strengthen the player, leading to greater success in the main campaign.
My personal favorite weapon has to be The Hounds, a pair of dual pistols. While using them, I felt I had the most success in staying on rhythm. Additionally, I found them to be quite powerful in most of the game’s combat scenarios.
My Only Warning about Metal: Hellsinger
Overall, I loved my time with the game. It was a fast, fun, and exhilarating experience. The technical performance was solid, with the frame rate never dropping. However, I did encounter two game-breaking glitches that forced me to reset the level. I ended up in a zone earlier than intended, which locked my progress. This happened after being knocked off the level. I played through the game on a PlayStation 5 Pro.
Regardless, I strongly recommend Metal: Hellsinger, especially since it frequently goes on sale. I enjoyed it so much that after my initial playthrough, I went back to clean up trophies and earn the Platinum.
