You see, taking down bosses lets you take their Shells (yeah, we know) for yourself, wielding their unique powers against your foes. However, with the ability to carry three of them at a time and switch between them at will, the potential for some incredible synergies is already there. Combine that with four distinct upgrade paths on each Shell for you to choose from, and you have the makings of a memorable RPG. Some upgrades draw on your shells, but each one is going to bring hard choices to the table, as most of them force you to compromise on another aspect of your abilities.

Of course, you get to bring your buddies along in three-player co-op, which means that the best among you is going to be leveraging six Shells at the same time to cause absolute mayhem.

All in all, Ruiner 2 is looking like a very fun sequel. It doesn’t have a release window yet, but you can check out its Steam page for more information, or check out the announcement trailer below for a very satisfying beat-down.

Metal Eden seemingly references Project Eden – an initiative by humanity to preserve themselves in Cores, essentially defeating death. Or at least that was the plan. Sent over to Moebius, a city orbiting an unknown world, things have taken a mysterious turn (who would have thought), and they’re now seemingly at risk. As ASKA, a Hyper Unit, your task is to infiltrate Moebius and save the Cores. Which is easier said than done because the Engineers would rather deploy their Internal Defence Corps. Why are they so hell-bent on stopping ASKA? Has the Erosion, a strange phenomenon, worn away at their senses?

It’s up to you to find out, guided by the also-mysterious Nexus. ASKA is tasked with retrieving her old body, restoring her Hyper Unit functions in the process, but Metal Eden isn’t a rogue-lite. Going into further details would be to invite spoilers, but the campaign moves at a linear pace, even if ASKA senses that some things aren’t quite right. What’s the deal with the Hyper Units? What is the relationship between Nexus and the Engineers? Who is the Overseer, and why does their demeanor feel far from villainous? How is ASKA so special anyway?

"I can appreciate the developer trying to effectively world-build while maintaining some sense of intrigue and not simply dumping all the lore. But as you wall-run, grapple, and traverse these Brutalist environments, it’s all too easy to lose track among the semi-stream of consciousness rambling."

This will all be familiar terrain for those who played Ruiner, as Nexus (and later, other characters) provide exposition between various areas. The results are mixed, and not just because of the overall creepy vibe of some narration. I can appreciate the developer trying to effectively world-build while maintaining some sense of intrigue and not simply dumping all the lore. But as you wall-run, grapple, and traverse these Brutalist environments, it’s all too easy to lose track among their semi-stream of consciousness rambling. And since these voiceovers chime in between combat arenas, a character will begin a thought, pause, and continue it after the battle is over, again and again. Overall, less verbiage, more soaking in the aftermath of high-speed violence would have been appreciated.

On the latter front, Metal Eden has plenty to offer. Despite her unassuming appearance and extensive mobility for zip-line riding, wall-running, and grappling through environments, ASKA is armed to the teeth. You start with an SMG, which passively regenerates ammo over time, but quickly obtain a heavy pistol, shotgun, assault rifle, and even a plasma rifle. However, she can also perform Core Extraction, ripping out an enemy’s Core and either tossing it back as an explosive projectile or consuming it to activate Booster and Super Punch. The fact that this process is timed means

Super Punch helps break through armored targets, which otherwise take pitiful damage from your kinetic weapons. Managing the cooldown of Core Extraction, even if the upgrades help tremendously, can take some getting used to. It can sometimes feel finicky, not activating even if you swear you hit L1. However, my biggest pet peeve is hitting the button and holding it down, always thinking it smoothly transitions into Core consumption. Alas, that’s not the case, resulting in some extra awkwardness, but not quite as awkward as aiming at an armored foe and instead Super Punching the nearest minion.

Some weapons can diminish armor more quickly, but as the campaign ramps up, introducing more “regular” armored foes on top of the heavy hitters, managing ammo becomes a necessity. Of course, you could melee an enemy normally to cause them to take more damage, but that can be riskier.

"Outside of claustrophobic hallways and indoor arenas, Metal Eden also tosses in some outdoor locations with much more space, allowing ASKA to shift back and forth between Hyper Unit form and the Armored Ramball, which can boost, jump, and navigate hazardous terrain."

Thankfully, other options become available over time, including weapon attachments. By completing a weapon’s challenges and spending Dust, the main currency, you can unlock new attachments, like a grenade launcher for the AR. Subsequent upgrades make them even more potent, including more damage for your SMG, keeping it competitive with other options, and prepping a three-burst shot for your shotgun (even if holding the trigger down feels more effective).

ASKA checking each attachment upon unlocking them invites further comparisons, if they weren’t blatant enough. While a more original approach to weapon modules would have been appreciated, it still works well enough. The various passive upgrades for abilities like two Super Punches, triggering explosions on extracting Cores, and whatnot keep things interesting as well, while letting you lean into specific playstyles.

The combat arenas offer a decent mix of mobility and varying elevations, as you seek to outmaneuver and overcome the odds, collecting pickups to refresh Core Extraction when not maxing out armor. A few unique objectives, like remaining within a specific section of a room for a scan while fending off enemies or activating Overdrive to lay waste to multiple heavies, mix things up. It’s nothing particularly extraordinary or new, and I could honestly do without the announcement of incoming waves, just for the sake of maintaining tension, but it works in its own nuanced ways.

Outside of claustrophobic hallways and indoor arenas, Metal Eden also tosses in some outdoor locations with much more space, allowing ASKA to shift back and forth between Hyper Unit form and the Armored Ramball, which can boost, jump, and navigate hazardous terrain. It can also unleash homing missiles and channel lightning, giving new meaning to “They see me rolling.” Sadly, the actual transformation sequence is hilariously shoddy, more like a mini-loading screen between perspectives rather than a fluid transition. Regardless, the Ramball adds even more variety to the experience, maintaining the overall tempo and pacing of the action without overshadowing the core first-person shooting.

"It probably won’t have the same impact as Ruiner, but the gameplay makes up for it in spades."

Visually, there’s a lot to appreciate about the art direction, even if the architecture isn’t exactly for everyone. The lighting, reflective surfaces, and character models are fairly top-notch – as desolate as some environments may look, there’s a genuinely stunning vibe to their scale and detail. However, since this is an Unreal Engine 5 title (and you probably knew this was coming), there are some performance hiccups on PS5. While not occurring frequently, the sudden frame rate drops are still annoying, especially after enabling VSync and Performance Mode. The color balance also comes across as fairly harsh at times and is made all the more headache-inducing with all the fast-paced movement. At least the music is good, even if it lacks the same surreal, cyberpunk vibe of Ruiner in favor of more measured, fast-paced techno.

Metal Eden won’t see Reikon as the new king of first-person shooters anytime soon, especially with all the rough edges. Its efforts are almost contrary to their first title – sleek instead of raw, if a little too rudimentary, with a commitment to a specific narrative style, though more overbearing. The mystery of ASKA and how she fits into this ruined future may not stand out much initially – and her relatively stoic personality doesn’t help either. It probably won’t have the same impact as Ruiner, but the gameplay makes up for it in spades.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

While adept at slaying hordes of enemies, ASKA will occasionally fall. No, this isn’t a rogue-lite set-up akin to Returnal, but part of the story, and could have far more disturbing implications than initially revealed. The actual gameplay is quite similar, as players wall-run, grapple, and mow down hordes of enemies.

Metal Eden’s core mechanic literally revolves around Cores, as ASKA can rip them out of enemies and either consume them for a boost or toss them back for some fireworks. The DOOM influence is pretty obvious, but the sci-fi setting and overall mystery lend some intrigue.

For more details on Metal Eden, check out this gameplay trailer. You can also read our impressions of the demo.

The proverbial hot knife through her autonomous machine foes, but with some self-doubt about her existence (or at least hints of the same) and a cycle of suffering. This is illustrated best in the free demo, where ASKA discovers her previous remains, harvests the all-important Core from it to restore her Hyper abilities and fights through waves to end up brutally curb-stomped by a mysterious foe. All the while, the enigmatic and totally-not-suspicious Nexus explains her situation and the overall set-up.

Long story short, humanity really did it this time. Corpo decisions led to the construction of a massive city called Moebius, hanging high above the planet’s surface with the Engineers overseeing it (and with someone, appropriately named the Overseer, seemingly in charge of them). Something caused the city to become corrupted with Erosion, which is bad news because humanity’s Cores are trapped inside, in a place called HIVE. It’s up to ASKA to save them, even as the Engineers throw their best Internal Defence Corps (better known as Cleaners) to stop her.

And hey, credit where it’s due – they did a pretty good job in Chapter 0. ASKA, however, is different from other Hyper Units (which definitely don’t exist, per Nexus). Her psyche is actually human, and upon death, she sends it back to base to enter a newly rebuilt body. She hears some noise from her Core after the latest death, but if foreshadowing has taught me anything, it’s probably fine. The Overseer also put out a PSA in the latest trailer, warning that ASKA is on her way to destroy them all, which is completely unlike her stance of justice, love, and protecting humans. Propaganda, or are we really the baddies?

Plenty of questions, and if Ruiner is any indication, the truth probably won’t be that straightforward. My money is on the Cores of the IDC actually belonging to the humans that ASKA is trying to save, if only because it would be the most shocking (but still predictable) twist.

ASKA’s respawning ability also might make Metal Eden out to be a rogue-lite – a little first-person shooter spin on Returnal, if you will – but it’s not. This is a linear single-player campaign, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Reikon presents some other unique hook, given ASKA’s unique “condition.”

As a Hyper Unit, she has access to abilities like grappling, which also provides speedy transport via zip-lines, and wall-running with a jet-pack that also allows for double-jumps, hovering and dashing on the ground and in mid-air. She can also rip and tear while adding another option to the menu: Consumption. You can rip out Cores from most unarmored enemies, which can be consumed to recover some health and ready a Super Punch to destroy enemy armor, exposing them to gunfire.

Alternatively, you can toss the volatile Core at enemies to deal damage. Each of these has upgrades to diversify their functions. You can make it so that the Booster obtained upon consuming a Core provides additional benefits, or that a bit of armor recovers upon consumption, or roll around with two Super Punches at a time.

Want Core Ripping to be a major offensive tool? Make it so that extracting Cores generates an explosion, wiping out nearby foes, or increasing their explosion radius and damage when thrown. There are plenty of other upgrades to unlock as you clear stages, and even if it’s a little straightforward, the options are pretty potent and fun to experiment with. Of course, you can upgrade weapons with a separate currency, Dust, to unlock alternate firing modes, like charged laser shots for the pistol (which consume more ammo but dish out way more damage).

All of this would make it seem like Metal Eden is a gory shooter with its mobility options, Core ripping, and weapon upgrades, but the overall flow can feel slower and more methodical, at least initially. The starter SMG regenerates ammo but has a cooldown period. Even extracting Cores has a cooldown. As such, you’ll spend a few seconds navigating the level, utilizing your mobility to collect ammo, health, and armor and resetting the ripper with stationary item pick-ups as more enemies port in.

It admittedly takes some getting used to, but as you unlock more upgrades – including the ever-helpful ability to extract Cores from longer distances – and improve your weapons, the combat becomes much more frenetic. The cooldown on Core ripping means you’ll have to think carefully about whether to consume it for health and a Super Punch for a quick and easy kill, or toss it into a crowd to wipe out more enemies. Cores degrade over seconds, so holding on to them forever isn’t an option either, adding an interesting layer of resource management on top of everything else.

The demo also served to illustrate the different objectives that each level has to offer beyond slaying waves of enemies, like activating a marker and standing in shifting zones to fill a progress bar as enemies continually swarmed. Shifting from one zip-line to the next while shooting airborne enemies – and yes, slow-mo is a thing – also felt appropriately slick and responsive. In a way, the flow and pacing reminded me of the first Ghostrunner, but without the fleeting mortality or katana.

Granted, these were only two levels, that too from a month-old demo, which doesn’t represent the game’s final quality. But there are several other aspects of Metal Eden that we’ve yet to really dive into, including the Armored Ramball for charging into enemies with devastating effect (and can channel electricity). And while some elements like melee impact could use a bit more oomph, the shotgun had the right amount of kick to it. I expect the other weapons to feel just as good, especially the Tesla gun, which fires electric orbs and chains lightning between foes, or the assault rifle, which can seemingly freeze enemies with its alternate firing mode.

Then there’s the prospect of VULCAN, the world below. Does it offer a more vibrant world to explore? Is Moebius simply a lie, and maybe everything is bright and peachy on the surface? It’s hard to say, but once again, given the interesting twists that Ruiner took, I’m keen to see where the city ends and ASKA’s journey truly begins.

With all the heavy hitters launching in September – Hell is Us, Cronos: The New Dawn, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion, Hollow Knight: Silksong all in the same week alone, never mind the weeks to follow – Metal Eden may end up overlooked by the vast majority of action fans. However, if the full release has the right amount of polish, it should warrant a look from those seeking a more fast-paced, mobility-heavy first-person shooter.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

While there is plenty to see and love in the new trailer, we also get a look at new character, named The Operator, who seems to have some sort of strange relationship with the protagonist. We also get a great look at some of the arsenal that players will get in the game, from an assault rifle, to a high-powered shotgun, and even an energy gun that can latch its beams on to enemies.

Along with this, we also get to see a new ball form that players will be able to take to quickly traverse through the environment. Rather than just being a traversal tool, however, this ball form is also equipped with its own set of weaponry.

Metal Eden was unveiled back in February with a reveal trailer. Since then, Reikon games has also put out a demo, which is currently available for free. Metal Eden is coming to PC (via Steam), PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, and is slated for release on September 2. Check out the gameplay showcase from back then while you’re at it.

Metal Eden focuses on MOEBIUS, a city created by the Engineers to house humans in storage cells (which are slowly corroding), but has since gone rogue. As Hyper Unit ASKA, it’s your job to stop MOEBIUS while also unlocking her memories. She was seemingly once human and mysteriously turned into a killing machine for some unknown purpose.

Pitted against security robots and environmental hazards, ASKA relies on enhanced mobility and powerful weapons to ultimately survive. This includes transforming into a Morph Ball-like Armored Ramball, a jetpack, and much more. Check out some more extensive gameplay and learn more about the demo here.

Regarding the reason for the delay, the developer said on Steam, “After going through the feedback from the demo, we saw some clear areas where we can improve. We’re taking a bit more time to refine the game and make sure it delivers the experience we’re aiming for. Your input has been a big part of that process, and we appreciate it.”

The demo is available for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC and includes the first two story missions. Players can use it to familiarize themselves with the gunplay, movement and progression system. Of course, with the game receiving refinements, you have to wonder if the demo will be updated.

Stay tuned for more details on that front. Metal Eden is a first-person shooter set in the future and focuses on ASKA, a hyperunit that must battle the city called MOEBIUS. Though the latter has numerous hostile robots and security systems, ASKA has eight weapons and some killer speed. Check out more extensive gameplay here, which showcases the pistol, SMG, and shotgun alongside the fast-paced movement.

Set in the futuristic MOEBIUS, you control ASKA, a hyper unit that must battle the city itself to free its inhabitants. Various hostile robots stand in her way, but alongside eight different weapons, ASKA also possesses exceptional agility and can wall run, grapple and dash. 

Why has MOEBIUS gone off the rails, and what does it have to do with the world known as VULCAN? You won’t find out in the demo, but it does offer a strong primer on the combat, gameplay flow and progression.

Metal Eden releases on May 6th worldwide. Check out 20 minutes of extensive gameplay here.

Launching on April 8th, the demo encompasses Mission 0 and 1 of the main game. The former is about learning the mechanics and android protagonist ASKA’s mission (as well as revealing her reprintable nature). Mission 1 introduces Body Modules and Weapon Upgrades, essential for players to survive the coming encounters. Though the initial fights aren’t too crazy, they will increase in intensity, encouraging different strategies to emerge victorious.

The demo will remain available even after the game’s launch on May 6th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. In the meantime, check out some more extensive gameplay here or the trailer below for a peak at the Gatling Gun, touted as ASKA’s strongest weapon (and one of eight total options).

The video kicks things off with protagonist Aska getting kitted out for battle with necessary equipments, including limbs, weapons, and armour. This is then followed by a briefing, which explains that Moebius is “sick” and the problems will have to be dealt with by Aska. The mission showcased is to rescue a target in a part of Moebius referred to as the Hive.

The game seems to start things slowly before introducing enemies for Aska to take down. Early on in the level, the player has to use parkour abilities to cross gigantic chasms. The whole time, a character known as Nexus is giving Aska their thoughts on Moebius.

It doesn’t take too long for the action to start kicking into high gear, however, with the player having to take down a bigger group of enemies reinforced by a particularly big and powerful target. The action is further underscored by a bass-thumping electronic track as more and more enemies start spawning into the arena.

The video also showcases a variety of weapons available in Metal Eden: a pistol, an SMG, and a shotgun. The player is able to switch between the three weapons seamlessly in the midst of battle. A lot of the action and platforming in Metal Eden seems to be inspired by Doom Eternal, which also had players mixing and matching parkour abilities in the thick of action.

The video caps things off with a big bombastic fight against a group of much stronger enemies, each of which have to be juggled as the player dodges and weaves their way throughout the combat arena.

Metal Eden was unveiled with a trailer during Sony’s recent State of Play with a trailer, which you can check out here. The PS5-exclusive shooter is set for release on May 6.