Metal Walker

Metal Walker
Metal Walker
	North American cover art
Developer(s)	Capcom
Publisher(s)	Capcom
Artist(s)	Takao Aoki
Platform(s)	Game Boy Color
Release	JP: December 24, 1999; NA: February 6, 2001;
Genre(s)	Role-playing
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Last updated April 24, 2019

Metal Walker, known as Bakusou Senki Metal Walker GB: Kotetsu no Yuujou(爆走戦記メタルウォーカーGB 鋼鉄の友情, lit. "Roaring Chronicle Metal Walker GB: Steel Friendship") in Japan, is a role-playing video game for the Game Boy Color, developed and published by Capcom. Many critics likened the game to the Pokémon series, but praised the game's unique qualities.^[1] In Japan, the game inspired merchandise based on the Metal Walker robots.^[2]

A role-playing video game is a video game genre where the player controls the actions of a character immersed in some well-defined world. Many role-playing video games have origins in tabletop role-playing games and use much of the same terminology, settings and game mechanics. Other major similarities with pen-and-paper games include developed story-telling and narrative elements, player character development, complexity, as well as replayability and immersion. The electronic medium removes the necessity for a gamemaster and increases combat resolution speed. RPGs have evolved from simple text-based console-window games into visually rich 3D experiences.

The Game Boy Color (GBC) is a handheld game console manufactured by Nintendo, which was released on October 21, 1998, in Japan, and later released in November of the same year to international markets. It is the successor of the Game Boy and continued in the Game Boy family.

Capcom Japanese developer and publisher of video games

Capcom Co., Ltd. is a Japanese video game developer and publisher known for creating numerous multi-million selling game franchises, including Street Fighter, Mega Man, Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, Monster Hunter, Sengoku BASARA, Ace Attorney, Onimusha, Breath of Fire, Ōkami, as well as games based on the Disney animated properties. Established in 1979, it has become an international enterprise with subsidiaries in North America, Europe, and Japan.

Monster Strike is a mobile physics game with elements of role-playing, strategy and cooperative multiplayer. It is developed by Mixi for iOS and Android platforms. The game was co-created by Yoshiki Okamoto. In Japan, its name is often shortened to MonSt. The game can be summed up as a cross between Nintendo's Pokémon and Capcom's Metal Walker; the former in that it centers around monster collecting and the latter in that battles take place using catapult mechanics.

Gameplay

Although Metal Walker is a console RPG, battles are fought in a pinball or billiards-like atmosphere in a top-down perspective arena.^[3] As each turn of the battle starts, players decide which direction a Metal Walker will move and how hard they will move. Players are encouraged to form strategies that allow Metal Walkers to hit a single enemy, bounce off a wall, and then hit another enemy, all in a single turn.^[1] On the battlefield, players can throw several different types of items onto the field. The items are used when a Metal Walker hits them. Capsules and healing items strengthen and heal Metal Walkers, whereas attack items, such as Napalm, are only useful when the enemy hits them. There also exist Analyzers, which provide the player with Scan Data for any Metal Walker that is bounced into them. Scrap metal won after the battle can then be used with the Scan Data to create new Metal Walkers or purchase items. When an enemy is destroyed, the player's Metal Walker will gain experience points and an item might be obtained. If the player's Metal Walker runs out of Hit points, the player will lose half of the carried scraps and have to start from the last save point.

Pinball is a type of arcade game, in which points are scored by a player manipulating one or more metallic balls on a play field inside a glass-covered cabinet called a pinball machine. The primary objective of the game is to score as many points as possible, often within a limited time. Many modern pinball machines include a "storyline" where the player must complete certain objectives in a certain fashion to complete the story, usually earning high scores for different methods of completing the game. Different amount of points are earned when the ball strikes different targets on the play field. A drain is situated at the bottom of the play field, partially protected by player-controlled paddles called flippers. A game ends after all the balls fall into the drain a certain number of times. Secondary objectives are to maximize the time spent playing and to earn bonus games.

Health or vitality is an attribute assigned to entities such as characters or objects within role-playing games and video games, that indicates their continued ability to function. Health is usually measured in hit points or health points, shortened to HP which lowers by set amounts when the entity is attacked or injured. When the HP of a player character or non-player character reaches zero, that character is incapacitated and barred from taking further action. In some games, such as those with cooperative multiplayer and party based role playing games, it may be possible for an ally to revive a character who has reached 0 hit points and let them return to action. In single player games, running out of health usually equates to "dying" and losing a life or receiving a Game Over.

Outside of battle, players explore a top-down overworld where they can explore various towns and dungeons. Most battles occur as random encounters. The overworld has several interactable elements, such as water, which the player needs a certain number of Cores to cross. The player can only carry one Metal Walker at a time and it will follow the main character on the overworld.^[2] By defeating the game's bosses, players earn Core Units, which allow Metal Walkers to evolve into new, stronger forms.

A random encounter is a feature commonly used in various role-playing games whereby combat encounters with non-player character (NPC) enemies or other dangers occur sporadically and at random, usually without the enemy being physically detected beforehand. In general, random encounters are used to simulate the challenges associated with being in a hazardous environment—such as a monster-infested wilderness or dungeon—with uncertain frequency of occurrence and makeup. Frequent random encounters are common in Japanese role-playing games like Dragon Quest,, Pokémon, and the Final Fantasy series.

Plot

Metal Walker takes place late in the 21st Century when a valuable and evolving metal known as Core is discovered on an island. Military leaders sought to use Core to develop weapons, but an accident turned the island into a ruined wasteland. The Rusted Land, as it is called, is where the game takes place. Because of the research, the island is scattered with malicious robots known as Metal Busters.^[4] Fifty years after the accident, the main character and his father Tetsuo Kurama have devoted their lives to search for lost Core Units on the island, but the game opens as the father is separated from his son as a gang of Metal Busters attack. The main character and his Metal Walker, Meta Ball, must then search for his father on the island.^[2] Professor Hawk, Tetsuo's employer tells the main character that his father will be found where there are Core Units, so he then goes to seek them out.

Reception

Metal Walker found praise among its critics, particularly for the game's unique "science fiction spin" on the Pokémon series.^[1] Gerald Valloria of GameSpot.com said of the game that "Metal Walker is a more than worthwhile endeavor for anyone that is in between Pokémon games, and it can serve as an alternative for those fans of RPGs that might be too ashamed to look someone in the eye and say, "Yeah, I'm playing Pokémon, what of it?"^[2] The game earned a three out of five in Nintendo Power.^[5]

Pokémon, also known as Pocket Monsters in Japan, is a media franchise managed by The Pokémon Company, a Japanese consortium between Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures. The franchise copyright is shared by all three companies, but Nintendo is the sole owner of the trademark. The franchise was created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1995, and is centered on fictional creatures called "Pokémon", which humans, known as Pokémon Trainers, catch and train to battle each other for sport. The English slogan for the franchise is "Gotta Catch 'Em All". Works within the franchise are set in the Pokémon universe.

Nintendo Power is a video game news and strategy podcast from Nintendo of America, which had originated in August 1988 as Nintendo's official print magazine. The magazine's publication was initially done monthly by Nintendo of America, then independently, and in December 2007 contracted to Future US, the American subsidiary of British publisher Future. Its 24 year production run is one of the longest of all video game magazines in the United States and Canada.

Although calling the game "fun" and "engaging", GamePro called the game a "shameless Pokémon rip-off."^[6] A review by Gamebits.net gave the game a lower than average score, calling it an RPG that's "more mathematical than magical."^[3]

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References

1 2 3 Griffith, Jon (2001). "Metal Walker Review". IGN . Retrieved 2009-11-11.
1 2 3 4 Valloria, Gerald (2001). "Metal Walker Review". GameSpot . Retrieved 2009-11-11.
1 2 Gagne, Ken (2001). "Metal Walker". Gamebits.net. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
↑ Tetsuo: Run! The Metal Busters are coming! They are evil robots who hurt humans! Capcom (2009-11-11). Metal Walker. Game Boy Color. Capcom.
↑ "Metal Walker at GameRankings.com". GameRankings. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
↑ "Metal Walker Review". GamePro. 2001. Retrieved 2009-11-11.

External links

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[griffith-1] 1 2 3 Griffith, Jon (2001). "Metal Walker Review". IGN . Retrieved 2009-11-11.

[gspot-2] 1 2 3 4 Valloria, Gerald (2001). "Metal Walker Review". GameSpot . Retrieved 2009-11-11.

[ken-3] 1 2 Gagne, Ken (2001). "Metal Walker". Gamebits.net. Retrieved 2009-11-11.

[4] Tetsuo: Run! The Metal Busters are coming! They are evil robots who hurt humans! Capcom (2009-11-11). Metal Walker. Game Boy Color. Capcom.

[5] "Metal Walker at GameRankings.com". GameRankings. Retrieved 2009-11-11.

[6] "Metal Walker Review". GamePro. 2001. Retrieved 2009-11-11.