Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Heavy Metal: Geomatrix fuses frenetic one-on-one fighting mechanics with the strategic depth of a three-fighter squad. You assemble a team composed of an all-rounder, a lightning-fast female combatant, and a hulking powerhouse, then swap between them mid-battle to exploit matchups and manage health. This fluid tag-team system rewards smart timing and on-the-fly decision-making, encouraging you to master each character’s strengths without losing sight of your overall rhythm.

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The core combat feels like a blend of Street Fighter’s crisp inputs and Virtual On’s emphasis on movement in 3D space. You can close in for brutal combos, circle opponents for mix-ups, or back off and unleash charged long-range special attacks. Each stage is fully three-dimensional, allowing you to dash, sidestep and zone with homing projectiles—creating a combat dance that’s both instinctive and deeply tactical.

Character variety is the beating heart of Geomatrix. The all-rounder offers balanced speed and power, making them an ideal anchor. The swift female fighter excels at hit-and-run tactics, darting in and out to land punishing jabs. Meanwhile, the bulky bruiser trades speed for raw output, capable of turning the tide with single devastating blows. Learning all three styles and when to rotate them in becomes an addictive puzzle that will keep you experimenting for hours.

The AI poses a stiff challenge right from the early cyberspace arenas, demanding you learn each fighter’s move list and frame data to prevail. Multiplayer matches elevate the stakes further: reading human opponents, baiting reversals, and punishing over-extensions create a satisfying ebb and flow that will appeal to both casual button-mashers and seasoned joystick warriors.

Graphics

Geomatrix’s visual identity channels the gritty, visceral art of Kevin Eastman and Simon Bisley. Character designs are bold and exaggerated, with each fighter’s silhouette instantly legible in the heat of combat. The game’s palette ranges from neon cyberspace grids to rusted industrial arenas, giving every match a sense of raw, dystopian theater.

While polygon counts can feel dated compared to modern standards, the developers compensate with high-contrast textures and dynamic lighting. Sparks fly in slow motion when blows connect, and particle effects from energy blasts ripple through the air. These visual flourishes enhance the arcade-style spectacle and underscore the world’s futuristic brutality.

Arenas are more than just backdrops; many feature interactive elements like collapsing platforms or environmental hazards that can alter the fight. Watching an opponent get knocked into electrified panels or plunge through a crumbling floor adds unpredictability and charm to the spectacle. Though the draw distance and texture resolution show their age, the overall presentation captures the seedy sci-fi aesthetic admirably.

Character animations remain fluid even when juggling multiple fighters on screen. Transitions between tag-ins feel seamless, and each fighter’s entrance and exit animations carry distinct personality—whether it’s the swift heroine vaulting into view or the behemoth bursting through a digital wall of code.

Story

Heavy Metal: Geomatrix doesn’t burden you with a sprawling narrative, but it leverages the Heavy Metal universe’s mythos to set the stage. You’re a cyberspace gladiator, part of a clandestine tournament where the reward is dominion over digital domains and the promise of unimaginable power. This setup provides just enough context to care about each battle and each fighter’s motivations.

Between matches, brief vignettes and character portraits hint at backstories: the all-rounder seeking redemption, the lightning-fast rogue chasing fame, and the genetically altered brute searching for purpose. These snippets evoke the comic-book roots of the franchise, creating an immersive atmosphere without bogging down the action with cutscenes.

Faction rivalries simmer beneath the surface, offering a taste of political intrigue in a world dominated by cybernetic warlords. While the story doesn’t evolve dramatically, it gives each victory a sense of progression as you dismantle rival teams and approach the climactic showdown for cyberspace supremacy.

For players craving deeper lore, Geomatrix strikes a delicate balance: it provides a Heavy Metal aesthetic and narrative hooks without overshadowing the core fighting experience. If you’re already familiar with Eastman and Bisley’s work, these small story beats will feel like an authentic extension of the universe.

Overall Experience

Heavy Metal: Geomatrix offers a compelling package for fans of arcade-style fighters and sci-fi aesthetics. Its unique team-based combat system and quick-swap mechanics add a fresh layer of strategy to each bout, ensuring no two matches feel the same. The blend of fast-paced close-quarters skirmishes and zoning tactics creates a dynamic that will satisfy both button-masher newcomers and competitive players seeking depth.

Graphically, the game leans into its comic-book inspirations, delivering a stylized, gritty look that complements the brutal choreography. While the technical presentation may show signs of age on the polygon front, generous particle effects and bold color choices keep the action crisp and engaging.

Storytelling is minimal but effective, providing enough narrative context to care about your fighters without interrupting the flow. For a title focused squarely on the thrill of one-on-one showdowns, this approach feels appropriate, letting the Heavy Metal brand shine through tone and atmosphere rather than lengthy cutscenes.

Ultimately, Heavy Metal: Geomatrix stands out as a niche fighting title with a distinctive flair. Its combination of team tactics, 3D arenas, and Heavy Metal-inspired design make it an intriguing pick for anyone looking to dominate cyberspace in style. If you relish fast-paced, tag-based fighters wrapped in a dystopian comic-book shell, this is one battle arena you won’t want to miss.

Retro Replay Score

6.6/10