Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Metal Fangs delivers an adrenaline-fueled combat racing experience by blending high-octane vehicular action with strategic team management. Each match unfolds in two intense heats, with each heat divided into two phases. During the attack phase, your quartet of vehicles hunts down the opposing team, scoring points with well-placed hits and takedowns. The defense phase flips the script, challenging you to survive with just three vehicles on the track. This push-pull rhythm keeps every lap engaging and ensures that no two races ever feel the same.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

What sets Metal Fangs apart is its robust upgrade system. Before each match, you customize your team’s loadout—choosing from engine boosts, fuel capacity upgrades, advanced AI modules, reinforced armor, and a variety of futuristic weapons. Each component significantly alters your vehicle’s performance and combat potential. Balancing speed, durability, and firepower becomes a compelling puzzle, as the best strategy often hinges on your opponent’s setup and track conditions.

Switching between team members on the fly adds another layer of tactical depth. You can leap from the nimble scout with an agile frame to the heavy-hitting tank at a moment’s notice, adapting to threats and opportunities in real time. The controls are intuitive: vehicles automatically push forward around the circuit, but you remain in full command of steering, throttle, and braking. This streamlined setup keeps the focus on combat maneuvers—dodging incoming fire, lining up precision shots, or executing a daring ramming maneuver.

Beyond the core single-player campaign, Metal Fangs offers a two-player simultaneous battle mode that elevates the competition. Whether you’re teaming up with a friend or facing off head-to-head, the split-screen intensity amplifies the thrills. Additionally, after each victorious match, a quick game of chance lets you gamble your winnings for even greater rewards, injecting just the right amount of risk-and-reward excitement between races.

Graphics

Metal Fangs sports a sleek, futuristic aesthetic that instantly immerses you in its dystopian race arenas. Tracks wind through neon-lit cityscapes, abandoned industrial complexes, and planet-spanning warrens, each boasting distinct landmarks and visual flair. High-resolution textures bring out the gleam of metallic armor plates, the scorch of laser blasts, and the shimmer of speed boosts, creating a visually rich playground for vehicular combat.

The game’s particle effects deserve special mention. Explosions erupt with satisfying force, sending debris flying in all directions. Sparks trail off after glancing impacts, and scorched tire tracks linger on the asphalt long after a skirmish ends. These details underscore the destructive power at your disposal and make every hit feel weighty and consequential.

Character and vehicle designs strike a balance between gritty realism and sci-fi fantasy. Your racers are clad in modular suits that glow with energy from their on-board systems, while each vehicle chassis wears the scars of previous battles—scratches, dents, and scorch marks that persist through multiple matches. This wear-and-tear mechanic not only enhances visual authenticity but also serves as a subtle reminder of your team’s journey through the tournament.

Performance remains smooth even when the screen fills with four vehicles, flying projectiles, and environmental hazards. Frame rates hold steady, ensuring that split-second decisions—dodges, barrel rolls, turbo boosts—register without a hitch. Whether you’re playing on a high-end rig or mid-range hardware, the visual fidelity and stable performance make for an immersive, responsive experience.

Story

While Metal Fangs centers primarily on its combat racing mechanics, a compelling narrative backdrop ties each match together. You step into the role of a team manager in a lawless future where underground racing leagues determine power and prestige. Between races, brief cutscenes and radio chatter flesh out rivalries, alliances, and the stakes of each tournament bracket.

The progression system weaves story elements into gameplay as you unlock new team members, each with their own backstory and unique abilities. Hiring a veteran pilot might grant you a bonus to armor durability, while signing on a hotshot rookie could boost your team’s agility stats. These personal narratives give each character depth and motivate you to invest in their success on the track.

Dialogues are concise but impactful, often delivered via in-game comms or animated portraits. The writing strikes a balance between grit and humor, featuring cocky taunts from opponents and tense strategizing sessions with your pit crew. This dynamic keeps the story moving briskly, ensuring that you’re never bogged down by overly long exposition between the high-speed action.

Occasional story-driven special events—such as high-stakes elimination matches or rescue missions disguised as races—break up the standard tournament format. These scenarios introduce unique objectives, like escorting a teammate’s lead vehicle or surviving a gauntlet of enemy drones. They serve as welcome detours that deepen the world-building and reinforce the game’s narrative themes of survival and ambition.

Overall Experience

Metal Fangs shines as a futuristic twist on the combat racing genre, offering a finely tuned blend of strategy, action, and customization. Its multi-phase races and attack-defense cycles demand both quick reflexes and long-term planning. The upgrade system encourages experimentation, letting players craft specialized teams geared toward speed runs, heavy brawling, or balanced tactics.

The game’s audiovisual presentation underscores its high-stakes atmosphere. From the neon glow of the tracks to the roar of boosted engines and explosive weapon effects, every sensory element works in concert to amplify the thrill of the chase. Smooth performance and responsive controls ensure that players stay engaged, whether they’re executing a perfect drift shot or scrambling to repair a damaged engine mid-race.

While the core campaign offers dozens of hours of competitive racing, the two-player mode and chance-based mini-game provide additional replayability. The thrill of risking upgrades in the post-match gamble and the unpredictable dynamics of head-to-head play keep you coming back long after the main story concludes.

In sum, Metal Fangs delivers an immersive, high-energy racing experience that stands out in the crowded field of vehicular combat games. Its combination of strategic depth, fast-paced action, and compelling presentation makes it a must-try for fans of futuristic racers and competitive multiplayer alike.

Retro Replay Score

null/10