Guns of Fury looks as if Metal Slug and one of the GBA Castlevania games had a baby, only that GoF lacks any kind of RPG-lite level system. Instead, you can only increase your HP via medals and your attack power by using better weapons. That's not as much of a problem, though, as the game provides new weapons around every corner. Not only that, but each weapon feels unique in how it handles (range, munition, damage type), so that despite the cornucopia of destructive toys, you never get bored of finding new ones. Besides ranged weapons, you also get several melee weapons, so if you like getting up close to the enemy, that option is just as much fun.

As for the Metal Slug influence, that's not just in the visuals though there it's the most apparent. Whoever designed this understood what Metal Slug stood for and made sure that almost every inch of the screen has something destructible in it, sometimes just for visual flair but often hiding money or secrets. It's plain fun going over every screen and destroying as much as you can and it honestly never gets boring.

The overall design should feel pretty familiar if you ever played any of the metroidvania line of Castlevania games. The map looks pretty much the same, sparse but functional, and you can even add your marks to each square (sadly, no notes), and for some of the upgrades, the map has some in-built hints on where to use them. You can unlock a teleporter system (it's a truck, but functions very much like a teleporter) where you add new locations to the teleport network each time you find them. Late-game, you unlock the ability to jump between save points, which makes it even easier to mop up leftover secrets.

In the best metroidvania fashion, you get various movement upgrades (double jump, climbing, wall jump, and more) that allow you to reach and unlock new areas. The map is rather big with lots of areas who intricately connected, which means you aren't just finished and done with one and move on to the next, but instead traverse the entire map backtracking to old areas again and again to find secrets or discover new paths. Very satisfying, just the way most well-done MVs are.

Difficulty is average. If you look for something ball-busting difficult, this isn't the game for you. While the lack of a level system means you can't out-level bosses, the many weapon options in combination with the various health potions and other health items means that you never really run out of ways to beat even the most hardened enemies. While some bosses may seem tough at first, they all have very predictable patterns that are easy to learn. I don't mind that much, but if you're in it for the challenge, this isn't the game for you.

Overall, though, for me, one of the best, if not the best, metroidvania I played this year, and given how often I come back to it to find another secret or 100% it, despite having unlocked all the endings already, shows me just how addictive and fun this is.

A fun metroidvania with Metal Slug art style. Soundtrack ABSOLUTELY SLAPS

My minor complaint is that the map is only mildly helpful when you are trying for 100% completion as you rack your brains wondering why your acquired late-game Satellite Scanner shows your current area on the map as flashing, but gives no further clues as to whether this is a secret area or an un-collected equipment or treasure or something else.

That minor complaint aside, this game is a solid thumbs up from me!

Metroidvania side scroll shooter with a Metal Gear themed storyline (Not as complex, but inspired by).