E3 2021 saw the return of many classic franchises. Nintendo announced remakes of the first two Advance Wars games, as well pulled back the curtain on the long-rumored, thought-to-be canceled Metroid Dread. The announcement of Metal Slug Tactics further added to the list of historic names reintroduced at E3, and its return is also notable for the manner in which it's returning.
With Metal Slug Tactics, Leikir Studio is taking the series' 2D run-and-gun action and converting it into a top-down, tactical RPG. Despite its unconventional format, this unique take on the franchise shows a great deal of promise, and it’s easy to imagine how other big names in gaming could benefit from a similar treatment.
Splinter Cell
Fans have clamored for a new Splinter Cell for years, but Ubisoft has yet to deliver. Nowadays, the company seems dead-set on putting out open-world, exploration-driven titles, and since Splinter Cell doesn't quite fit any of those bills, the series may be destined to remain in the shadows.
In lieu of a traditional Splinter Cell title, a tactical turn-based approach to the series might be the next best thing. Since Splinter Cell: Blacklist established Sam Fisher as the leader of Fourth Echelon, it's not a stretch to imagine a tactical RPG granting players control over a squad of covert operatives. Additionally, tactical RPGs already require a lot of thought to come out on top. A stealthy twist on the genre would surely invoke the series’ penchant for strategic thinking.
Finally, it’s worth noting that this is a genre that Ubisoft has dabbled in recently. Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle was such a fruitful endeavor that it’s getting a sequel next year.
Mass Effect
Mass Effect is a series about a galaxy at war, which would make it a perfect candidate for this genre. Being able to command an army of soldiers equipped with both Tech and Biotic capabilities would be an engaging way to portray some of the unseen battles touched on throughout the games, such as the First Contact War.
This interpretation of Mass Effect could draw inspiration from the genre-defining Fire Emblem, which features a support system through which characters can form bonds and grow with each other based on their interactions during battle. Such a system seems like a suitable way to carry over Mass Effect’s knack for character development to a different genre.
Dishonored
Dishonored could fit well into this genre for much the same reason as Splinter Cell: It’s a stealth game. Despite being comprised of different molds, tactical RPGs and stealth games, at their cores, are each about staying one step ahead of the competition, making them fairly compatible.
Additionally, Dishonored is notable for its inclusion of supernatural powers. As such, it’s easy to imagine different powers, or even combinations of them, being applied to different units, allowing each unit to feel like a unique, valuable part of the team.
BioShock
BioShock wouldn’t be half as memorable without its Plasmids. Similar to Dishonored’s hypothetical power treatment, developers could prescribe different Plasmids to different units to distinguish them from one another.
As far as its setting goes, an area worth exploring could be the Rapture Civil War. This period of infighting between Andrew Ryan and Frank Fontaine brought about the fall of Rapture, resulting in the desolate, deadly city featured in the first BioShock.
The Legend Of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda has had numerous spinoffs but has yet to fully delve into RPG territory. A tactical twist on the series would be a franchise-first, as well as an engaging way to explore some of Zelda’s more enigmatic story elements.
The Zelda series' timeline is home to many large-scale conflicts, such as the Imprisoning War or the Hyrulean Civil War. However, these battles have only been briefly discussed in-game. It would be a treat to see these integral pieces of lore put under a microscope in a future Zelda title, and it’s hard to think of a better vehicle to portray the large-scale tactics associated with war than a tactical RPG.
Metal Slug Tactics is currently in development for PC.