Metal Saga review

If the RPG genre were a group of third-graders, Metal Saga would be the scrawny, shy one who cracks wise on occasion - usually to hide his own self-consciousness. While that may be preferred to the kid who frequently slips his nose-picking finger into his mouth, it's still quite a ways from the head of the class.

Metal Saga's post-apocalyptic world isn't too different from most digital dimensions you adventure in: people are hurting, monsters run rampant and everyone is waiting for a hero. Freelance hunters attempt to clean up the mess, but their loyalty to the almighty gold piece means they're no saviors. Still, like your father before you, a hunter's life is your dream. Take up whatever arms the town's shopkeep has for sale, hotwire a junked tank and embark on a quest to save the world.

It's a clichéd story, to be sure, but Metal Saga's writing is funny enough to compensate. Almost everyone you meet tosses out a snarky line of text, and most will force you to crack a smile. Fleshed-out character personalities balance out the generic artwork and dull graphics. You'll be compelled to save the world not out of duty, but because you know everyone will have an interesting comment to make about it.