THE BEAST

The metal world might be renowned for its heavy riffs and uncompromising musical style, but the scene is also well-known for its love of striking and exciting imagery as well.

Now, a new video game looks set to combine the two, as it will throw players into battle with a host of monstrous beasts and give them a chance to call on some metal inspiration as they look to boost their chances of success.

Did you know?
Metal: Hellsinger is a rhythm FPS, where your ability to shoot on the beat will enhance your gameplay experience. The more in sync you are with the rhythm, the more intense the music will become and the more destruction you will cause.

🤘🏼 SLAY TO THE BEAT 🤘🏼 pic.twitter.com/GveQpRRfg0

— Metal: Hellsinger (@metalhellsinger) July 1, 2020

An FPS with a difference

Louder Sound revealed in June that Metal: Hellsinger is set to be released across a range of platforms including PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC next year. The first-person shooter title is being created by The Outsiders and published by Funcom, with it offering a unique rhythm-based take on that genre of gaming.

More specifically, it is believed that players will be able to boost the effectiveness of their weapons by firing in time to the metal soundtrack featured on the game, with the perfect rhythm not only building the intensity of the music but also boosting the level of destruction which is possible.

The creators have called in some big hitters to help you as you look to defeat the demons on the title as well, with the likes of Trivium’s Matt Heafy and Dark Tranquility’s Mikael Stanne offering up vocals on the game’s tracks.

A major inspiration

Metal: Hellsinger undoubtedly features an intriguing premise, but it is of course just the latest in a long line of gaming titles which have taken inspiration from the world of metal. The likes of Rock Band and Guitar Hero put rhythm-based gaming on the map in a big way, with the titles featuring a host of icons from across rock. Metallica famously had an entire Guitar Hero g ame devoted to their back catalogue, while bands like Dragonforce made notable appearances within the franchise too.

Metal has also had an impact in other gaming areas away from consoles as well, with the genre having a notable influence on the world of online slots. The likes of Candlemass and Guns n Roses have inspired such games, while WMS also created a Kiss slot which features imagery and iconography synonymous with the flamboyant rockers.

Kiss might be coming to the end of the road as a touring act , but the band have also taken metal into the world of mobile gaming in recent years as well. The Google Play listing for Kiss Rock City – Road to Fame and Fortune explains how the game sees members of the band mentor players to rock and roll stardom.

Looking to the future

But while it is interesting to examine metal’s video gaming past and also consider how Metal: Hellsinger may well have an impact in the near future, what could be next on the agenda as the genre’s relationship with gaming continues to develop?

There has been plenty of interest around virtual reality and augmented reality-based gaming in recent years, with the likes of Pokemon Go notably making use of the latter technology to incredibly successful effect. Could a metal-inspired game make use of those innovations to offer up a new experience to gamers?

Alternatively, is it possible that we could see a major metal act make an appearance in Fortnite: Battle Royale in the near future? After all, the likes of Travis Scott, Noah Cyrus and Young Thug have featured in musical events on the gaming platform in recent times. Considering just how popular metal is, it would perhaps not be a huge surprise to see some bands from the genre invited to perform in a similar way in the near future.

Take your llama down to Party Royale and dance til you can’t no more cause Thomas Wesley is comin’ to town. @diplo Presents: Thomas Wesley with special guests @noahcyrus and @youngthug LIVE at the Main Stage June 25 at 9 PM ET / 6 PM PT pic.twitter.com/bqeMIA2aMe

— Fortnite (@FortniteGame) June 23, 2020

More to come?

Whatever the future actually does hold, it is still fascinating to see how metal continues to develop its relationship with video gaming. As the information above highlights, so many hugely enjoyable gaming experiences linked to metal have been created through the years and Metal: Hellsinger looks set to be an intriguing new addition to that list.

We can’t wait to give the game a go and hope that it will be far from the last gaming title to feature more than a strong dose of heavy metal.