Five Games Metal Fans Love to Play in 2021
Metalheads love video games, and likewise, many gamers love to listen to metal; the synergy between the two sub-cultures is real. So it’s no surprise that online games that combine the two are often a hit. A game’s soundtrack can add an extra dimension to the playing experience by adding intrigue and suspense or simply by providing an opportunity to rock out for the fun of it, and either way is great by us.
The past 12 months have seen some huge gaming releases across myriad platforms including several titles that feature excellent metal soundtracks. Here are five great examples to check out.
Doom Eternal
One of the best game series in history had a rocky time following the release of its fifth edition, Doom Eternal, last year. A soundtrack dispute erupted between the developers, id Software, and composer Mick Gordon after fans noticed differences between the game’s music and the soundtrack album. Gordon hinted to fans that id had taken a lot of the control out of his hands, while the company responded by saying that Gordon hadn’t completed the mixing in time for the launch.
Despite the controversy, the music was still a hit for Doom fans, with a ‘heavy metal choir’ including James Rivera of Helstar and Tony Campos of Static-X providing the backdrop to some excellent battle scenes. Fighting demons has never sounded so good.
Hammerfall Slot
As video gaming technology improves each year, online casino games follow in their path. Many now include elaborate storylines and bonus features so advanced that they resemble console games from just a few years ago.
The popularity of slots has led to many metal bands agreeing to the release of branded games in their name, ranging from Megadeth to Motörhead. Hammerfall are the latest in line with a beautifully designed game that features the high-flying vocals of lead singer Joacim Cans in the background. Not only are fans treated to some of the band’s finest hits, they can also play on 10 bonus features and land up to 30,000 times their stake.
While the gambling element may not be to everyone’s taste, it’s still an enjoyable ride through some of the band’s back catalogue. Besides, you can also play it for free, so you don’t have to put money down to enjoy it.
Post Void
Described as a kind of ‘Mini Doom’, Post Void is a journey into an unsettling world of weird enemies, vivid colors and black goo, so of course it needs a metal soundtrack to add to the chaos.
While the game’s design is quite basic, it manages to pack a lot into each scene. There’s nowhere to rest and always somewhere to run to, and when the violence arrives it’s quick and lethal. Post Void is not your ordinary shooter: it combines elements of old-school punk with flashing images, so that you hardly get time to catch your breath. Its heavy-metal anthems keep the blood pumping, your brain wired and your fingers bashing, so much so that you might need an extended post-Post Void nap.
Hades
Named after the ancient god of the underworld, Hades is a dungeon crawler that takes you to the depths of the subterranean universe as you try to guide Zagreus, the god’s son, to the heights of Mount Olympus.
The path on the way up is littered with obstacles, of course. Using a combination of magic, speed and the good old hack and slash, you must battle your way to the top with an awesome soundtrack accompanying you to the end.
Hades complex storyline, gameplay and characters – and music – earned it critical praise. It was named ‘Game of the Year 2020’ by several top awards ceremonies and has sold over one million copies, so not only will you be listening to some great tunes, you’ll also be playing an awesome game.
Panzer Paladin
This strangely named side-scrolling action platformer has echoes of Zelda and Mega Man, but also adds its own unique blend of interesting characters, juicy battle scenes and hard-hitting music.
Your job is to guide Flame, a rescue service android, and a Paladin robot called Grit in their fight against fearsome invaders who have come to conquer Earth. Some of the weapons are fantastic, including one that launches a screen-clearing attack.
While perhaps not the best game on this list, Panzer received generally positive reviews with some people comparing it to an old-school NES shooter – and who doesn’t like those?
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