Tiny Metal: Full Metal Rumble

 Switch
  • Publisher: AREA35
  • Release Date: Jul 11, 2019
  • Also On: PC
Tiny Metal: Full Metal Rumble Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 20 Ratings

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  • Summary: Accompany a charming cast of characters through 39 campaign maps, packed with risky battles, a twisting story of mystery and tragedy, and increasingly difficult objectives.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Nintendo Life
    Jul 19, 2019
    90
    Tiny Metal: Full Metal Rumble surpasses both its predecessor and the recent Wargroove to become the number one Advance Wars clone available on Switch right now. Indeed, it may be fair to say that this time around Area 35 has beaten Advance Wars at its own game with a super-tight and generous SRPG that takes the best from the greats it emulates and wraps them up in a much more modern and satisfying package. Battles here are challenging, tense and highly replayable affairs, new tactical options add even more depth to proceedings and the story, once it gets going, will keep you locked in until the fight is done. Long-suffering Advance Wars fans take note, this one really is pretty much essential.
  2. FNintendo
    Aug 2, 2019
    80
    Tiny Metal: Full Metal Rumble is a fun and well designed turn-based strategy game that drew inspiration from some of the finest references in Nintendo consoles and delivers a very improved sequel on its predecessor where the level of strategy involved and the amount of content help make this a very recommended work, with its rather slow start and long loading times being easier to weather with so many redeeming qualities.
  3. Metro GameCentral
    Jul 16, 2019
    80
    The best Advance Wars clone so far on the Switch, with tons of content, accessible controls, and deceptively deep gameplay.
  4. PLAY! Zine
    Oct 8, 2019
    80
    Full Metal Rumble upgrades the Tiny Metal formula, making it an even deadlier time consumer than it ever was. It offers a great training for the mind while being entertaining at the same time. It is an echo of the Advance Wars legacy that delivers anything a fan would want, and so much more.
  5. NintendoWorldReport
    Jul 24, 2019
    75
    For a second attempt, Area 35 has done a solid if unspectacular job with Tiny Metal: Full Metal Rumble. They’ve addressed a few complaints about the game, especially in handheld mode for me, which is pretty impressive for a year and a half turnaround between games. If the initial load and maps themselves weren’t so long as to make it a chore to play in bursts, this could be an all timer. It’s not a general, but sometimes you need staff sergeants.
  6. COGconnected
    Aug 9, 2019
    75
    Tiny Metal: Full Metal Rumble is a great improvement on its predecessor Tiny Metal. If you like Tiny Metal or Advance Wars you will likely enjoy Full Metal. The price of $18.89 CAD for this game is a good deal if you are a fan of the genre. There was plenty of content both in the campaign and through the skirmish mode. The character models were well done with an overall pleasant art style. All things considered, this is a solid turn-based strategy game that builds well on the previous game.
  7. TheSixthAxis
    Jul 17, 2019
    60
    Tiny Metal: Full Metal Rumble has some improvements over its predecessor, but falls into the same trap of letting you quickly spam units to win most missions. With a dull story that never grabs you and decent but unremarkable gameplay, Tiny Metal still has room to grow.

See all 10 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 6
  3. Negative: 1 out of 6
  1. ScroopyNoopers
    Jul 12, 2019
    10
    Substantially better than the first game! It still has the same core gameplay but the gameplay has been tweaked to feel much smoother. TheySubstantially better than the first game! It still has the same core gameplay but the gameplay has been tweaked to feel much smoother. They also now have sprite animations that give it a more Advance Wars feel. There are more maps and much more content to unlock and enjoy. The only complaint is the initial load time, but once it's loaded up it runs very well.… Expand
  2. Fhbobadilla
    Jul 19, 2019
    9
    I am certainly enjoying it! I played all advanced wars games and loved them and this is certainly a good spiritual successor. It feels like anI am certainly enjoying it! I played all advanced wars games and loved them and this is certainly a good spiritual successor. It feels like an upgrade, a sequel, highly recommend it if you are into this kind of game. (Later levels can get pretty tricky! Test your pacience!!)… Expand
  4. JOSX
    Jul 23, 2019
    9
    The second outing in this franchise has shown some amazing progress. The gameplay is much tighter and is almost to the standard of a AAA turnThe second outing in this franchise has shown some amazing progress. The gameplay is much tighter and is almost to the standard of a AAA turn based strategy. Where War Groove imitates the aesthetics of the Advance Wars franchise, Tiny Metal FMR manages to distinguish itself from it's former inspiration.

    One of the most welcomed addition to the strategy element is unit facing, similarly to classic turn-based strategies such as Tactics Ogre and Final Fantasy Tactics. This adds an extra layer to the strategy element. New mecha units are also a delight to see. As serious as its subject matter is (war), the super deformed style of the units are still as endearing as those that were featured in the AW series. Character art can sometimes be a bit rough around the edges but it felt like it has improved. Also, the narrative is not so frustratingly involved as its predecessor, which is a very welcomed change as well.

    The way that text appear in dialogue boxes somehow manages to trigger my OCD, not sure what it is exactly but perhaps a more conventional way to make text appear in a dialogue box would be better? Also, the UI registers everything you click so when you enter a mission screen from the world map, and had double clicked confirmed, it can potentially take you straight into the mission, skipping the briefing. The AI is an improvement but still rather predictable. There are ways to spam units to win but it's not as uninvolved as some people make it out to be.

    Overall, this game gets a 9 from me. It's not perfect, but considering the problems with it coming from such a small indie team, this is definitely Area35's best entry into the world of gaming yet. They deserve high praise considering the little to no marketing support from anybody (unlike indie titles like War Groove). If people want better, there really should be more competition, but there isn't.    … Expand
  5. Mangrove
    Feb 28, 2022
    8
    I'm overall happy with this being in the shop. There is no Advance Wars on the Switch, and I don't see a point in playing Wargroove (it'sI'm overall happy with this being in the shop. There is no Advance Wars on the Switch, and I don't see a point in playing Wargroove (it's quite different, aesthetically worse than even the AW games from decades ago and costs 17 Euro's atm). Now this game is slightly cheaper, is nearly an exact copy of AW and actually plays well. Even when comparing it directly to AW games I'd say it has some neat edges. Being able to select your action mid-movement and your cursor directly moving towards units that haven't been used/factories that haven't produced anything are examples of that.

    Negatives I've found include a story that I lost interest in relatively quickly in favor of gameplay, and the fact that Fog of War is found on every map (which disrupts complete vision, even of what field type can be found on certain areas on the grid). I also feel like units blend into the terrain way too much. Advance Wars is more colourfully distinct, whereas in this game I lose track of which units of mine (and the enemy) are found where. With AW Rebootcamp on the horizon with a massive 60 bucks pricetag for a remake (and let's be real, a graphic remodel for a game like AW really isn't that valuable), I'd say Tiny Metal gives you way more bang for your buck. Then again if money isn't your concern waiting for Rebootcamp with a potentially large online crowd and nostalgia is a good option as well, and there's no Advance Wars game like Advance Wars itself.    … Expand
  6. Nintendopost24
    Jul 30, 2019
    7
    Les développeurs du studio indépendant japonais Area 35 sont des amoureux des jeux de stratégie au tour par tour et plus spécifiquement de laLes développeurs du studio indépendant japonais Area 35 sont des amoureux des jeux de stratégie au tour par tour et plus spécifiquement de la série Advance Wars. Cela se ressent dans l’ambiance globale du jeu et du gameplay. Pour un petit prix, Tiny Metal: Full Metal Rumble vous proposera un jeu très complet et des dizaines d’heures grâce à sa campagne assez longue et à ses modes Escarmouches et multi-joueurs.

    À défaut d’un nouvel opus de la série Advance Wars, Tiny Metal fait plutôt bien le job et si vous êtes fan du genre vous ne regretterez pas votre achat.

    Note: 7/10    … Expand
  7. arh3399
    Apr 28, 2020
    3
    I picked this game up because of the good reviews and I think I must be playing a different game. I saw comparisons to wargroove (which II picked this game up because of the good reviews and I think I must be playing a different game. I saw comparisons to wargroove (which I think is great) and this game doesn't hold a candle to wargroove at all. I've played the first 7 or 8 missions of the campaign and the first optional side mission and while there is some solid strategic gameplay here (but certainly nothing special), there is basically no narrative and no character development. The game is just completely bland and doesn't pull you in the play more at all (at least in my case). I love strategic and tactical RPGs, they are my favorite genre of games, and I get this is a smaller budget tittle, but how it has a 77 critic score is beyond me. The graphics on switch are also pretty rough. The game takes awhile to load and just looks bad. Its a budget title so I wouldn't hold this against it normally but its just the final straw that broke that camel's back for me in making me put this game down for good. There are plenty of much better tactical games out there on switch so go play those.… Expand

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