Metal Fangs (Japan)
Inside Metal Fangs (Japan)
Metal Fangs is a top-down shoot 'em up for the Sega Genesis that came out exclusively in Japan back in 1993. I've seen it listed under the genre of vehicular combat, but honestly the essential loop is pure shmup: you pilot a vehicle that can transform between a ground car and a helicopter. The game was developed by Jorudan and published by Victor Entertainment, at least that's what most sources agree on. It never left Japan, so if you're playing it today it's likely a ROM rip or via emulation.
The core gameplay has you scrolling vertically through stages, blasting waves of enemy tanks, turrets, and aircraft. Your vehicle can switch between a fast land mode and a more maneuverable flight mode, each with its own advantages - land mode lets you absorb more hits while flight mode makes dodging easier. You collect power-ups that boost your main weapon and add screen-clearing bombs. It's a straightforward arcade-style shooter: survive, destroy, and beat the level boss.
For a Japan-only Genesis shooter, Metal Fangs doesn't really stand out as a masterpiece, but it's a solid example of the genre from that era. The transforming vehicle is a nice twist, and the graphics are colorful with decent sprite work. If you're into obscure shooters or want to explore the Genesis library's Japanese exclusives, it's worth a few credits. Just don't expect anything revolutionary - it's a competent, arcade-style action game that does its job without flash.
How to Play Metal Fangs (Japan) Online
Once you press Enter to start, you'll see the title screen. The menu is in Japanese, but the options are straightforward: the first option starts the game, the second lets you choose difficulty, and the third is for sound test. Use the D-Pad to navigate and press X to confirm. If you want to change your vehicle's weapon or special, you can do so on the pre-stage screen - again, it's all in Japanese but the weapon icons are self-explanatory.
The core loop is simple: move your vehicle with Arrow Keys, hold S to shoot continuously, and press X to use a bomb. When you see a power-up icon, drive into it to collect. Your vehicle can change forms by pressing Z (Y button) - this toggles between the ground car (slower, tougher) and the helicopter (faster, more fragile). Use the helicopter to weave through dense patterns and the ground car to absorb hits when you need to push through. Each stage ends with a boss fight; learn its pattern and unload your bombs when it's about to fire.
If you get hit, you lose your current weapon power and briefly become invincible. Collect the same weapon type again to level it up. Bombs are limited, so ration them for emergencies. The game gives you a few continues, but playing on defaults is tough enough for most players. Don't worry about memorizing menu text - just jump in and start shooting.
Metal Fangs (Japan) Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
- X: A button
- S: B button
- Z: C button
- A: X button (6-button pad)
- Q: Y button (6-button pad)
- E: Z button (6-button pad)
- Enter: Start / Mode
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