Sentences written about this title, gathered by type from the Japanese and English Wikipedia articles (as of 2026-8-30).
Jeremy Parish said this new cartridge-based edition is based on the superior Japanese Famicom version and was officially translated into English for the first time.
Computer and Video Games called it a "slick, beautifully executed game", and Game Player's praised the "large, detailed sprites and multi-scrolling backgrounds", calling it a "must-buy" for action fans.
Nintendo Power included it in a 1993 feature on the "Unsung Heroes of the NES", complimenting its "inventive play control, great bosses and a level of challenge that was a cut above the average NES fare" but blaming low distribution and referencing itself as the "best marketing support the game ever received".
IGN ranks it as the 46th best game on the NES, calling it a technological "tour de force" for its use of simulated parallax scrolling and advanced animation techniques. 1UP.com featured it in a list of "Hidden Gems" for the NES, praising the gravity gimmick for adding challenge and uniqueness, while also noting the game is quite difficult and rather short.
Because of its enhancements, he regarded the Japanese Famicom version as the definitive "director's cut".
In 2023, CBR ranked Metal Storm as the best NES game released shortly before the SNES, lauding its "innovative" and "well-implemented" gravity mechanic.
In the game mook Meisaku Game Shu, covering titles released at the end of a platform's life, the gravity-reversal gimmick and the power-up item system were rated well, and voices were heard praising graphics that were among the best of any Family Computer title.
Critics have consistently praised its innovative gameplay and technical feats that push the NES's limits, such as simulation of parallax scrolling.
The audio design is inconsistent; the sound effects are widely praised for their impact, with the sound accompanying the gravity flip being particularly distinctive, but the musical score is often cited as the game's weakest element, and many critics find it repetitive and forgettable.
Computer and Video Games called it a "slick, beautifully executed game", and Game Player's praised the "large, detailed sprites and multi-scrolling backgrounds", calling it a "must-buy" for action fans.
In 2019, its official re-release made the definitive Japanese version of the game widely available for the first time.
The North American version was released in February 1991, over one year before the Japanese version, Jūryoku Sōkō Metaru Sutōmu, launched on April 24, 1992.
The Japanese version includes a full cinematic introduction, additional dialogue, expanded story elements, a different color palette for the player mech, and restored credits for producer Hiroshi Futami.
By early 1991, the market was shifting to the new 16-bit console generation, and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System was set for its North American debut later that year.
In the "Cross Review" in the game magazine Famitsu it received scores of 6, 6, 7, and 5, for a total of 24 out of 40. Reviewers commented: "A strange sense of gravity, as if heaven and earth had been turned upside down.
In the "Game Report Card" reader poll run by the magazine Family Computer Magazine,it scored 18.9 out of 30, as shown below.
Electronic Gaming Monthly gave it a 7.75 out of 10, Computer and Video Games scored it 88/100, Mean Machines gave it an 88%, ACE rated it 810 out of 1000, Game Player's Strategy Guide to Nintendo Games gave it an 8 out of 10, Nintendo Power scored it 3.7 out of 5, and Japanese release received a 24 out of 40 from Famitsu.
In 2019, its official re-release made the definitive Japanese version of the game widely available for the first time.
Jeremy Parish said this new cartridge-based edition is based on the superior Japanese Famicom version and was officially translated into English for the first time.
By early 1991, the market was shifting to the new 16-bit console generation, and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System was set for its North American debut later that year.
Irem's heritage is deeply embedded in Metal Storms design, which exhibits the steep but fair difficulty, emphasis on pattern recognition, and demand for precise execution characteristic of the publisher's arcade hits like R-Type.
IGN ranks it as the 46th best game on the NES, calling it a technological "tour de force" for its use of simulated parallax scrolling and advanced animation techniques. 1UP.com featured it in a list of "Hidden Gems" for the NES, praising the gravity gimmick for adding challenge and uniqueness, while also noting the game is quite difficult and rather short.
In 2019, Jeremy Parish compared the difficulty of Expert Mode to modern "Kaizo" ROM hacks.
Its March 1991 issue features Metal Storm on the cover and includes an extensive 12-page strategy guide.
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