Metal Arms: Glitch in the System

Metal Arms: Glitch in the System is a third-person shooter in which the player takes control of a small combat unit named Glitch, who joins a resistance of robots fighting against the tyrannical Konstruct army. The game relies on a carefully designed range of robotic enemies and allies, from small reconnaissance units to massive war machines, with each type requiring a different approach in combat.

One of the game's biggest draws was the ability to take control of enemy robots using a hacking device and temporarily turn them against their own forces, which opened up room for varied tactical combinations in an otherwise fairly classically designed shooter. The level design plays out across varied environments, from factory halls to deserts and underground complexes, while the humorous tone of the dialogue and characters gave the game a light-hearted atmosphere despite fairly intense action.

On Xbox, the game stood out with surprisingly good graphics and smooth performance, which helped it stand apart from the many similarly focused titles. Critical reception was mostly positive; the game was praised for the variety of its robotic opponents, its humor, and solid game mechanics, with some reviewers calling it one of the pleasant surprises of its time precisely because of its combination of action, hacking puzzles, and engaging storytelling. Even so, as a commercially successful title it ultimately didn't break through as much as it deserved, which some attribute to strong competition in the shooter market at the time of its release.

Today, Metal Arms is regarded as one of the underrated gems of the Xbox library, well worth discovering especially for fans of robotic themes and action shooters with a healthy dose of humor. Its legacy survives mainly among collectors and fans who discover the game retroactively and appreciate how well it has held up in terms of playability over the years, even though it never got a proper sequel or reboot.

Why play: For fans of robotic themes and action shooters with a healthy dose of humor, it's one of the underrated gems of the Xbox library, one that has kept very solid playability even after all these years.