Battle City Classic Co-op
Nintendo Entertainment System · Shoot 'em Up
Metal Fighter
Deep cut
| System | Nintendo Entertainment System |
|---|---|
| Released | 1989 |
| Genre | Shoot 'em Up |
| Developer | Joy Van |
| Publisher | Color Dreams |
| Players | 1 player |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Legacy | Deep cut · legacy score 2 |
Released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1989, Metal Fighter is a shoot 'em up developed by Joy Van and published by Color Dreams.
It landed about 4 years into the NES's life. Other notable NES releases from 1989 include Mother, Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse and DuckTales.
Joy Van also made Master Chu and the Drunkard Hu and Silent Assault for the NES.
This is a solo experience: one player, no waiting on anyone else.
Pick it if…
- you want to fight, blast and test your reflexes
- you have time for a quick session (under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
- you've played the NES hits and want something less obvious
Maybe skip it if…
- you dislike high difficulty and screens full of bullets
- you are looking for something to play with friends
What playing Metal Fighter is like
Shoot 'em ups (shmups) put you in a ship facing waves of enemies and bullets. Runs are short and intense, and the goal is to survive, collect power-ups and push your high score.
Tip for newcomers: Focus on your ship's small hitbox rather than the flood of bullets, and learn which power-ups suit each stage. Most shmups are designed to be replayed many times.
Metal Fighter walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Metal Fighter.
If you like Metal Fighter, the Matrix also picks…
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Contra Force Classic
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Contra Classic
Doraemon Classic
The Guardian Legend Classic
Playing NES games today
NES games are short on paper but often famously tough, so expect to replay levels and learn patterns. Many first-party titles are available through Nintendo Switch Online, original cartridges remain easy to find, and you can play backups of games you own in an emulator such as Rec0m88.
Metal Fighter FAQ
When did Metal Fighter come out on the NES?
Metal Fighter was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1989.
Who made Metal Fighter?
It was developed by Joy Van and published by Color Dreams.
Is Metal Fighter multiplayer?
No. Metal Fighter is a single-player game.
How long does Metal Fighter take to play?
As a shoot 'em up, Metal Fighter typically falls into the "Quick session" category: under an hour, or endless arcade fun. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.
Read more about Metal Fighter on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.