GunMetal

GunMetal is a first-person shooter developed and self-published by Mad Genius Software in 1998 for Windows 95/98. Set in a dystopian future where corporations rule the galaxy, the player assumes the role of a remote pilot controlling a heavily armed RPV (Remotely Piloted Vehicle) through a neural link for the Nataka Corporate Empire. The game distinguishes itself with a dark comedic tone, extensive mech customization, and enemy artificial intelligence that actively dodges, flanks, and swarms. Between missions, players salvage enemy wreckage for cash and spend it on new chassis, armour, and over thirty weapons and gadgets, including railguns, auto-sentries, holographic decoys, and a disintegrator. The single-player campaign alternates between search-and-destroy, rescue, and escort objectives, while unexpected billboards and propaganda spots keep the mood light. Multiplayer supports up to eight players in deathmatch, with a handicapping system that gives weaker players more funds to level the playing field. GunMetal was praised for its interactive music system that blends tracks seamlessly as the player moves through levels, and its software-rendered graphics featured real-time reflective water that rivalled hardware-accelerated titles of the era. It requires a Pentium 133, 32 MB RAM, and a 3DFX Voodoo-compatible accelerator for optimal visuals, though it also runs in software mode on standard SVGA hardware.