Metal Slime
Dragon Quest species
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Metal Slime (Japanese: メタルスライム, Hepburn: Metaru Suraimu) is a type of species and enemy in the Dragon Quest series. A member of the Slime species, the Metal Slime has grey metal skin and the same eyes and mouth as Slime species typically have. It was created by Yuji Horii, the series creator, and designed by Akira Toriyama, the primary artist for the series at the time. It is noted for having little health but high evasion, making it very difficult to hit normally. It typically runs away from battle early on, and if defeated, it confers a significant amount of experience.
| Metal Slime | |
|---|---|
| Dragon Quest character | |
Metal Slime as it appears in the Dragon Quest series | |
| First game | Dragon Quest (1986) |
| Created by | Yuji Horii |
| Designed by | Akira Toriyama |
It has been featured in various pieces of merchandise, including apparel, figurines, stuffed toys, electronics, and food. It has also been featured in a commercial for a mobile Dragon Quest game featuring actress Rena Nōnen in the role of a Metal Slime. Metal Slime and its other forms have been generally well received, with hunting them being considered a significant moment for critics. The enjoyment of Metal Slime hunting has been explained as being due to the gambling aspect of trying to defeat them. Later depictions of Slime, particularly in the HD-2D Remakes of Dragon Quest I and III, have been criticized as being too easy due to features that make it more likely to find and defeat them.
Concept and creation
In the original Dragon Quest, the regular Slime is a weak enemy encountered early on in the game. It has a blue teardrop-shaped body with two circle-shaped eyes and an open-mouth smile.[citation needed] The Slime has multiple variants in this game and other entries in the Dragon Quest franchise, including the Metal Slime, which looks identical to the Slime except that it has a silver metal body.[1] Metal Slimes have multiple variants as well, including the Liquid Metal Slime and Metal King Slime.[citation needed] The Liquid Metal Slime is a bubbling puddle of metal slime with the Slime's face on it, while the Metal King Slime is a much larger Metal Slime wearing a crown.[citation needed] According to the book Dragon Quest Monsters, Liquid Metal Slimes derive from the Bubble Slime, which similarly is a puddle of slime. It tells a story of a Bubble Slime that helps a fairy, leading it to ask to live in the heavens, leading it to be purified with light. [1] All Metal Slimes are noted for having limited health points, high speed, and high evasion, making it particularly difficult for the player to kill.[citation needed] It also has a high chance of fleeing the battle, explained by Horii as the monsters being shy.[2] They are also rarely encountered. Upon being defeated, any characters present in battle gain a significant amount of experience, used to level up.[1]
Appearances
Metal Slime originally appears as an enemy in the first Dragon Quest title. It reappears in the sequel, Dragon Quest II, which also introduces the Liquid Metal Slime, a metal variant of the Liquid Slime which has more health points. This form is added to the original Dragon Quest via Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake.[citation needed] Dragon Quest IV later introduces the Metal King Slime.[3] In Dragon Quest V, the protagonist has a chance to recruit a Metal Slime onto his team as an ally.[citation needed] There are also certain attacks and weapons that can be used to defeat them, such as a Poison Needle weapon and Metal Slash technique.[4][3] The series has also featured multiple pieces of equipment based on Metal Slimes, including armor and gloves.[5] Metal Slimes have also appeared on multiple mobile games, including Dragon Quest Walk,[6], Dragon Quest Monsters: Super Light, and Dragon Quest Tact.[citation needed] It appears as an enemy in the film Dragon Quest: Your Story,[7] and in Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai, which features a golden Metal Slime named Gome-chan.[8]
Promotion and merchandise
Members of the Metal Slime family have been featured in multiple pieces of merchandise, including apparel,[9][10] figurines,[11] and stuffed toys.[citation needed] A PlayStation 2 Slime-themed controller has a rare Metal Slime-themed version.[12] A Metal Slime-themed PlayStation 4 was released in 2014,[13] as well as a Metal Slime-themed PlayStation Vita, which included a small Liquid Metal Slime figure that plugged into the earphone jack.[14] The release of the Metal Slime PlayStation 4 was associated with a significant boost in console sales in Japan.[15] Non-video game electronics have also been released with Metal Slime theming, including an Android-based smartphone, a keyboard with 12 Metal Slime key toppers, and a laptop by Japanese retailer Tsukumo.[16][17][18] Square Enix also created a brand of items called "Dragon Quest Zipang", which featured multiple traditional Japanese crafts, including Edo-Kiriko glassware that has a Metal Slime-themed option.[19]
Metal Slimes have also been used as part of different food and drink merchandise. The energy drink brand "ZONe Energy", which often collaborates with anime and video game franchises, created a Metal Slime-themed in collaboration with Square Enix to promote Dragon Quest VII Reimagined.[20] There was also Slime gummies released. These gummies are typically blue, but rarely feature a Metal Slime-themed gummy that tastes like cola.[21] Square Enix, in collaboration with TBI Holdings, opened a cafe called "Dragon Quest Super Light Cafe", featuring multiple character-themed meals, including "Metal Slime Risotto".[22] Square Enix also collaborated with Lawson to release Dragon Quest-themed food, including a black sesame seed milk flavor representing the Metal Slime.[23]
A New Nintendo 2DS XL was released with a Liquid Metal Slime on its lid.[24] The Liquid Metal Slime has been a popular figure according to Siliconera writer Jenni Lada. An automated Liquid Metal Slime sensor figure that moves on its own, using its sensor to avoid moving into objects.[25] Taito also created a similar device, a Liquid Metal Slime that works as an electric floor cleaner,[26] as well as a themed mouse.[27]
The Metal Slime was featured in a commercial for the mobile game Dragon Quest Monsters: Super Light titled "Metal Slime Appears". It stars actress Rena Nōnen, who had been in previous commercials for the game, in silver clothing and a Metal Slime headpiece, which Nōnen describes as her favorite Dragon Quest monster. As part of this commercial, a giveaway was held, where one winner would receive the Metal Slime headgear she wore.[28] A later commercial featuring Metal Slime was also aired, titled "Metal Slime Battle". According to Nōnen, she aimed to portray the Metal Slime as "nonchalant" to represent its agility despite herself being clumsy.[29]
Reception
The Metal Slime has been generally well-received. In 1999, Nintendo Power nominated it as one of the best "bad guys" in video games.[30] Destructoid writer Ben Davis regarded killing Metal Slimes as the most satisfying part of Dragon Quest VIII due to how difficult and rewarding it is to do so. He stated that the rarity of an encounter with Metal Slime usually caused his heart to skip a beat, and added that the first time he killed a Metal Slime was "one of the best feelings ever".[31] Siliconera writer Graham Russel picked the Liquid Metal Slime as his favorite Dragon Quest monster; he stated that he enjoyed it due to how much experience it gives upon being defeated, but liked it primarily due to enjoying the Liquid Metal Slime Japanese Nintendo 2DS and 3DS models.[32] According to Magmix staff, fans of the series have found Metal Slime hunting in Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake to be too easy, with staff citing the ability for one class in the game to learn the ability to guarantee critical hits and a new weapon that does guaranteed damage to multiple Metal Slimes.[33] In another article, Magmix staff stated that, even if it feels like it has become easier, the Metal Slimes fleeing battle still made it a frustrating experience.[34]
IGN Japan writer Takuya Watanabe believed that the gambling-like element involved in defeating Metal Slimes was a part of the thrill of fighting them, stating that it broke up the monotony of leveling up a character that was common in that time. Commenting on Metal Slimes in Dragon Quest I HD-2D Remake, he felt that hunting and fighting Metal Slime lacked the excitement he once had for it, citing a lack of special animation when they appear or effects when they are defeated. By comparison to later entries, Watanabe felt that it was monotonous and tedious, only sticking with it due to using a mod that prevented them from running away, which he felt made the process less frustrating yet not "dramatically" more enjoyable.[35] The A.V. Club writer Jason Killingsworth described the Metal Slime as an "object of desire" rather than fear, stating that it serves to frustrate the players in part due to how it is nearly identical to a regular Slime despite being so difficult to kill. He discussed how managing to actually kill one, especially via a critical hit, stating that it triggered a "slot-machine jackpot of endorphins and experience points". Killingsworth argued that, to him, the Metal Slime represented contentment in life, being "close enough to grab but dances away with each attempt to grab hold".[36]
Futabanet writer Kurohachi described the Metal Slime family as a well-known Dragon Quest monster and one of its most distinctive, stating that hearing the name would make make many players' hearts flutter. They believed that how helpful they are to leveling up in the Dragon Quest series likely made many players attached to them. He argued that it was the most iconic monster in the series, believing that the thrill of defeating a Metal Slime for the first time is unforgettable due to how difficult it is.[37] Fellow Futabanet writer Jackie felt that encountering a Metal Slime is among the most exciting moments in the series,[4] particularly the Liquid Metal Slime, which he believes was so exciting due to the amount of experience it gives.[38]