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Varia Metal
Varia Metal is a 1995 arcade action game developed by Excellent System. Players control an armed character battling through stages filled with enemy soldiers, mechs, and bosses, in a style reminiscent of run-and-gun shooters. The game uses an eight-way joystick and buttons for shooting and jumping, allowing players to attack in multiple directions while navigating side-scrolling and overhead-view segments. Weapons can be collected throughout the levels, giving players additional firepower against increasingly tough enemies. The stage structure progresses through distinct areas, each culminating in a boss encounter. Varia Metal supports two-player simultaneous co-op, letting a second player join the action. The game's sprite work and enemy variety reflect the mid-1990s arcade action style that Excellent System was known for producing.
- Developer
- Excellent System
- Released
- 1995
- Platform
- Arcade
- Genre
- Action
- Rating
- 4.8 / 5 (2.2K)
- Last updated
Varia Metal Controls — Arcade Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Varia Metal on our in-browser Arcade emulator. Plug in a USB or Bluetooth gamepad to auto-detect mappings, or rebind any key from the emulator settings menu.
| Keyboard | Console button | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| ↑ | Joystick Up | Move up |
| ↓ | Joystick Down | Move down |
| ← | Joystick Left | Move left |
| → | Joystick Right | Move right |
| X | Button 1 | Primary action (jump / confirm) |
| Z | Button 2 | Secondary action (attack / cancel) |
| S | Button 3 | Tertiary action |
| A | Button 4 | Quaternary action |
| Q | Button 5 | Fifth button |
| W | Button 6 | Sixth button |
| 5 | Insert Coin | Insert coin |
| 1 | 1P Start | Start / Pause |
Coin and Start are convention "Insert Coin: 5" and "1P Start: 1". Some arcade boards expect specific button mappings — check the in-game prompts on coin-up.
Rebind any key from the EmulatorJS in-game settings menu (gear icon → Controls). A connected gamepad auto-maps to the same buttons.
Varia Metal Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Varia Metal on Arcade before you dive in — recommended for getting a feel for the game's pacing, story beats, and difficulty curve.
Watch longplay on YouTube
"Varia Metal" Arcade longplay 1995
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Varia Metal released?
Varia Metal was released in 1995 for the Arcade.
Who developed Varia Metal?
Varia Metal was developed by Excellent System, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
What type of game is Varia Metal?
Varia Metal is a Action game for the Arcade, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Varia Metal for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Varia Metal runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Varia Metal in the browser?
No. Varia Metal streams from a public archive into a browser-side Arcade emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Varia Metal?
Yes. Save states are stored in your browser (IndexedDB) per game, and you can also use any in-game save the original Arcade cartridge supported.
Does Varia Metal work on mobile devices?
Yes — the Arcade emulator runs on iOS Safari and Android Chrome. Touch controls overlay the game; landscape mode is recommended.
Is it legal to play Varia Metal this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Varia Metal. Game files are fetched on demand from publicly-accessible archives. You are responsible for compliance with your local laws and the bring-your-own-ROM principle.
