How to Optimize Solo and Co-Op Synergy in Full Metal Furies

1. Game Overview

At length, Full Metal Furies is an action-adventure, beat ’em up game that emphasizes cooperative combat and skill-based progression. You can play solo by switching between two characters, or with friends in local or online co-op for up to four players. The game blends fast combos, character classes, puzzles, and shared rewards to create both challenging and satisfying co-op experiences.

• Developer: Cellar Door Games
• Publisher: Cellar Door Games
• Release Dates: January 17, 2018 for Windows (Steam) & Xbox One; November 6, 2018 for Nintendo Switch
• Platforms: Windows, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
• Genre: Action / Adventure / Action-RPG / Beat-’em-up elements
• Core Loop: Choose characters → enter a mission → fight through enemies using combos, dodges, and character-specific skills → encounter colour-shielded foes and switch or coordinate to break barriers → defeat mini-bosses / major bosses → return to base camp → spend gold and blueprints to upgrade skill trees, unlock abilities or equipment → repeat with tougher stages.

Quick Fact: The game was created by the team behind Rogue Legacy and positions teamwork and complementary roles as core design pillars.

2. Core Facts Table (Quick Reference)

System	What It Does	Player Impact
Characters	Four distinct Fury classes (Triss, Erin, Alex, Meg) with unique skill kits; in single-player you pick two and quick-switch between them.	You must balance roles based on encounter: crowd control, ranged support, tanking, utility become vital in co-op or solo via smart switching.
Combat	Fast melee / ranged combos, directional attacks, counters, and class synergy; many enemies have color-coded barriers that force class switching or cooperation.	You must learn enemy tells, coordinate attacks (in co-op or via switching), and time counters/combos properly or risk getting shut down.
Progression	You earn gold, unlock and enhance skills via skill trees, equip gear that changes abilities, and master equipment through usage to get bonuses across all characters.	Your equipment and mastery choices can shift a character’s role; investing wisely increases boss viability and adaptability.
Boss Design	Major bosses and mini-bosses employ multi-stage patterns and phases; many battles introduce mechanics like invulnerability phases or color shields.	You should study tells, prioritize shield-breaking, exploit phases, and coordinate revives or class switching for consistent success.
Barrier / Shield Mechanics	Some enemies carry color-barriers tied to specific Fury colours; characters matching barrier colours must break those shields.	Forces you to use correct characters in the right moments; failing to break barriers blocks damage and slows progression.
Shared Rewards & Revives	Gold, loot, and other rewards are shared; when a player is downed others can revive them; revival bar gradually builds even if alone.	This encourages cooperation and staying alive; downed players are not immediately penalized so team support becomes critical.

3. Combat Fundamentals And Character Roles

Full Metal Furies does foreground cooperative synergy: characters have asymmetrical kits. Examples are a hammer-wielding Fighter (Alex), a ranged support/sniper character (Meg), a tanky shield bearer (Triss), and an Engineer with gadgets and turrets.

1. Pick Two System: In single-player, you choose two Furies and quick-switch between them. Single-player retains many co-op mechanics via this system.
2. Combos And Counters: Combat rewards linking hits into combos, so certain characters have counters or abilities that interrupt enemies, giving windows for heavier damage.
3. Damage Barriers: The game uses colour-shields or barriers on some enemies that force you to use the correct class or character (or their matching abilities) to bypass or break the shields. So, if you attack the wrong class, damage is heavily reduced.

Mechanic Note: Many community guides and the developer describe combat as “true‑cooperative,” where every player’s role matters and failure to coordinate leads to rapid wipe scenarios.

4. Progression, Levels, And Boss Structure

The campaign moves through themed areas, each with stages that include regular enemies, mini bosses, and major “Titan” bosses. Players gather gold, find equipment blueprints (called schematics), earn experience to level up equipment and unlock or improve abilities and gear.

1. Level Design: Levels combine combat arenas, exploration, hidden paths, and gate puzzles. Some gates remain locked until you solve puzzle-stone clues or collect certain items
2. Boss Encounters: Bosses use multiple phases and pattern-driven mechanics. They often test positioning, managing revives, knowing when to switch characters or protect weaker allies, and prioritizing parts of the boss
3. Mastery And Equipment: The game includes mastery systems for both characters and equipment. You gain mastery XP by using equipment and abilities; mastering them increases their effectiveness and sometimes unlocks bonuses or higher tiers. Players often replay or revisit selective encounters to optimize equipment and mastery.

5. Difficulty, Co‑Op Modes, and Platform Notes

Difficulty

Full Metal Furies scales its challenge with party size and was tuned around two players, so solo runs feel noticeably harder by design. The developers added an optional Story mode to make the game more forgiving for players who prefer an easier experience. Reviews and player reports also note that bosses and some encounters require tight timing and teamwork, which can make single-player runs feel punishing until you master switching and combos.

Co-Op Modes

You can play with up to four players locally or online, and the Pick-Two quick-switch system preserves co-op mechanics for solo players. The game shares rewards among teammates and removes friendly fire, so cooperation and class roles are rewarded rather than penalized. Hosting a coop session saves progress per player, which helps when you jump into friends’ games and keep your own upgrades. Some players report occasional multiplayer connectivity or controller issues, so expect mixed experiences depending on platform and setup.

Platform Notes and Accessibility

Launched on Windows and Xbox One on January 17, 2018 and on Nintendo Switch on November 6, 2018. It supports local and online co-op, and Xbox/Windows versions benefit from Play Anywhere integration where applicable. The game includes a number of accessibility options such as difficulty selection, button remapping, and simplified inputs to lower mechanical demands for some players. So, for PC users, adding local players typically requires pressing Start on controllers at the profile select screen and adjusting Steam controller settings if input conflicts arise.

Compatibility Tip: For local or couch co-op, be sure to use controllers that Steam recognizes (XInput or SDL controllers). Keyboard and mouse are options, but in chaotic multi-player moments controllers often offer better responsiveness.

6. Practical Strategies and Advanced Team Tips

1. Use colour-barriers to force team coordination
   Whenever enemies appear with coloured shields, make sure the character who matches that shield colour is ready (or alive). If not, it blocks damage entirely until the barrier is broken by the right Fury. In co-op, call out who handles which shield so you don’t waste time or firepower.
2. Chain combos and air juggles across characters
   Use one character to launch or juggle enemies in the air (e.g. Triss or Alex), then switch (solo) or coordinate (co-op) to follow up with ranged or special attacks while the enemy is mid-air. This maximizes damage before the enemy hits ground and resets.
3. Time dodges and special moves for clutch moments
   Since abilities and dodge moves have cooldowns, you can’t spam them. Save those cooldowns for boss mechanics (e.g. big attacks, stuns) or when shields and barriers force delays. This helps you survive tight hits and preserve health.
4. Revive teammates smartly and manage down-time
   If a Fury is downed, the rescue bar rises passively, but you can speed revival by physically going to them and holding the revive action. Prioritize reviving shield-matching heroes (since their absence can block damage to certain enemies) to avoid getting stuck in segments.
5. Select gear and build mastery around playstyle and upcoming challenges
   Before entering tougher levels or boss fights, adjust equipment and mastery upgrades to fit what’s ahead. For example, if you’re going into a level with many shield-barrier enemies, equip gear that improves barrier breaking or boosts your character’s damage after switching or air hits. Also, mastery increases some bonuses across characters so prioritize equipment you’ll use often

7. Conclusion

Use this guide to sharpen combos, coordinate shield calls, and tailor equipment mastery so your team clears stages instead of stalling on gate puzzles or boss phases. So, practice revives, timing, and role synergy, then revisit stages to farm blueprints and mastery bonuses. Doing so turns frustrating encounters into repeatable wins and unlocks the game’s deeper team strategies!