Compilations
The Wii version lacks hitflashes (the quick white flash that indicates something is taking damage) due to an order from Nintendo, who is still afraid about inducing seizues. There are tons of different control options in order to take advantage of the Wiimote, but most of them are entirely useless. There are two that are actually useful - you can hold the Wiimote sideways to use it like a standard gamepad, but you need to shake the remote to toss grenades, which is not cool at all. Alternatively, you can use a Gamecube controller, but the digital pad doesn't work, restricting you to the analog stick. This does not work at all with a 2D game like this, and results in the games feeling very slippery. It also eliminates the use of most joysticks and the SNES-style Hori pad. You can't use the Classic
Controller at all, apparently due to Nintendo not furnishing the necessary software libraries in time for releaase.. These all seem like really strange and bizarre oversights. The Japanese version, dubbed Metal Slug Complete, was released a few months later and adds in proper Classic Controller support, but a fat lot of good that does for everyone else.
The PSP version is actually more faithful, as it keeps the hitflashes and doesn't have any stupid control problems. There is, however, lots of loading - loading up the disc, getting through the menus, starting the game - all take way too long. There's even loading on the character select screen. Other than some occasional pauses whenever there's huge explosions, the games themselves play just fine, so as long as you have the patience, it's a great package. You can even save games at any point and come back later. All of the versions have a gallery and a sound test, along with a text interview with the staff members. Most of these features need to be unlocked by collecting tokens, which are earned by playing the games over and over. The PSP version even lets you unlock wallpapers you can copy to your memory stick and use with the interface, which is a particularly nice touch. The Playstation 2 version is almost exactly like the Wii version, but doesn't fall prey to any control snafus, and also keeps the hitflashes, so it's the best of the bunch. The method to unlock the galleries has also changed - some of the options are open by default, and galleries are opened by beating the respective game. The confusing "token" system has been completely removed. All versions feature an option for auto-fire as well.
Metal Slug Anthology
From Metal Slug Anthology PSP Gallery
From Metal Slug X Gallery
Fighting Games
SNK Vs Capcom Chaos
Neo Geo Battle Coliseum
Neo Geo Battle Coliseum
King of Fighters 2006
Awesome Boss Fights
Metal Slug 2 - Level 2 Boss
Metal Slug 2 - Level 4 Boss
Metal Slug 2 - Level 5 Boss
Metal Slug 3 - Hermit Crab - Level 1 Boss
Metal Slug 3 - Jupiter King - Level 3 Boss
Metal Slug 3 - Sol Dae Rokker - Level 4 Boss
Metal Slug 3 - Rootmars - Final Boss
Metal Slug 4 - Level 4 Boss
Metal Slug 5 - Final Boss
Metal Slug 6 - Level 3 Boss
Metal Slug 6 - Level 4 Boss
Metal Slug 6 - Final Boss
Metal Slug
Metal Slug X
Metal Slug 3
Metal Slug 4
Metal Slug Advance
Metal Slug
Metal Slug X
Metal Slug 6
Metal Slug 6
Metal Slug 7
Although the first five games initially on the Neo Geo in the arcades, most of them got individual home ports. However, a compilation was released in Korea for the PC in 2003. It's basically no more than MAME and all for Metal Slugs, the English versions, tossed on a disc. In 2006 and 2007, to mark the 10th Anniversary of the series, SNK published the Metal Slug Anthology for the Wii, PSP and Playstation, ported by American company Terminal Reality, usually know for the Bloodrayne games. This includes Metal Slug 1, 2, X, 3, 4, 5 and 6 on one disc, and since they are completely different ports than the other versions, they lack the bonus modes found on those releases. They're all pretty much straight ports from the arcade, featuring the option of unlimited credits if one is so inclined. There are some quirks however.
SNK is well aware of the crossover between fighting game fans and Metal Slug fans, so it's natural that the series would make some cameos. Mars People (odd name, since it's a singular being) shows up as a hidden playable character in SNK Vs Capcom Chaos. Both Marco and Mars People are featured in its pseudo-sequel, Neo Geo Battle Coliseum. Marco has a handful of powers from the game, including a pistol attack, a backpack jet, the ability to call the Metal Slug in for a special attack, turn into a zombie to spew fountains of blood, or even summon Hyakutaro the fighting hostage for backup. Eri and Fio come out during one of his victory poses. King of Fighters Maximum Impact 2 (also known as King of Fighters 2006) features Fio as an unlockable character. There are also tons of extra costumes, including several from other SNK games - Ralf has a Marco costume, and Clark has a Tarma costume. One of the Extra Missions is inspired by the "beat up the car" mini-games from Final Fight, except your goal is to defeat a Metal Slug tank instead. Several characters are also featured in the SNK Vs Capcom Cards Fighters Clash games.
Sgt. Allen O'Neil
Combat School Instructors
His first appearance.
Afterwards, he falls into the ocean and gets swallowed by a killer whale, who spits his bones out. But he still lives in later installments?
You fight him on a plane in the final stage, but he later fights the aliens along side you with other soldiers.
Features a cyborg Terminator-style version.
Features Allen Jr., who masquerades as your commander.
Sophia
Meg
Riviera
Mariel
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Fans of Metal Slug would do best to check out Alien Hominid, which began as a flash game and later became a full console title available on the Playstation 2 and Gamecube in America, on the Gameboy Advance and Xbox in Europe, and worldwide (with beautiful HD graphics) on the Xbox 360 as part of the Xbox Live Arcade. The whole game is a tribute to Metal Slug, using most of its game mechanics and borrowing its sinister sense of humor, with an even more amusingly cartoony art style. It's not balanced as well, but it's a lot of fun regardless, and includes Super Soviet Missile Mastar, a hilarious tribute to the Cold War/Atari 2600 era games Links
Metal Slug Database Tons of pictures and supplemental stuff. |
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