Metal Slug was originally released on the Neo Geo, being a sidescrolling shoot 'em up. The story is simple, you're a soldier (or two, if you want to play with your mate) up against a gigantic army.
Every level consists of you running forward blasting everything that moves, and getting any powerup in the way (there's also a wide selection of weaponry in the game), and in the end of each level you're up against a gigantic boss.
This game might be a bit redundant - 7 of the games in the Metal Slug series were already released on the Wii in collective form as Metal Slug Anthology. However, none of the games on that disc allow for Classic Controller use, so if you desperately want to use it, then you have no choice but to buy it on VC. The Anthology also had some weird control choices, like flicking the Wii remote up to throw grenades - That's gone here.
Metal Slug is quite a bit like Konami's Contra series - You play as Marco Rossi and must run and gun down a truckload of all sorts of weird and wacky enemies. Get hit once and you're dead. The difficulty is obviously quite high as well because of this. Weapons include machine guns, grenades, flamethrowers and more pretty realistic stuff. You also take control of vehicles like tanks and have the option of rescuing prisoners for extra points.
The main enemies you will face are soldiers. These guys are great, and can be seen doing all sorts of stuff before you burst onto the scene, like sitting around a campfire eating, talking with each other or even sleeping. Most of this is thanks to the game's excellent (And we really mean excellent) spritework. The game easily has some of the best 2D graphics ever made, as everything moves incredibly fluidly. Screen-sized bosses have no trouble looking smooth, and tons of stuff in the background such as houses and boats explode and break down all the time.
Music-wise there's nothing excellent to speak of, but the music does get the point across, as it's fast-paced and quite lively.
The game is highly regarded among tons of gamers, so you can honestly do no wrong in downloading this title. This will probably be the best Neo Geo game on VC for quite a while.
Average reader rating: 4.65 (17 ratings)
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1. Bass X0
28 Mar 2008, 13:36 GMT
well if you're unsure and want to try out the metal slug games without paying for the anthology, i suppose this game is worth a download. but anyone with more than a passing interest in the games would have bought the Anthology already.
2. DEMON212
28 Mar 2008, 13:59 GMT
"Hi kids, want REAL controls?" "YEAH YEAH" "THEN FORK IT OVER :twisted:"
Still buying em. PSP version had the controls, but no co-op (Only have 1 PSP).
3. lordbowser
28 Mar 2008, 14:07 GMT
This game really brings back some good memories of scrounging around the arcade for quarters that people dropped and playing this religiously. Unfortunately downloading (or owning the anthology in my case) won't bring the joy of people crowding around the machine to watch.
4. Roo
28 Mar 2008, 18:26 GMT
Top-notch stuff, it's better than Contra!
5. Bensei
28 Mar 2008, 18:36 GMT
Advantages Anthology:
Disadvantages Anthology:
6. Shiryu
28 Mar 2008, 20:09 GMT
I have Anthologies on the wii, they removed the flashing screens and blood. I was sad.
7. NintendoNerd
04 Apr 2008, 00:19 GMT
Nice!!!! im gettin' this.
8. alvieao
04 Apr 2008, 08:48 GMT
Nice to still see you around here, Shriyu. Having my North American copy of Anthology, the enemies still bleed in the first game. But yes the flashing hit detection was removed due to Nintendo's order...
9. brooks83
09 Apr 2008, 07:02 GMT
Don't forget this is also going to be on the SNK Arcade Classics disc that is coming out later this year, along with 15 other SNK games. And I bet the new disc will have classic controller support. I'll just pick up the later Metal Slugs off of the VC
10. makke
10 Apr 2008, 11:38 GMT
i just played this in arcades few weeks ago. Its great
11. slangman
30 Apr 2008, 16:15 GMT
Wait a minute so the European version is blood free? Very retro of nintendo ): . I hope the european virtual console version is faithful to its neo geo counterpart.
12. Tony
03 May 2008, 00:33 GMT
I played the Anthology and it had the blood. Is that just a change for the Europe edition?
13. ICEknight
09 May 2008, 01:32 GMT
So, now that's been released...
Does it run at 50Hz only, in Europe?
Does it allow to turn blood on/off, or any other options?
Does it have the original music, or is it from the Neo-Geo CD version?
14. DEMON212
09 May 2008, 02:33 GMT
Erm, no idea, no the blood is always on, yes you can change difficulty and lives, no idea, sounds the same as always to me.
Mint game, love it, love it, LOVE IT! Just beat it in co-op with Panda, had a blast, can't wait to do it again
15. starlac
09 May 2008, 03:22 GMT
I've Just put on my UK PAL copy of Anthology and played MS1-6, the blood is present and correct on each, no sweat here. Although, it's could always be different for other parts of Europe.
16. ICEknight
09 May 2008, 04:08 GMT
I've just checked my (Spanish) copy of MSA and it's also included...
17. Kaeru
09 May 2008, 08:03 GMT
Do you have endless with credits? Or is there a limit?
18. Viral
09 May 2008, 08:03 GMT
....I have the Anthology and it's fun. Blood showing or not showing doesn't change the fact that you can enjoy the game regardless.
19. Shortay-01
09 May 2008, 08:25 GMT
How is the easiest difficulty on this?
20. slangman
09 May 2008, 09:59 GMT
Ok so there still is blood in the UK version of the game. Thanks you guys.
21. DEMON212
09 May 2008, 10:00 GMT
Kaeru, no you don't get infinte credits... Technically that is. How it works is, that the game lets you save when you run out of credits and when you load it back up you get full credits again.
Short, it's pretty easy, but there are multiple difficulties
No probs Slang
22. MrLopez
09 May 2008, 11:07 GMT
Isn't is smarter to buy the anthology?
23. DEMON212
09 May 2008, 11:29 GMT
Price wise, maybe, fun wise, depends on if you like the most retarded control setups ever with no classic controller support.
24. PRP
09 May 2008, 14:42 GMT
The game runs at 50Hz, wich is disappointing. Also, no flashing hit detection (why?) , but luckily the blood is still present...
25. ICEknight
09 May 2008, 14:51 GMT
"Price wise, maybe, fun wise, depends on if you like the most retarded control setups ever with no classic controller support."
It can be controlled quite nicely with the GameCube controller, even if you need to use the analogue.
26. Tony
09 May 2008, 14:54 GMT
If you download this and like it, you may want to consider the Anthology. I personally like Metal Slug 3 the best, but they are the same mostly. The graphics and music are excellent. If you enjoy Contra or Gunstar, you owe it to yourself to play this game. Enjoy:)
27. Jazzem
09 May 2008, 16:03 GMT
Wait, am I right in saying the VC version has blood? I'm not really a gore fan but from what I played of it on GameTap I thought the blood worked with the game pretty well, good news that.
I absolutely loved what I played of this, so once I get points I'll definitely download it. At last, a Neo Geo VC game I want!
28. djshep1973
09 May 2008, 16:09 GMT
This does look great, and could take my cherry a couple of ways... I'm a Metal Slug virgin and I've never played a NEO GEO game before either, lol..
29. Shortay-01
09 May 2008, 16:14 GMT
Thanks DEMON, but I think I'll just wait for one of the later Metal Slugs.
If we get anymore, that is.
30. Majora
09 May 2008, 16:32 GMT
Why I see it too slow? (This is my PAL version?)
31. Anonymous X
10 May 2008, 02:45 GMT
Can we have information listed as standard on vc-reviews as to whether these games are properly converted (i.e. not 50Hz) or not? That'd really help. Oh and although Metal Slug Anthology exists, the controls are broken basically; unworkable Wiimote control schemes, no Classic controller support, and analog-only GCN pad controls. Awful.
32. Kokstra
10 May 2008, 02:57 GMT
Were any of the sequels released on the Neo Geo (so hopefully they'll get to the VC)? Just played it for the first time and it's awesome!
33. DEMON212
10 May 2008, 05:55 GMT
ICE
Say what? Why didn't anyons tell me that?
34. Drake
10 May 2008, 10:36 GMT
Kokstra: All games up to Metal Slug 5, and Metal Slug X, are on Neo Geo. 6 is arcade only, and 7 is the upcoming DS game.
35. DEMON212
10 May 2008, 10:45 GMT
6 is Arcade and Anthology only. Hopefully 6 and 7 will get Wii Wared though
BTW, ever play Metal Slug Advance? Terrible game
36. Kokstra
11 May 2008, 02:46 GMT
Thanks Drake!
37. Rossi
11 May 2008, 13:11 GMT
Fair play the neo geo did go a long time.. 2004 it last was Discontinued i think.. And the Metal Slug games finished of on the neo geo back in 2003 as MS5. At 2003 i really was not thinking about 708 Mbit graphics.. at this point, i was too busy on my ps2..
38. Betagam7
12 May 2008, 17:01 GMT
Anonymous X
I think this will be 50hz as the only other Neo Geo game I downloaded was and had borders (magician lord) it looks like they can't be bothered. I agree that its also a little silly that this site has now deemed it unecessary to bother telling us anymore if games are 50/60hz. I read one of the guys awhile ago defending this decision by saying that not enough people care or understand. Exactly the reason why those who do care and understand should be eductating those who don't I would have thought.
Incidently does anyone know if the GC Hori pad works with the anothology as I'm sure that by holding one of the buttons down you can make the D pad on that become the analogue or digital control?
39. CopyofCopyX
14 May 2008, 12:34 GMT
The borders are even worse in most NES games because much of the screen is already taken up by informations like points, health and so on. In the end this makes the main game really small.
The Hanabi edition of Ninja Gaiden was an huge improvement over all other NES games I had seen so far. Why can't they all be like that? Why?
40. Jimmy Damage
16 May 2008, 15:07 GMT
Nostalgia!
41. Betagam7
16 May 2008, 22:21 GMT
CopyofCopyX, they could all be like this, but people are too lazy to do anything positive about it.
We all know online petitions don't work but how about a kind of online loss counter where people can register which VC games they DIDN'T Buy because of this issue and a counter to track lost profits for Nintendo, perhaps when they see those minus euros and pounds they'd realise the mistake they made.
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