Metal Slug

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Metal Slug
Developer(s)	Nazca Corporation, SNK
Publisher(s)	SNK, Nazca Corporation
Platform(s)	Arcade, Neo Geo, Neo Geo CD, Virtual Console
Release date(s)	Neo Geo May 24, 1996 Virtual Console NA May 26, 2008 EU May 9, 2008
Genre(s)	Run and gun
Mode(s)	Single player, 2 player Co-op
Rating(s)	CERO: B (Ages 12+) ESRB: Teen
Input methods	8-way Joystick, 3 Buttons
Cabinet	Upright
Arcade system	Neo-Geo (193 Mbit cartridge)
Display	Raster, 304 x 224 pixels (Horizontal), 4096 colors

Metal Slug (メタルスラッグ, Metaru Suraggu^?) is a run and gun video game for the Neo-Geo console/arcade platform developed by Nazca Corporation and published by SNK. It was originally released in 1996 for the MVS arcade platform. The game is widely known for its sense of humor, fluid hand-drawn animation, and fast paced two-player action. It is the first title in the Metal Slug series.

[edit] Gameplay

Metal Slug screenshot

The player has to constantly shoot at a continual stream of enemies in order to reach the end of a level. At the end of each level, the player must confront a boss who is often considerably larger than regular enemies and takes many shots to defeat. On the way through the level, the player finds weapons upgrades and "Metal Slug" tanks that can be used not only as weapons but also as added defense.

The protagonists can perform melee attacks by using a knife and/or kicking. The player does not die for simply coming into contact with most enemies. Correspondingly, many of the enemy troops have melee attacks. Much of the game's scenery is destructible. Sometimes this reveals extra items or powerups, most of the time it simply results in collateral damage.

During the course of a level, the player encounters POWs. If these are freed, the player can receive bonuses in the form of random items or weapons. The player receives a score bonus for freeing prisoners at the end of the level; at this point the game shows the name and rank of each POW freed. If the player dies before the end of the level, the tally of freed prisoners is deleted.

There are a total of six levels, with themes ranging from forests, garrisoned cities, snowy mountain valleys, canyons, and military bases.

[edit] Enemies

The vast majority of enemies encountered in Metal Slug are enemy soldiers, who are given weaponry that fits their specific role. There also a host of mechanized enemies: tanks, mobile artillery, aircraft, armored personnel carriers and technicals. Much of the game's humor comes from how the enemies portray themselves. The player encounters them at many times of leisure: sunbathing, roasting food over a fire, or just conversing amongst themselves. They will also scream loudly if they see the player, while doing these things.

[edit] Ports

Originally, Metal Slug was available on Neo-Geo MVS arcade system and AES home entertainment system. Later on, a Neo Geo CD version of the game was produced, which featured a "Combat School" mode that allows the player to revisit previously-played stages, but with new mission objectives to fulfill.

Sega Saturn and PlayStation versions were also released. The Saturn version was available in two different versions, 1.002 and 1.005, the latter with minor bug fixes, and are no longer in production. The PlayStation version is currently being distributed by SNK Playmore as a re-release version. Both ports feature the Combat School, while the PlayStation version feature a new game mode dubbed "Another Story", which is comprised of a series of plot-based mini-games.

In 2006, Metal Slug Anthology (titled Metal Slug Complete in Japan) was released for the Wii, PlayStation 2 and PSP. This compilation includes the original Metal Slug, and all of its arcade sequels (including Metal Slug 2 and Metal Slug X) up to Metal Slug 6. The games (with the exception of Metal Slug 6) are emulations of the AES versions, with none of the additional game modes and content introduced in the other home versions of the game.

Metal Slug is also on GameTap, with a two player online option, and was also released on the Wii's Virtual Console in 2008.^[1] Metal Slug was included as part of SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1 which was released for the Wii, PlayStation 2, and PSP in 2008.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Metal Slug at the Killer List of Videogames
• Metal Slug - Super Vehicle-001 at Arcade-History.com
• Metal Slug at Neo-Geo.com (reviews) 1 2
• Metal Slug at GameFAQs
• Metal Slug: Super Vehicle - 001 at MobyGames