Metal Slug 5

Metal Slug 5
File:Metal Slug 5 (insert).jpg Cover art
Developer(s)	Noise Factory / SNK Playmore
Publisher(s)	SNK Playmore
Composer(s)	Toshikazu Tanaka
Series	Metal Slug
Platform(s)	Arcade Neo Geo PlayStation 2 Xbox Windows
Release	November Template:Vgy
Genre(s)	Run and gun
Mode(s)	Single-player, 2 player co-op
Arcade system	Neo-Geo (708 Mbit cartridge)

Metal Slug 5 (メタルスラッグ 5) is a run and gun video game for the Neo-Geo console/arcade platform created by SNK Playmore. It was released in 2003 for the MVS arcade platform, is the fifth game in the Metal Slug series, and was one of the last games for the Neo Geo system. The game was developed by Noise Factory/SNK Playmore, after Korean company Mega Enterprise had directed Metal Slug 4.

The biggest difference from previous titles is the addition of the slide move, which allows the player to evade and maneuver in a new fashion. Unlike its predecessor Metal Slug 4, which reused many of the backgrounds from the previous games, Metal Slug 5 incorporates a wealth of new environments and backgrounds and features a more Heavy metal influenced soundtrack.

It was later ported to Microsoft Xbox in Japan and North America only (not compatible with Xbox 360) and Sony PlayStation 2 as a stand-alone game in Japan and Europe, and along with Metal Slug 4 as a compilation in North America and South Korea. It was also ported to Microsoft Windows for a Korean release.

Plot

One year after the event of Metal Slug 7. A special disc that contains deep and intricate secrets about the Metal Slug project is stolen by a mysterious group called the Ptolemaic Army, whose speciality lies from within archaeological excavation and espionage. Marco and Tarma of the Peregrine Falcon Strike Force follow in hot pursuit against the group and in the process are joined by Eri and Fio of SPARROWS. Together once more, the quartet investigate the shrouded objective of the Ptolemaic Army, who over time grows more powerful as they are joined by a mysterious masked man and his followers. At the end of the game, the Ptolemaic Army summons a giant demon as the final boss, which after a long battle is forced to leave Earth thanks to the heroes.

Differences from previous games

• The player may now perform a slide-dash.
• "Fat mode" is the only remaining modifier, there are no zombies, mummies, aliens or other supernatural creatures, although the final boss is a large demon.
• Morden's infantry, Morden himself and Allen O'Neil are nowhere to be found in this game; rather, one fights armies of veiled terrorists, special forces, and assorted mecha. As a result, this game lacks much of the sense of humor of its predecessors. However, most of the new enemies are mostly edits of Rebel soldier sprites.
• With the exception of the first and third levels, the game does not have branching paths.
• The "Flame shot" has been omitted. According to the Debug level, the Flame Shot is present in the code.
• The medal system from Metal Slug 4 has been abandoned.
• Playable characters Trevor and Nadia have been omitted in favor of Eri and Tarma.
• There are cutscenes at various points throughout the game, rather than one or two at the end, giving the game a hint of progression of plot.
• A remixed version of "Final Attack" is played whilst facing the final boss.
• Depending on whether the Arcade machine has the "Blood" option turned on or off, not only the blood color will change from red to white, but the Ptolemaic Army's guerilla's T-shirt and bandanas will change from red to navy.

New vehicles and Slugs

Only three new vehicles were added, though the Metal Slug, Slug Mariner, and Slug Flyer make a return.

• The first new vehicle, the Slug Gunner, is the ultimate evolution of the Metal Slug and rebel Armor. The Gunner fires a machine gun, a chassis-mounted cannon, and can punch enemies with a close-combat exploding metal spike "cannon". The Gunner can perform a mid-air jump like that of the Level Armor. The Gunner can transform from a walker into a tank, and can move slightly faster in addition to running over infantry. However, the gunner is slow, takes a while to turn, and only has a 180-degree firing arc (360-degree while in the air).
• The second new vehicle is the Car Slug or the TIAF 660. This is a car with a 360-degree vulcan cannon attached. Its secondary fire is an oversized Enemy Chaser. Of particular interest is that the player cannot eject from the vehicle, meaning they die when its destroyed, and will subsequently respawn in a new Car Slug.
• The Spider Slug is a giant squid-like walker with two legs tethered to the floor and to the ceiling; jumping raises or lowers the cockpit. The Spider Slug is armed with 360-degree firing vulcan cannons, and a harpoon gun.

Reception

Reception

Aggregate scores

Aggregator	Score
GameRankings	70.89%/70.47%
Metacritic	71

Metal Slug 5 received mixed to positive reviews from critics. It received very positive scores from players, with an average of 8.1 on GameSpot for the PS2 version and 8.4 for the Arcade version. While Metacritic and Gamrankings given with 70.47% and 70 alongside with Metal Slug 4 as compilation for both PS2 and Xbox score.

Legacy

In 2014, a fan-made remake of the game called Metal Slug 5 Elite was released on Gamejolt for Microsoft Windows, created with the Game Maker Studio. Retaining the story and theme of the original game, the game has tweaked some gameplay features:

• The slide move reaches further than the original.
• Most of the layouts of the stages are altered and changed.
• The enemy AI are adjusted to fit the revamped difficulty of the game, in addition of tweaking most enemy attacks.
• Problems with the Slug Gunner are now fixed, allowing it to move and turn around faster than usual. It also has the longest health than the other Slugs.
• Three new weapons are introduced: the Flame Machine Gun (which has more damage than Heavy Machine Gun, and capable of burning enemy soldiers when hit), the Grenade Launcher (which fires grenade rounds that provides a large blast radius and more damage than Super Grenade), and Super Shotgun (which has more damage than the Shotgun).
• The game has new cutscenes that provides more information of the original plot, as well as incorporating an original soundtrack.

External links

• Metal Slug 5 at SNK Playmore
• Metal Slug 5 at the Killer List of Videogames
• Metal Slug 5 at Neo-Geo.com (review) 1
• Metal Slug 5 at MobyGames