A compliation of all the main Metal Slug games available for the Wii, PSP, and a PS2 version is rumored but not confirmed. 1, 2, X, 3, 4, 5, and recently confirmed 6, which was only ported to the PS2 in japan late September. All are seemingly arcade perfect, and each has controllable continues of 10, 20, 30, or unlimited, with unlockables obtained through completing the games with less continues.
An unbelievable value, I'd gladly, gladly pay $60+ for Metal Slug 3 alone on the PS2 were it released in the US, but giving us every main game, arcade perfect, with
7 different control schemes, for only $40 is completely insane. Besides Zelda, this should be the game that comes first for everyone buying a Wii at launch.
Revealed yesterday, the game will have 7 control schemes available on the Wii version.VC controllerGC controller-Apparently customizable.
Nunchuck Control Stick-Move with the analog stick on the Nunchuck. Shoot, Jump, and switch weapons with buttons on the Wiimote, flick the Wiimote to throw grenades.
Tilt Wii Remote-No nunchuck. Tilt controller left and right to move, tilt up to aim up, tilt down to duck, up on the d-pad is jump, everything else is on the buttons.
Wii Remote-Wiimote only. Movement is controlled with the d-pad, grenades are thrown by flicking the Wiimote, everything else is handled by the buttons.
Arcade-Hold the Wiimote vertically like an arcade stick, use the Nunchuck for firing, jumping, and weapon switch, flick the Nunchuck to throw grenades.
Nunchuck Only-As the name suggests, it uses the Nunchuck only. Movement is controlled with the analog stick, grenades are thrown by flicking the Wiimote, everything else is handled by buttons on the Nunchuck.
http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3154683http://www.gamevideos.com/video/id/7101
Every version of the game is out 11/14.
Now, a series overview provided almost entirely by Neo Rasa (which I ended up streamlining and adding some stuff of my own to). Thanks very, very much, Rasa.
SUPER VEHICLE 001:METAL SLUG
Produced by SNK in 1996, with spritework that has aged so well it lasts even today with Metal Slug 6 on the Atomiswave hardware. Fluid, fast, ridiculous gameplay overflowing with action with exceptionally detailed spritework and backgrounds that set it apart from most of the genre. 6 missions of chaos as you tear through the rebellion army. Choose from either Marco Rossi or Tarma Roving to play as. Find a super tank known as a Metal Slug, and combat the torrent of bulky enemy engines of destruction.
METAL SLUG 2/X
Following up on Metal Slug's success, a sequel was released with Metal Slug 2 a few years later. While the original Metal Slug kept you in a fairly standard battle torn WWII-esque sort of setting, the sequel throws you across a desert, a crypt, a train, a sewer, and a variety of other locations. Two new playable characters are added, Eri Kasamato and Fio Germi. A huge number of new weapons, vehicles, and enemies are added, greatly diversifying the gameplay. A brand new enemy even becomes the focal point later in the game, the martians. Metal Slug 2 harbors some bad slowdown, which was later fixed with an upgraded version of the game, Metal Slug X, which also changed a number of things within the game, including some of the bosses, the time of day during parts of the game, background quality is increased drastically in certain areas, certain enemies were changed, and other smaller things. Metal Slug 2/X is regarded as an all around improvement upon the original, and for good reason.
METAL SLUG 3
The greatest Metal Slug ever produced. It brought unimaginable polish and quality to an already excellent series, and has become the peak of 2D gaming of its kind. Flawless in nearly every way, it acheives perfection in every facet. Unbelievably fluid, detailed animation, insanely good enemy and boss design, both in stylistic and gameplay, completeley amazingly detailed backdrops and areas, and mindblowingly good gameplay. This game is of a quality that cannot be fathomed by the human mind.
http://www.mslugdb.com/main/gallery/ms3/12.gifhttp://www.mslugdb.com/main/gallery/ms3/25.gifhttp://www.mslugdb.com/main/gallery/ms3/26.gifhttp://www.mslugdb.com/main/gallery/ms3/27.gifhttp://www.mslugdb.com/main/gallery/ms3/28.gifhttp://www.mslugdb.com/main/gallery/ms3/29.gifhttp://www.mslugdb.com/main/gallery/ms3/30.gifhttp://www.mslugdb.com/main/gallery/ms3/32.gifMETAL SLUG 4/5
Metal Slug 3, The King of Fighters 2000 and Garou: Mark of the Wolves were the last three Neo Geo games made by the old SNK. They're glorious send offs. Until the SNK Playmore that exists now came into being, the classic SNK franchises continued but were handled by new/amalgamated development teams. Some of these groups fared great (Noise Factory for their work on Sengoku 3 and New Power Instinct) and some of them fared not so great (Eolith on The King of Fighters 2001).
The Korean group Mega Enterprise did Metal Slugs 4 and 5. They're sort of in the middle. First off, Marco (the second player character, who has sunglasses) and Eri (the blonde female character) have been replaced with Trevor (some gray haired sap) and Nadia (some pink haired jail bait). Their moves and gameplay are identical. The game itself has the least new content of any Metal Slug game, with EVERY single previous vehicle reappearing at some point. There are bosses that are little pieces of sprites from previous bosses and enemies grafted together. This is especially telling when they're defeated, they tend to lack the before and after "after" sprite of being busted up, instead just disappearing in a bunch of explosions.
That said, there are now medals to collect, a combo system as it were for high scoring. The reused sprites also have the probably unintential affect of making the game feel more like the older titles, as you have lots of enemy machinery and installations to destroy and a little less of the science fiction and biological enemies prevalent in Metal Slug 3. Some people prefer this feel to Metal Slug 3.
The music is more techno-y than ever before. Some songs are good, it's a pretty big departure.
The game is a pretty good length, but many of the levels are just straight lines, lacking all the platforms and obstacles to climb around that the previous games are full of.
METAL SLUG 5:
This is a great game, it pales in comparison to what's come before it though. It's very short. The bosses are a joke, lacking the personality and aggressiveness of past installments. There are only a few new sprites to be had.
I didn't have much to add, except alot more hatred for these 2 games. Seriously, they're embarrassments.
METAL SLUG 6
OH MY GOD THIS GAME IS AMAZING. This is the first SNK made Metal Slug game since Metal Slug 3. It shows. While many of the most revered sprites return there is a massive amount of new backgrounds and other visual content to feast your eyes on. The bosses in particular have wonderfully fluid animation while the game still moves and plays extremely fast. Great level design along with two new characters added. Ralf Jones and Clark Steel: THE IKARI WARRIORS. The IKARI WARRIORS: Ralf Jones and Clark Steel are playable characters in this game.
The levels are also more complex than the straight lines of Metal Slug 4. The game itself manages to combine the furious intensity of the first three games with the newer elements of the sequels. The dulled color pallette seen in MS4 is gone as well, providing some great level variety on par with the original two games.
A first for this Metal Slug game is that the different playable characters have different attributes involving the number of moves they have, and how much ammunition they carry, as well as the efficiency of their grenades RALF JONES CAN PERFORM THE VULCAN PUNCH FROM KING OF FIGHTERS AND CLARK STEEL CAN PERFORM THE SUPER ARGENTINE BACKBREAKER.
The game's length is also quite good. Like many much older games, playing on the easiest mode only lets you get close to the end of the game before getting a "please try harder modes" message. The length of this shortened experience is on par with playing Metal Slug 5 to completion. Flawless victory. This is basically my favorite Metal Slug game since Metal Slug 3, possibly since the original masterpiece.
I didn't have much to add here either. This is a true, new Metal Slug game. It doesn't quite live up to Metal Slug 3, but it's a huge step in the right direction after the mediocrity of Metal Slug 4 and 5. All the bosses seem to be awesome, everything seems very well animated, there are some great new enemies (a host of new alien species, you even ally with the Martians against them later on), Ralf and Clark's special abilities are totally badass, my only real gripe is that the 3D backgrounds look pretty meh in alot of areas, and the level design is pretty boring most of the time. I'm very, very happy this is being included in the Anthology.
In addition to these the following games exist but won't be making it to the anthology:
Metal Slug 3D (PS2)
Metal Slug: First Mission (Neo Geo Pocket Color)
Metal Slug: Second Mission (Neo Geo Pocket Color)
Metal Slug 3D isn't all that bad, for the most part is does duplicate the fast paced action very effectively for a 3D game. Nothing really special about it though.
The two Neo Geo Pocket Color games are fantastic. Tons of branching paths to different levels, shmup/jet pack levels. Generally large areas with non-linear paths to the end and all sorts of secrets everywhere. Tremendous handheld games given the system they're on.
All Rasa again. He left out some cellphone games and Metal Slug Advance, but I think everything outside of Metal Slug 1, 2, X, 3, and 6 is insignifigant anyway.
Again, the game is out 11/14. You fucking
need this compilation.
Need.
Posts
I mean...isn't variety better than one set one?
Edit: Legacy, I enjoy being forced to choose between 3 equally terrible control schemes. It forces me to concentrate so hard on my hands that I cannot even look at the screen without going into convulsions. Why would I want to also be able to choose from 4 other pleasant-to-use schemes? It ruins the magic.
I think their bitching was a bit much as well, but that said, it seems that while the other control schemes were interesting, only 2 of them actually were usable. Obviously, the schemes that seem to work best were the ones that were closest to a arcade setup.
Also, frankly I'm concerned about the Wiimote-only controls. I anticipate a lot of people throwing all their grenades by accident.
Freezie KO - 4811.1637.7460
PM me.
No link, sorry. But I'm dead certain it's been confirmed.
But needless to say, I am excited.
...personally, I like the Advance game's way of doing things better.
Advance is absolutely nothing compared to 2/X or 3.
The only problem with Advance was that when you turned around, all the enemies behind you respawned. So if you wanted to backtrack a little instead of constantly moving forward, you might find yourself in between a pack of enemies and a pack of enemies you just killed. The game was fun, but didn't have the feel of the old Metal Slug magic.
Freezie KO - 4811.1637.7460
PM me.
How many lives do you normally start with? Where do you start back if you run out of lives and continue?
IMO, Advance is easily the weakest of the series, a black sheep if you will. It doesn't retain the style and "everything explodes" gameplay that Metal Slug has going on.
Controllable continues. Unlimited, if you want. And Advance is the exception, it wasn't the best introduction to the series.
I'm honestly debating whether or not to get it for the Wii. I love Metal Slug to the with the very bottom of my heart, but I kind of want something that will show off the new control scheme a little more.
Then again, I've never owned a metal slug game on a console before, and have drained numerous quarters next to strangers on the arcade machines. I always seem to connect with strangers while playing it.
Hmm...
mnt: No, you have five lives, and then you start a new continue. I think the only thing that really happens when you use a continue is that your score goes to zero.
You have 5 lives (controllable in most of the ports though), whenever you take damage and die a life is used up, and when you use up all of your lives, you can choose to continue at the exact spot you died. The number of continues is covered in the OP.
Yeah, I like these types of games to be standard with a stock number of continues, but with the option available to set it to unlimited.
Also, I think the farthest I've gotten in MS 3 is the Jet battle, or just after. That was a big, super awesome moment for me.
on the ps3 - doubttom
on wii - 2056 0358 8899 2028
I was already buying this (even though I have half the games on xbox anyway), having 6 in there and all the control schemes just sweetens the deal. I'll probably play with the vc controller, looks like it would be the best for the job with the face buttons.
I'm really contemplating buying this, now.
Contact: 3737-4467-9408
Guy1: There's nothing bitchin about the games soundtrack. It's practically all elevator music.
Guy2: That's just hilariously stupid. I can't imagine playing a fighting game with "Girl from Ipanema" playing in the background.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Atari-Metal-Slug-Anthology-Wii/dp/B000IMBULS/sr=1-50/qid=1162042128/ref=sr_1_50/202-2989264-9763063?ie=UTF8&s=videogames
This is the closest I have found to confirmation. Amazon isn't exactly too reliable with this kind of thing but it provides us with hope .
wiki said it wasn't. this along with the "unknown" of excitetruck, better be proved wrong or...or... or else!
Also, I didnt know you could use the VC controller, as well as a Gamecube controller.
Metal Slug Advance is an awesome game, though it's more of a bastard child of the NGPC games than anything else (which I personally prefer). I kind of wish the NGPC games made it onto the Anthology but there's no way I'd complain given that the Anthology is currently the best game compilation to be released in the US with only the first Midway Arcade Treasures and Capcom Classics Collection possibly giving it competition in my consoles.
Target Practice also. I don't know how to word this without it being extremely arrogant so I'll just say it: I can't even comprehend the lack of self control required for this to happen. Is it that hard to let the timer run out after five continues or so? It annoys me that games of this kind often get extremely low reviews if they have unlimited continues. You'd think after what was done with the US XBox version Metal Slug 3 it would be a welcome change.
Actually November is going to be the month for classic game compilations with this, Capcom Classic Collection Vol. 2 and the Sega Genesis Collection all coming out in a matter of weeks. The only thing that would make it better if Taito Legends 2 finally gets a North American release.
Yeah I was editing my post and forgot to put in that it hasn't been officially confirmed. You mean Excite Truck is not a launch title in Europe? Wow my excitment for the Wii launch just took a big knock.
Really, having unlimited continues can only take the joy out if you let it.
Awesome news for importers though, another two Taito Memories volumes are coming out in Japan!
Capcom Classics Collection Volume 2 will be great, though Sega Genesis Collection, we'll see. There's games listed on it that never came out in the US before which makes me wonder if they'll actually be on a US release of the game in the end. In addition, given their inability to properly emulate any Genesis game that doesn't have Sonic in the title, we'll see.
I never in a million years thought I could have a wait and see attitude on a compilation that contains Shinobi III but here we are.
Metal Slug though, holy God those games are amazing. Seven of them on one disk (though Metal Slug 2 is made obsolete by MSX)! These retailed for $320 each when they first came out on the Neo Geo.
Damn stright words. I much prefer the flexibilty of self limiting contiunes. And then once I've completed it - blast through without a care in the world.
Scholar and a Gentleman? Critical of bad science and religion? Skeptobot - Is for you!!
I just think it's a shame that even to reviewers, the very concept of these games is lost. Anyone can put $10 worth of quarters into the machine and get to the end of the game, the point is to do it with as few lives and continues as possible to maximize your score. I don't know why anyone would be frustrated self-limited continues since it gives you the choice of just blasting through the game when you feel like it or of trying to one credit it.
The optional settings in the Anthology are great though. Ten credits sounds about right for anyone for the games on their default difficulty level.
Only question now concerns the presence of blood. Originally SNK Playmore USA said they'd do their best to include this but there's still a chance SNK Japan will be boneheads like with Samurai Shodown V Special and cut it all out.
We are old it seems. These reviews do not realise this game is more akin to DDR than Halo 2.
It's about points. It's about playing the whole game in one sitting. It's about collecting a 100 of one thing to get 1 of another.
It's about Blue Sky in Games
EDIT: I hope for blood! I really miss it in Metal Slug Advance.
Scholar and a Gentleman? Critical of bad science and religion? Skeptobot - Is for you!!
I'm sure it will have blood, MS3 for the Xbox had it and all the recent KOF games have been uncensored.
I'm also hoping that the PS2 version of MS:Anthology actually happens. Everybody (Amazon, Gamestop, EBGames, etc.) except for SNK seems to say that it exists. Even Sony has it listed on their official Playstation site.
If there isn't a PS2 version I'll go back to my original plan and get the Wii version on launch day and put it aside until I have enough cash to buy a Wii.