Metal Slug Anthology version preference question

Anything from run & guns to modern RPGs, what else do you play?
User avatar
BIL
Posts: 18989
Joined: Thu May 10, 2007 12:39 pm
Location: COLONY

Re: Metal Slug Anthology version preference question

Post by BIL »

Yeah - no checkpoints or anything. :? Xbox MS3 is why I'll always consider allowing continues the better option for arcade ports (assuming the game originally had it). Reviewers are going to bitch either way, but denying the occasional practice credit screws those of us who actually play these games.
User avatar
evil_ash_xero
Posts: 6181
Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2007 6:33 am
Location: Where the fish lives

Re: Metal Slug Anthology version preference question

Post by evil_ash_xero »

I don't know about the other versions, but the PS2 had totally unacceptable lag time. Especially with the first and second ones. It was total garbage.
I went ahead and got the first one on VC, and the third one on PS2(import).

I wouldn't waste my money on that shoddy collection. Unless there is a lag free version of it.

It baffles my mind how all of SNK's collections have some sort of stupid problems with them. Thank goodness for Virtual Console. At least we'll get some of them in proper shape. Metal Slug 2 is on VC in perfect shape, but that game has naturally bad slowdown. Hopefully X will come out soon.
mmz16x
Posts: 119
Joined: Fri May 15, 2009 3:44 pm

Re: Metal Slug Anthology version preference question

Post by mmz16x »

I know im brining this topic back up from the grave but I found a NeoGaf post comparing all the console versions and was wondering if this was accurate or helpful or should I just buy the whole MVS set and get 6 for ps2 or get the select good console ports quoted below?

Quote
"(Note: This will not include the VC and mobile versions (though said mobile versions are possibly Dotemu ports and were possibly ported for Steam), since I've never played those ones. I doubt it that they play the same either way comparatively as the MVS/AES versions, but they might or might not have issues.) Ditto with the Switch versions, never played them.

Ports and Differences:

MS1:
1. MVS/AES: The originals, no problems there.
2. PS1/Saturn/NG-CD: Load times and cut animations vary, plus mission select, but includes combat school and art gallery depending on release.
3. PS3: NG-Station port done by M2 that's seemingly comparable to the MVS/AES originals with various options, along with online co-op.
4. Steam: Comparable to the PS3 port, but may have music/sound issues and maybe some other issues. Game runs a bit faster than normal. Also has online co-op and mission select.

MSX:
1. MVS/AES: Originals
2. PS1: Has load times between and cut animations plus mission select, but includes the combat school, art gallery, and another mission. (Blood types vary within region versions...JP PS1 has Red, US/EU has White.)
3. Steam: Comparable to MVS/AES, may have issues the same way as MS1, but really minor. Plays in normal speed. Also has online co-op and mission select.

MS3:
1. MVS/AES: Originals
2. PS2 (PAL/JP)/Original Xbox (All Regions): Plays the same as MVS/AES (dunno if these releases have a mission select.), includes bonus mini-games Storm the Mothership and Fat Island (only these console versions have these mini-games). (Note: The US OG Xbox release is strict for continuing, as it will send you back to the beginning of the mission if you use a continue. JP and EU regions doesn't do that and it respawns you back to where you died)
3. Xbox 360: Straight 1:1 port. Though its just a barebones port with no extras. (Blood is set to White if the 360's system is set to any language that isn't JP, which though makes the blood Red. It has online co-op, but its connections are unbearable for this port.)
4. PS3/4/Vita: Straight 1:1 port. barebones. Though this port has innaccurate difficulty settings, but it does have online co-op, and connections vary.
5. Steam: Also comparable to MVS/AES, may also have issues, but also really minor, also plays normal speed, and also has online co-op and mission select, gallery only for this one.

MS4:
1. MVS/AES: Straight port. Includes a gallery mode which doesn't actually work for some reason.
2. PS2/Xbox (standalone): Has functional gallery. Has a weird bug where sound effects stack, making it a VERY LOUD game. Was later bundled with MS5, although as far as I know it's identical to the standalone version.
3. Wii: Port of the AES version. Has white blood. Additionally, European players get white blood and it's in 50hz, so seriously do not buy this it is a bad idea.

MS5:
1. MVS/AES: S T R A I G H T P O R T.
2. PS2/Xbox: Released packed with MS4. The game tracks your best times for individual levels and full runs, and has the now-obligatory prisoner record and item collection sections. PS2 version has some weird stuttering issues (I don't know if MS4 has this too). Most importantly, there's a weird bug where the ending goes so fast that you can't hear the full credits song (Boooo . . . ).

MS6:
1. PS2 version has combat school, art gallery, etc.

MS7/XX:
1. Originally came out for Nintendo DS. All of the ports are the enhanced "XX" version, which I haven't actually played but as far as I know have alternate routes, more enemy variety, etc. No differences between them besides that.

Side note: There was a separate anthology game released in Korea and Europe called Metal Slug Complete PC (also known as Metal Slug Collection PC), with the same lineup as Anthology (so no MS7/XX). Beyond a poorly-implemented music test there's no extras like Anthology, no video options at all, save/load state options that only work in a single game session (if you close and try to load, it crashes) and control settings that don't recognise joypads (get Joy2Key on standby for this one) and make setting controls for two players impossible without Joy2Key, it seems. On the plus side, it has slightly better emulation than Anthology. Not an ideal way to play the game, honestly."

This post came from user: TheRedSnifit
https://www.neogaf.com/threads/best-met ... e.1422096/
User avatar
BIL
Posts: 18989
Joined: Thu May 10, 2007 12:39 pm
Location: COLONY

Re: Metal Slug Anthology version preference question

Post by BIL »

Provided you're ok with digital, and have a PS4, the ACA Neo Geo versions of MS1-5 are an excellent solution. No frills, just 1:1 MVS cartridge emulation, with essential display/control config (this ethos applies to the ACA series as a whole). Compared to MS1, MSX and MS3's MVS cartridges, the only difference I note is marginally less flicker at certain points (like blowing up the huts in MS1's first stage). Game speed and input response feel perfect, sound is dead-on. (ACA-NG is on Switch+Steam too, but I've never tried those versions)

The PS4 version of MSXX feels laggy to me, even on a decent gaming monitor. Going between it and the ACA titles on the same setup feels like ditching a weighted training vest, so I can never play for long before getting fed up. I'm probably gonna get a PSP for that one. Steam one seems to get input lag complaints too, but I've never tried it.

I would avoid any emulation with DotEmu's name on it. I've heard bad things about their MS3 and WindJammers, as well as Double Dragon II, and LordBBH (Shock Troopers master) has excoriated their version of that game (while approving of the ACA Neo Geo one).
User avatar
Mortificator
Posts: 2808
Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2007 1:13 am
Location: A star occupied by the Bydo Empire

Re: Metal Slug Anthology version preference question

Post by Mortificator »

To go into more detail on Metal Slug 6...

* The arcade version is available in English, but it doesn't have blood. The PS2 port is Japanese only.
* The PS2 port adds stage select and a combat school.
* The arcade version is a 5-button game. The PS2 port supports 7 buttons, mapping some functions that would take a direction + an input to a single press.
* The arcade version has no autofire unless you're using Tarma, his vulcan fix ability gives him autofire in vehicles. The PS2 port has the option to turn on vulcan fix for all characters, but still has no universal autofire so if you're on foot you're SOL (or using a turbo controller).
* The PS2 port changes the sound effect for your vulcan firing to a HIDEOUS shrieking noise.
* The operator menu in the arcade version has settings to disallow continues and increase lives up to 99. The PS2 version can't set lives higher than 5, not that it matters much, since it's always set to free play.
* The PS2 port adds cheat options for infinite ammo & bombs.

A minor difference between the XX versions is that the PSP has dot art for its main menu options, while the HD platforms use MS Paint crap.

Incidentally, some Metal Slug torture porn somehow found its way onto YouTube mere hours ago...
Last edited by Mortificator on Mon May 17, 2021 5:47 am, edited 1 time in total.
RegalSin wrote:You can't even drive across the country Naked anymore
User avatar
BIL
Posts: 18989
Joined: Thu May 10, 2007 12:39 pm
Location: COLONY

Re: Metal Slug Anthology version preference question

Post by BIL »

Mortificator wrote:Incidentally, some Metal Slug torture porn somehow found its way onto YouTube mere hours ago...
Grunts taking 10+ HMG rounds to drop, sounds about right. :lol:

Spoiler
Image
User avatar
Jeneki
Posts: 2500
Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2009 4:56 pm
Location: Minnesota, USA

Re: Metal Slug Anthology version preference question

Post by Jeneki »

BIL wrote:Compared to MS1, MSX and MS3's MVS cartridges, the only difference I note is marginally less flicker at certain points (like blowing up the huts in MS1's first stage).
This seems to be the case on all ACA NeoGeo releases. Blazing Star stage 1 boss is another very noticeable one.
Typos caused by cat on keyboard.
User avatar
BIL
Posts: 18989
Joined: Thu May 10, 2007 12:39 pm
Location: COLONY

Re: Metal Slug Anthology version preference question

Post by BIL »

Your posts on ACA Blazing Star were exactly what I was thinking of when I noticed that. :smile:
User avatar
Sumez
Posts: 8019
Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2011 10:11 am
Location: Denmarku
Contact:

Re: Metal Slug Anthology version preference question

Post by Sumez »

Oh that's really nice. The primary trick for scoring high in Blazing Star involves driving the rank to max on the first stage, but that'll cause tons of bullets to straight up disappear due to sprite overflow, so I never do it when playing on MVS.
User avatar
Jeneki
Posts: 2500
Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2009 4:56 pm
Location: Minnesota, USA

Re: Metal Slug Anthology version preference question

Post by Jeneki »

Yeah back when I was learning to push rank in Blazing Star, I just memorized what the 5-bullet spread looks like (not too hard since it's just five of them). So as long as I could see the top or bottom one I could guess where the other bullets should be. Fallback strategy was to stop shooting for a bit when collecting the blob of powerups.

"Why does your game keep saying donuts?"
Typos caused by cat on keyboard.
User avatar
davyK
Posts: 657
Joined: Fri Jul 24, 2009 9:48 pm
Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland

Re: Metal Slug Anthology version preference question

Post by davyK »

Re the Wii Anthology - the only viable option is using the GC pad. It is just about saved by the fact that even though the dpad is NOT supported (which is insane!!!!) the notches in the GC pad for the left analogue stick makes it playable as you can lock the stick in 8 positions using them.

You can also get a Classic Linker adaptor which lets you use a PS1/2 controller in place of a GC pad. That means you could use a PS1/2 arcade stick with it. I have done that and it works. But it's a faff to say the least. For some baffling reason the game doesn't support classic control.

The wiimote held NES style could have been an option without having to shake for grenade - there are enough buttons. Insane decision to not even implement that.
User avatar
NeoStrayCat
Posts: 973
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2010 5:43 am

Re: Metal Slug Anthology version preference question

Post by NeoStrayCat »

@mmz16x
Actually, some of that copypasta was written by me back in 2015 off an MS1 steam forum post. -> https://steamcommunity.com/app/366250/d ... 9396506981 The guy you quoted off the GAF topic just added some more stuff on his own with titles past MS3 at the time, since I didn't go over 4-XX, since steam ports (until XX) didn't exist. I know that whole list looked sorta familiar, lol.
Mortificator wrote:The arcade version is available in English, but it doesn't have blood.
I'm gonna have to correct you on that, techincally, there is red blood, although the machine default setting when first run is always white (there's no option to change this in the test menu, except...), there is a dev menu you can activate, but it requires a specific button timing to do this on the Arcade version (both on legit hardware and on emu) to turn on red blood. Then you can reset and save the red blood settings. Also, IIRC, you can just set the language from JP to Eng. in the game's test menu.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHpqSia1XOI
I've Come to Deliver Some Bad Luck!
User avatar
Limbrooke
Posts: 1884
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2005 4:24 am
Location: Ontario, Canada
Contact:

Re: Metal Slug Anthology version preference question

Post by Limbrooke »

It still seems there is no definitive statement on Anthology or I'm unable to read properly.

PS2 is garbage, right?
Wii US is garbage, right?
PSP US is garbage, right?

Wii Japan is sort of not garbage? Do all Wii versions lack hit flashes, no matter the region? My understand is that no version of MSA or MSC is good - correct me if I am wrong.

I got Metal Slug Complete (Japan) for PSP but its for PSP so its not exactly viable any more... not without a TV out option (thanks PSP-1001).
'Only a fool trusts his life to a weapon.'
User avatar
BIL
Posts: 18989
Joined: Thu May 10, 2007 12:39 pm
Location: COLONY

Re: Metal Slug Anthology version preference question

Post by BIL »

I saw PS2 Anthology get slammed for input lag, at release - and slammed even harder when it resurfaced on PS4 (I'm guessing whatever emulation/porting involved exacerbated the existing lag). I've never tried it personally, since I already had MS1/2/X/3 on cart and MS4/5/6 on PS2 standalone (the JP discs, at the least, are perfectly decent - no input lag I've ever noticed). I'd avoid it though. EDIT: CIT noticed the PS2 version's issues just recently, now I recall.
User avatar
BrianC
Posts: 8859
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 1:33 am
Location: MD

Re: Metal Slug Anthology version preference question

Post by BrianC »

Not sure why the developer behind Terminal Velocity (and its followups, Fury 3 and Hellbender) and Bloodrayne was commissioned to do emulation compilations of SNK games.
Last edited by BrianC on Fri Jul 09, 2021 1:46 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Limbrooke
Posts: 1884
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2005 4:24 am
Location: Ontario, Canada
Contact:

Re: Metal Slug Anthology version preference question

Post by Limbrooke »

BIL wrote:I saw PS2 Anthology get slammed for input lag, at release - and slammed even harder when it resurfaced on PS4 (I'm guessing whatever emulation/porting involved exacerbated the existing lag). I've never tried it personally, since I already had MS1/2/X/3 on cart and MS4/5/6 on PS2 standalone (the JP discs, at the least, are perfectly decent - no input lag I've ever noticed). I'd avoid it though. EDIT: CIT noticed the PS2 version's issues just recently, now I recall.
I have 6 (oddly) on PS2 and figured it might be ok to get the 4/5 double pack and 3 NTSC-J because why not and its cheap. But having MSA/MSC was always appealing prior to XX and 7 but its a shame if it is indeed garbage on all counts otherwise.
'Only a fool trusts his life to a weapon.'
User avatar
Koa Zo
Posts: 1164
Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2005 10:35 am
Location: Pennsylvania, United States

Re: Metal Slug Anthology version preference question

Post by Koa Zo »

Another oddity with the PS2 Anthology disc: (iirc) none of the games except #6 are compatible with PS1 joysticks. What makes this even stranger is that the standalone #3 on PS2 is compatible with PS1 joysticks. (I don't recall ever trying a PS1 stick with the standalone release of 4 & 5)
User avatar
Flashman
Posts: 128
Joined: Mon Jun 17, 2019 2:15 pm

Re: Metal Slug Anthology version preference question

Post by Flashman »

Picked this up on PS4 during the last PSN sale (got it for about £3 so thought it was worth it regardless of quality) it seems to be a direct port of the PS2 version; I can confirm input lag is pretty awful (came across some input eating in MS1) not the best way to play these games now considering the ACA ports and others out as a standalone.
Post Reply