Metal Slug 15th anniversary!

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

It's actually another 3 days away, but I couldn't resist starting a thread anyway. So! let's discuss one of the greatest run 'n gun series of all time! with the exception of the obviously rushed 5th one, I don't think a single entry in the main series could be considered "bad" by any means. After playing MSXX on XBLA, I'd have to say that is definitely the pinnacle of the series, if not really close. I still can't decide whether I like it more than 3 or not. Either way, both are kicking my ass the hardest which is all that really matters in the end.

[rancor]

1 and X are definitely the high points of the series for me, with 3 being the lowest. I have yet to play 6.. I've seen it in arcades around here and it looks like more of the same. I remember getting MS1 for my Neo Geo CDZ back in 1997 or so from NCSX.. I think it arrived with my Super Wildcard DX.. Yeah - back in the early days NCSX sold console copiers..

[austere]

1 and X are definitely the high points of the series for me, with 3 being the lowest.

That's my impression of 3 and I still haven't played it myself yet! The later ones do pretty much look like more of the same so I probably won't bother even trying them. I doubt SNK Playmore can pull off the same magic Nazca/SNK did anyway.

[Skykid]

Bored to tears of Metal Slug, it did an amazing job of not re-inventing itself for 15 years.

My favourite is still the first, it has the most overall flair and a decent difficulty curve.

[KBZ]

a game that separates the men from the boys. Changed my life

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

Bored to tears of Metal Slug, it did an amazing job of not re-inventing itself for 15 years.

Instead of crying rehash at the first sight of sequels, you may want to give 4 & 6 a try. Both have drastically different scoring systems from the previous games and the level design is changed to reflect that. All the characters finally have differing properties to them too now.

[Skykid]

Bored to tears of Metal Slug, it did an amazing job of not re-inventing itself for 15 years.

Instead of crying rehash at the first sight of sequels, you may want to give 4 & 6 a try. Both have drastically different scoring systems from the previous games and the level design is changed to reflect that. All the characters finally have differing properties to them too now.

I've played them all, extensively, and 4 is abhorrent.

1st is still the best.

Just bored of the series now, that's all, even with the new stuff in 6 (which I liked for a while.)

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

Oh, how misleading that post was. You were just burned out on the series rather than unreasonably demanding an entire re-imagining to each iteration. In any case, I fail to see how 4 was so bad. Sure, the recycling of sprites from older bosses was rather chintzy, but that's just one minor quirk. It's better that then having a bunch of weird and out of place shit, like the terrorists/cultists of 5. And the game as a whole is a really good effort for a company that has little to no experience with actual game development. Not to mention it brought in Toshikazu Tanaka to work on the series, which gave it quite the boost music wise.

[Skykid]

Oh, how misleading that post was. You were just burned out on the series rather than unreasonably demanding an entire re-imagining to each iteration.

I didn't mean it to be mis-leading (I am bored of it.)

I would never expect an entire re-imagining of MS (nay, I wouldn't want one, I remember that 3D psx stunt they pulled), but the actual game, beautiful to look at as it is, needed a shot in the arm after MS3. Something to really mix it up.
The stuff in 6 was a step in the right direction because it gave a little more in the way of options during combat, but it wasn't anything drastically new. Feels to me like the series is stuck in way too rigid a mould for anyone to really take any risks and freshen it up.

Maybe they should get WayForward Technologies to have a go!

[kernow]

I agree with skykid, 1 is by far the best. 4,5,6.. terrible.

And yeah, never want to play one again.

[maxlords]

I love Slug 1 and Slug 3 (shocked at the Slug 3 hate honestly). Other than that...I can take em or leave em

[kernow]

Slug 3 was more a final farewell for the MVS, a look what we can do, rather than a fun game.

Amazing achievement but not very fun. I do remember the first time I played it though, blown away, especially the final level.

[Demetori]

Metal Slug X is the most refined for me, I feel the difficulty curve on it scales really well. I enjoy the first one as well, and sometimes the first stage of five, just for the first boss.

[DragonInstall]

Metal Slug X is my favorite personally, then 1 and 3. Anything after the 3rd game was trash.

[yojo!]

Have any of you guys 1 CCed them ? This is where the fun really begins.

[kernow]

I've 1cc'd the first, and never wanted to play it after. Could get to the last mission without dying but then the difficulty ramps up a bit.

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

Have any of you guys 1 CCed them ? This is where the fun really begins.

Best run I've managed so far is a 13cc for MS3. I'm hoping to be able to do a no miss clear someday. Wanted to try one for X, but I can't really use my stick thanks to silly limitations of the button configuration (why didn't it occur to agetec that some people may want to have certain actions mapped to the shoulder buttons?)
I bought SNK Arcade Classics recently so I can try for MS1 when I'm up to it, but that looks a little too easy by today's standards.

[ZOM]

Metal Slug X is my favorite personally, then 1 and 3. Anything after the 3rd game was trash.

Exactly this.
I did enjoy the one for the GBA, though.

[kernow]

MS2 > MSX

but but the slowdown!

[neorichieb1971]

I have FK's all 1,2,x and 3. I think I did right stop there.

[dcharlie]

no one liked the 3D Metal Slug?!?

(what an absolute turd of a game that is - i assumed that it was cancelled after playing it at TGS and was surprised when i saw it on shelves a while later. "I wonder if this turned out any better?!" <plays> "nope - still raw sewerage down my mouth")

I'm somewhat freakish on this - i don't mind 4-6 at all. They're not the greatest games ever but neither are they the worst either. They don't reach my personal pinnacle of MS3 but *shrug* few run and gun games do. MS7/XX was pretty good too. Oh and i loved the NGPC versions at the time - an interesting couple of approximations to put it mildly.

Hmmm - the wife still has her NGPC and both the Slugs - perhaps i shall raid and pilfer her collection for a wander down memory lane

[DragonInstall]

Have any of you guys 1 CCed them ? This is where the fun really begins.

I 1cced Metal Slug 2 at the arcades. I think that's the only one I managed to do, though I think if I tried, I probably could 1cc Metal Slug 1.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

After playing "Metal Slug 7" on the ol' DS Lite handheld & trying it out under the new banner name of "Metal Slug XX" on the 360 platform with the two-player option, it really is a fine MS game indeed.

Yeah, "Metal Slug Advance" on the ol' GBA was well crafted from the likes of SNK Playmore. Bought it on day one when it was released Stateside. Makes for a different gaming experience with the lifebar addition rather than using the ol' limited lives in reserve setup that is a staple of the earlier MS game releases.

Makes me wonder how a true MS sequel would've turned out if game developer/publisher Nazca was still around to do so. Perhaps a new game mechanic/feature to spice things up compared to their intial MS offering.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[caldwert]

Metal Slug is what made me venture down the rabbit hole of import games/arcade games. One of my all time favorite series. My favorite is probably X. I own all the others, but have put the most time in on 1 and X. Still remember playing that and Bust A Move on an MVS machine at a local pizza place in 1996 or so and being addicted to them. Then seeing a Japan Video Games ad in the back of Gamefan I think it was or either EGM, and it had the Sega Saturn import listed, and it was on from there. Speaking of importing games, I found my Gamecave members club card recently, LOL.

[Bloodreign]

Have played them all either on the Metal Slug Anthology on PS 2 (or MSX on PS 1, as well as the first Saturn game), and even have bought and played Metal Slug XX on PSP. The last was a nice little out of the way find for me when I wasn't looking for it. I don't mind firing any of them up now and again at all, but I can't continuously play them or I get bored. No one here to play 2 player with, so that kind of sucks the fun out of it, but when I'm in the mood for a MS game, any of the 7 will do for me.

The only ones I have ever had the joy to play in arcades was the original years ago, and at a casino last year I found a Metal Slug 2 dedicated cabinet. not the usual multi-cart MVS cabs I usually used to see for Neo Geo games.

[Sumez]

Is it possible to play Metal Slug XX without that terribly blurry "smoothing" filter, they apply to everything for some reason?
I wanted to buy it, but I just can't stand looking at it. And from the demo, it feels like a pretty boring game compared to the three first.

[CIT]

I'm pretty much with everyone else here.

Metal Slug 1, 2, X, Advance = Great!

Metal Slug 3 = OK

Metal Slug 4, 5, 6, 7/XX = Crap!


Also, I think Metal Slug 2nd Mission for Neo Geo Pocket was really nice.

[JoshF]

Post-3 Metal Slugs are easy to pick on until you try to name 5 sidescrolling action shooters better than it.

[CIT]

Post-3 Metal Slugs are easy to pick on until you try to name 5 sidescrolling action shooters better than it.

Contra Spirits
Contra HC
Assault Suit Valken
Gunforce II
Alien Soldier
Gunstar Heroes
Gunners Heaven
Mystic Warriors
Sunset Riders
...and so on.

[Skykid]

Post-3 Metal Slugs are easy to pick on until you try to name 5 sidescrolling action shooters better than it.

Contra Spirits
Contra HC
Assault Suit Valken
Gunforce II
Alien Soldier
Gunstar Heroes
Gunners Heaven
Mystic Warriors
Sunset Riders
...and so on.

^ Definitely.

+
Contra 4
Shattered Soldier
Aliens (arcade)

And damnit, if Shock Troopers wasn't top down I'd throw that in there too.