METAL SLUG 7 – NDS – Review

I recently did a review of another
SNK game and I mentioned in the review that I’m amazed that we can squeeze the
massive SNK arcade games onto a disc. Well now I’m even more surprised with
Metal Slug 7. Not only does the game fit onto the tiny DS cards but this is a
brand new game in the Metal Slug series. For old-school gamers this is an
unbelievable combination that we never would have imagined back when the first
Metal Slug game came out in the arcades. But how does this intense arcade 2D
action shooter work on the DS?

For gamers that have never played
Metal Slug before imagine an arcade shooter with a sense of humor that gives you
a classic nerve-bending arcade experience. The humor is based on the animations
and the over-the-top weapons and enemies you fight in the game. The action is as
intense as any 2D shooter you might have played before that left you breathless
when the screen fills with bullets or weapon fire. I always thought of Metal
Slug as SNK’s version of Contra but with a sense of humor and with a
cartoon-style visual flair.

My first comment about Metal Slug 7
is this game really does duplicate the same gameplay experience seen in the
previous Metal Slug games. The screen might be smaller but the action is just as
intense and breathtaking as an arcade game. Slug 7 tries not to compromise the
gameplay because you’re playing on a DS. This game will keep your thumbs busy
with the screen filling up with an insane amount of action at times.  All of the
trademarks from the previous Slug games return from vehicles, POW’s to rescue to
the insane animations of the enemy soldiers. Slug 7 stands out as a shining
example of how to do a 2D side scrolling shooter for the DS.

Even though the gameplay is still
the same classic style that is the trademark of a Metal Slug game some changes
had to be made since this is a portable game. First off, the game is short:
there are only seven missions in the game. You have nine continues you can use
before the game is officially over. Secondly, the game saves your progress. You
can resume at the last level you played or any of the previous stages already
completed. This allows you to sit down and finish the game is a very short
amount of time. The later stages are difficult but having nine continues and
being able to start from any stage still gives you the upper hand. So while the
gameplay is classic the difficulty is more modern, as in easier.

As far as other modes Metal Slug 7
is limited to just the single-player mode and the Combat School mode. Combat
School can be described as a training mode without a tutorial. Each drill in
Combat School is a mini mission that you have to finish with a certain criteria.
For example, the Target Elimination missions have you tasked with taking out all
of the enemies in the mission. The more enemies you take out the higher the
score you will earn. Item Collection missions will have you collecting as many
of the items dropped by the POWs or enemy soldiers.  The ultimate goal in Combat
School is to earn enough points to go up in rank status from Recruit to General
of the Army. Besides Combat School the game does offer a leader board for your
scores in the single player game and a list of the POW’s you’ve saved as well.

Visually the game is just as
beautiful and detailed as the classic Arcade versions. The only difference is
the game is now on the tiny DS screens. Metal Slug 7 only takes up the top
screen which can present a problem for the overall gameplay. The game will fill
up with bullets, enemies and explosions which will make it hard to see
everything happening. There is only so much real estate space available on the
DS screen so when this game gets heated you will probably find yourself getting
hit without any warning. But the game still looks incredible and I only noticed
a few seconds of slow down when the action got really intense.

Metal Slug 7 is a SNK fans dream
come true simply because we get a new game in the Metal Slug franchise. Granted
many hardcore fans probably wish it would have come out for their Neo Geo home
system but that isn’t practical anymore. Instead, we get a game that lives up to
the Metal Slug standards, just adapted to a portable system. This means we get a
save feature, plenty of continues and ultimately a shorter game. Even then Metal
Slug 7 is still a gem for gamers that grew up playing the Metal Slug series
years ago.

Gameplay: 8.5
Vintage 2D side-scrolling shooting action that will keep your thumbs burning to
catch up with the action on the screen.

Graphics: 7.5
The visuals are just as breathtaking and detailed as any of the other Metal Slug
games. Unfortunately seeing all of the action on the small screen is a challenge
at times.

Sound: 7.0
The game even sounds like a classic Metal Slug game. The same vintage sounding
over the top sound effects and voice-overs are still here.

Difficulty: Easy
If you want to make Metal Slug 7 more like an arcade game make sure to start off
on Mission 1 every time.

Concept: 7.4
The game does try to throw in some new ideas for Metal Slug. The touch screen
allows you to see a map of the level you’re on. Unfortunately stopping to move
the map isn’t recommended since the enemies almost never stop coming. The Combat
School mode allows you to talk, more like flirt, with your drill instructor by
talking to her to get some personal information from her.

Multiplayer: N/A
Yes that is correct; no Multiplayer at all is included in Metal Slug 7.

Overall: 7.6
If you’re a Metal Slug fan you owe it to yourself not to miss Metal Slug 7.
Almost everything about the game is a true ‘Thank You letter to all of the fans
that still cherish the series. If you’re a moderate fan of the series then you
will still enjoy the game but probably be upset at how quickly the game is over.
I say put it back in your DS and play it again. There is always something
happening on the screen that you haven’t seen before, well at least not enough
in my opinion.