Metal
Slug is one of the most beloved action franchises out there, become a permanent
fixture in many arcades around the world since its inception in the
mid-’90s. By offering simple yet very intense and extremely difficult 2D
side-scrolling shooting action, the Metal Slug series has established a very
hardcore cult following amongst gamers. For them, SNK Playmore has released the
Metal Slug Anthology, a collection of seven Metal Slug games on one disc, now
available for the Nintendo Wii. The collection does run into some problems with
control issues, and the set has basically the games and no extras to go with
them. However, at 40 bucks, the collection is a great deal for fans of the
series even if the package is relatively low on frills.
The Metal
Slug Anthology comes with Metal Slug 1 through 6 as well as Metal Slug X. Each
game is a perfect port of the original down to the T. A 2D side scroller in
the same vein as Contra, the gameplay is simple enough for anyone to pick up and
play, yet extremely tough to master. The arcade ports in the collection are very
well done, capturing all of the bells and whistles of the classic franchise,
from the great weapons and vehicles to the hardcore difficulty.
However, the collection won’t dazzle you with any extras of any sort. A
no-frills compilation, you won’t find extras like developer interviews or any of
the bonus features that have become increasingly common in collections. This
collection is only the games.
However, the lack of extras shouldn’t dissuade the people that this collection
is geared towards, namely the hardcore fans of the series who’d be quite content
with only the games in one package. The part where things get a little sketchy
is the control schemes. While you can configure the controls in several possible
ways, using the nunchuck or just holding the Wii-mote sideways like a Virtual
Console game, you cannot remap the buttons manually at all. This wouldn’t
usually be much of the problem, except that with any configuration that you
choose, grenades require you to shake the Wii-mote to throw them. This can be a
pain, since when you’re getting into the action you may accidentally chuck a
grenade when you don’t actually want to, or not shake hard enough and not throw
a grenade, or many other things that can take you out of the game and cause some
undue frustration. This element of the game felt like a tacked-on way to make
use of the Wii’s capabilities, and ultimately was gimmicky and unnecessary.
Another
frustrating element about the controls is that it doesn’t support the Classic
Controller (GameCube controllers can be used, however, but only with the D-Pad
and not the analog stick). This seems like a no-brainer, and was one of the
first things that I tried upon receiving the collection, but to no avail. It
could’ve helped out when dealing with the annoying grenade controls, but no such
luck.
Graphically, the anthology is spot-on with the arcade. Each one is filled with
the same detailed 2D sprites as the game on which it’s based and carry with them
the same charm that has been one of the series’ biggest draws. Metal Slug 6, the
newest game in the collection, is kind of the oddball of the group. The game
doesn’t have the same crisp look as the rest of them, and looks a bit softer
instead. It also uses a zoom effect to pull you in closer to the action or pulls
back for a wider shot.
The
music and sound is also pulled straight from the originals, with the
over-the-top voice effects and a fun MIDI soundtrack.
Metal
Slug Anthology is a great value, offering up seven classic titles for only 40
bucks. While those expecting anything more than the games may be a little
disappointed with the lack of extras, and the grenade controls are a bit
problematic, Metal Slug fans would do well to check this one out.
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Gameplay: 8.0
All seven games
are great and capture the feel of the arcade games, showcasing the series well
in this collection. The controls cause a few issues, however, and the motion
controls feel a bit tacked-on and gimmicky.
Graphics: 7.5
The games retain
the same look they have since the first game hit arcades ten years ago, but
certainly won’t dazzle graphic snobs weaned on high-poly count models and
textured environments. The game’s cartoony graphics add to it’s personality,
however, and is one of its biggest drawing factors. No 480p support,
unfortunately.
Sound: 7.0
Old-school arcade
sound effects and music, just the way you remember them.
Difficulty: Hard
Not for the
faint-hearted (or short-tempered), Metal Slug has the same degree of old-school
difficulty that you can only find in an arcade game.
Concept: 7.0
A great
collection, but absolutely no extras outside of the games themselves.
Multiplayer: 8.0
Two-player co-op,
just like in the arcade.
Overall: 7.5
A fun, albeit
no-frills, collection of one of the most beloved franchises in arcade gaming and
a great value for hardcore fans of the series.
