Metal Slug Anthology Review (PS2)

7 Fun Games In 1!

Well metal slug has been around since 1996, but this game gave me the impression that it was a lot older. Still, old doesn’t necessarily mean bad, and I am big fan of older games. This review is for the Anthology, which contains the first 7 metal slug games (metal slug 1-6 and metal slug X).

The anthology is a good buy for anyone who wants to try this series

The style of this game is a very basic run and gun game, where you can choose from various characters and run across the screen shooting enemy as they appear. The games each have individual storylines, but they are not explained clearly before the games, so the emphasis is merely on getting through the levels. Some levels will allow the player to mount different vehicles to assist them, including a tank, and Vulcan cannons mounted on various animals (a camel or a donkey for instance). These games also have a humorous element, and do not try to portray serious crises, with the emphasis being more on having fun. At the end of each level, the player is confronted with a boss, who takes more shots than all of the other enemies to kill, and often has a lot more powerful attacks.

The anthology, as mentioned, contains the 6 metal slug games that could be bought individually before, but as a treat, it also contains Metal Slug 6, previously available on its own for the same price! The menu allows you to choose any of the games to play at a time, so you do not necessarily have to play the games in order. Another of the perks is that you can choose a difficulty level to suit yourself and also you can change the number of continues you are allowed, so that you can either play freely, with as many continues as you need, or you can make the game harder by giving yourself less continues. The game also includes a sprawl of unlockable artwork and soundtracks.

The games are drawn in very colourful 2D and despite being outdated and primitive by today’s standards, they are still good fun and enjoyable for everyone. The anthology is a good buy for anyone who wants to try this series, because it includes all 7 games for the price of 1. The anthology doesn’t however offer many benefits for existing followers of the series, as they have to buy the whole thing to play on the latest instalment (which isn’t a complete game).

Overall, this anthology will provide a couple of hours worth of entertainment for anyone interested in retro games. The graphics and Gameplay styles cannot match up to more modern games like gears of war or Battlefield 2142, but the arcade style has a certain magic to it, which makes the game fun for both children and adults alike. The game’s 2 player mode is also good fun, and allows you to join in with a friend to battle the evil hordes of whatever. In conclusion, this game is well worth a try, especially as at the time of writing it is going to cost £14.99!!

Check out Metal Slug Anthology on the PSP
Note screen shots are from the Wii Edition.