, also called ''Metal Slug 3D'' (メタルスラッグ3D) to distinguish it from the original ''

Metal Slug is a Japanese run and gun video game series originally created by Nazca Corporation before merging with SNK in 1996 after the completion of the first game in the series. Spin-off games include a third-person shooter to commemorate the 10th a ...

'', is a

third-person shooter Third-person shooter (TPS) is a subgenre of 3D shooter games in which the gameplay consists primarily of shooting. It is closely related to first-person shooters, but with the player character visible on-screen during play. While 2D shoot ...

run and gun

video game Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device to gener ...

for the PlayStation 2. It was developed and published by

SNK Playmore is a Japanese video game hardware and software company. It is the successor to the company Shin Nihon Kikaku and presently owns the SNK video game brand and the Neo Geo video game platform. SNK's predecessor Shin Nihon Kikaku was founded in 1978 ...

. It was released only in Japan on June 29, 2006 due to mostly negative reviews from critics. It is the first game of the series to be presented in 3D. None of the original ''Metal Slug'' team were involved with the title. The game had no definite title when it was first unveiled in

Tokyo Game Show , commonly known as TGS, is a video game expo / convention held annually in September in the Makuhari Messe, in Chiba, Japan. It is presented by the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA) and Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. Th ...

in 2004. In E3 of 2005,

revealed the game to be called "Metal Slug: Evolution", but was later changed to just "Metal Slug". Although only the Japanese version has been released, it contains menus that are mostly in English, as well as English voice acting. Japanese subtitles and dialogue are also available.

Plot

The game takes place in the year 2032, four years after the first ''Metal Slug'' game and before ''

Metal Slug 7 is a run and gun video game developed by SNK Playmore for the Nintendo DS. It is the seventh and final title in the main ''Metal Slug'' series. It marks the first game in the main series that would be released without an arcade version. The ga ...

''. Series antagonist

General Morden is a Japanese run and gun video game series originally created by Nazca Corporation before merging with SNK in 1996 after the completion of the first game in the series. Spin-off games include a third-person shooter to commemorate the 10th ...

becomes allies with Oguma, president of Oguma Enterprises and world leader of technology. Because this alliance could only stand to further strengthen Morden's military power, Marco Rossi, Fio Germi, Tarma Roving, and Eri Kasamoto set out to dissolve both parties. Recurring boss character Allen O'Neil also returns to oppose the player.

Gameplay

''Metal Slug'' maintains many features from the 2D entries; characters use an arsenal of various guns, grenades and explosives, and vehicles. The game also introduces full three-dimensional movement to the series to coincide with its 3D presentation, which uses

super deformed Chibi, also known as super deformation, or S.D. is a style of caricature originating in Japan, and common in anime and manga where characters are drawn in an exaggerated way, typically small and chubby with stubby limbs, oversized heads, and ...

characters. Upgrades and customization are some of the largest new features. Players can upgrade each character's combat abilities, categorized into Pellet, Power, Hit Rate, and Machine. These abilities allow characters to increase the damage, "splash" radius, and accuracy of their weapons and vehicle handling, respectively. Each character begins with a full proficiency in different categories. For example, Marco starts off with a full Hit Rate skill while Fio starts with a completely upgraded Pellet skill. Another new feature is a grade system, which ranks the player according to their performance on each of the game's 11 levels. Achieving the highest rank, the S rank, allows the player to collect medals, which are used for upgrading character attributes. Playing through the game also awards Skill Points to the player, which can be used to upgrade 4 other abilities, which affect the amount of damage a character can withstand, their ability to evade enemy attacks, and more. The game also includes the option to customize the titular Metal Slug to their own liking, with the ability to switch out its "core", treads, weapons, and armor. An in-game laboratory can be used to build custom parts for the vehicle.

Reception

''Metal Slug'' has received mixed reviews. NTSC-uk gave the game a 2 out of a possible 10, citing its poor graphics, barren environments, and overall boring gameplay.

Edge Edge or EDGE may refer to: Technology Computing * Edge computing, a network load-balancing system * Edge device, an entry point to a computer network * Adobe Edge, a graphical development application * Microsoft Edge, a web browser developed b ...

scored a 5/10: "It's a glimpse of something special waiting to happen, of a no-nonsense attitude towards combat that could be developed into a series worthy of the torch that it has chosen to bear".

References

External links

''Metal Slug'' official homepage

''Metal Slug'' at MobyGames
{{Metal Slug series 2006 video games Japan-exclusive video games Metal Slug PlayStation 2-only games SNK Playmore games Third-person shooters Video games developed in Japan Video games featuring female protagonists Video games set in 2030 PlayStation 2 games Video game prequels ja:メタルスラッグ#メタルスラッグ（3D版）