Review: Metal Slug Anthology (Wii)

The original Metal Slug is one of our favourites. It doesn't have the options or level design of later levels, but it does deliver pure, manic action from start to finish. For those not familiar with the Metal Slug series, it's simply a run and gun title and is incredibly difficult. With only three lives before using up a credit you can imagine the level of skill (luck?) required to complete the game in as few credits as possible. The game does include the option to go through with unlimited credits or to challenge yourself with limited continues. While the main enemy of the first Metal Slug game (and really the entire series) are Nazi types called the Rebellion, with later games starting to introduce a more wacky set of creatures. One of the main features of the series is the use of vehicles. These super powered monsters have enormous weapons that can destroy everything in their path, but are easily destroyed making them short lived tools of destruction.

Its sequel - Metal Slug 2 - is probably the hardest game in the series. A simple evolution of the series it features new weapons, new vehicles and new supporting characters. The difficulty of the game is certainly a factor in us not enjoying it as much as the original. With the Metal Slug games, one hit sends you flying backwards landing dead on the ground rather than having a standard energy bar; this meant we were having to sit through the same death animation over and over again. As hard as the game is, the final boss battle tries to heal your wounds. Very reminiscent of Independence Day, it's the first introduction in the series of the Mars People and has an enormous spaceship hovering above you while you have to shoot its centre. It's a good ending to the game, it's just a shame that what came before it didn't live up to the standards set by the original. So far then we have one good, and one average title. The next one is largely considered to be the best in the series - and who are we to disagree?

Metal Slug 3 (Xbox) has a number of improvements over the previous two titles that make this the series' best. Along with the usual inclusion of new vehicles, weapons and enemies you have the forking paths that give you the option to take two different routes to the end. Then there are the set pieces that really set this apart from other games in the series. The last level in particular is far longer than anything else with one of the most memorable sequences in a game of this genre. Leaving the safety of the Earth you don a space suit, flinging yourself up into space as the game then resembles a top down scrolling shooter as you face the evil Mars People and their giant spaceship.

Metal Slug 3 (PS2) can be considered the peak of the series and everything else that came after that tried, but never quite toppled it. Metal Slug 4 is largely considered the worst in the series. Made by a different development team (always a risky thing) it reuses backdrops from previous games in order to save development time and adds nothing to the game apart from the standard weapons, enemies and vehicles. Following the criticism, SNK once again took helm for the following two games in the compilation - Metal Slug 5 and 6. MS5 managed to return the series to its former glory with a whole host of new environments, backdrops and also regaining the tongue in cheek humour that was absent from 4. Metal Slug 6, which was only released last year, has a number of new graphical effects added to the usual inclusion of new items.

A healthy package of games, then, but we were expecting more in the realm of additional content. You have some artwork and an interview (text only) with a couple of the creators and that's really it. As for functionality with the Wii-mote: you do have about three different control schemes which differ with how much use of the Wii-mote's abilities it uses. Although most people will be like us and see it as unnecessary, sticking with the usual D-Pad and buttons rather than moving it around like an idiot.

In total, you have seven games (we haven't mentioned Metal Slug X because it's a simple remake of Metal Slug 2) and that really is extremely good value for money, with only two of the games we'd consider you avoiding. As this is a special occasion - the 10th anniversary - we were expecting more special content, but you can't have everything.

Rating: 7 / 10

Words by Adam Gulliver