ic-games Review - Metal Slug Anthology - Reviews, Previews and Interviews for PC, Xbox 360, PS2, PS3 and Wii

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Metal Slug Anthology (PS2)

Metal Slug Anthology

Information
Reviewer: Dave Lancaster
Developer: Ignition
Publisher: Atari
Reviewed: Playstation 2
Genre: Arcade
UK Release: 06th Jul 2007
Article Date: 04th Aug 2007
Difficulty: Medium
Retail Price: £19.99
Price Comparison:
0

Score Breakdown

Experience:
Game Play:
Graphics:
Sound:
Overall Score: 80%

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Pros

Very high replay factor

Instant action gratification
Multiplayer

Cons

Precede each with

Essentially the same

Screenshots

1 of 9

From the outset this is something many, many people should own. It’s just all rather fantastic. And they say the PS2 version is the one to own

Always one to see the cloud over the silver lining, I’ll jump in with a high and mighty “however”. These games are all pretty much the same. That may have upset some die-hard fans but really the point remains. There isn’t a lot of difference between them. The different characters available from 2-6 are the practically the same but cosmetically different, and the side scrolling un-PC carnage doesn’t change a great deal either.

But that’s not to say that the games are short lived at all. In fact the notorious degree of difficulty (originally designed to make sure parents purses and wallets were kept dry) is a driving force in the anthology’s addictiveness. There are no opportunities to save your progress or pause the game – just like the real thing. This will, undoubtedly, take as much flak as it will praise – dividing the quick-completion junkies from the purists. The real beauty lies in this anthology because not only do you have to pay each time to fail miserably, but you can also just switch games when you give up on another one. Even if the games are roughly the same, it’s a nice outlet to divide your frustration.

You will fight primarily on foot (by the new Metal Slug 6 you will have 6 characters to choose from) and your vehicles range from cars, bikes, aircraft and four-legged armed-up friends like camels and donkeys. Its all good fun. You can destroy a hell of a lot and the design is outstandingly sharp. We were never expecting the graphics and sound to be top dog in the wake of Next Generation consoles, but that is really the point. It’s nostalgia and, more importantly than all, its simplicity is also what makes it so effective.

The music is annoying, but theres something about it where you have to appreciate how cutting edge it was back in the day. The melodies are actually very good in parts, and the variation of synthesised instruments creates a vast (albeit incredibly flat) soundscape. Repetition is unfortunately not a virtue.

The graphics side of things are better and are a treat for the more explorative set of eyes. There are some beautiful comic touches here and there that really lift Metal Slug from the screen (and I’m speaking collectively here for the whole anthology). Metal Slug is a game with charm, highlighted through its flourishes and thoughtful design to get the most out of what is essentially a limited 2D space of side-scrolling.

In an era where these old classics can be heartily downloaded it doesn’t seem like shelling out your hard earned money for this collection of dated games is that feasible an idea. But with the 2 player option giving this an excellent boost on your home screen instead of huddling around a laptop or finding an amusement arcade by the sea side to take your pal to. At the end of the day you’re really not going to cover any ground or progress through an Oscar worthy script but it is an essential purchase for the sole reason that it has become timeless and cult. Its tried and tested. Instead of umming and ahhing over which new game to buy or play that could be crap (or even worse: mediocre) you can always come back to a game like this, or an anthology like this. For those old enough to affectionately remember Metal Slug’s hayday or those young enough to be curious by an explosive blast from the past, Metal Slug’s audience is universal. Metal Slug anthology is not a game to complete and then toss away either. It has a potentially unlimited replayability as well, which is emphasised by the lack of saving and pausing. It is immediate, and always ready. Recommended.

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