SNK has released a definitive Metal Slug compilation for the Wii, but how does this classic arcade action romp hand the console's unconventional controls?A tough-as-nails brutal bulletfest, Metal Slug is a name that any hardcore side-scrolling shooter fan has heard. Since Metal Slug first debuted on the Neo Geo in 1996, plenty of different versions of the game and its sequels have been released across multiple systems, but they have been primarily arcade games, and the arcade has remained the only format where every Metal Slug game has been available. Well, until now. SNK has decided to change that with the release of Metal Slug Anthology for the Wii, releasing not just one or two games but all seven Metal Slugs on one glorious disc.

The franchise is notable for its sense of humor along with its visual style and its run and gun gameplay, which is best summed up as, ‘like Contra, except a lot harder.' In a later installment characters get fat and slow from eating too many food drops, which is just one of the many funny things of which you're bound to take notice.

The gameplay is fairly standard for the genre (hundreds of enemies, numerous weapon powerups), but with some signature Metal Slug touches. You can free prisoners to get bonus points and weapons, and you can hop into any of the explosion-prone vehicles you come across. In addition, the boss battles are huge and undeniably lethal, serving as one of the many reasons why this reviewer is grateful that the game features cooperative play.

Having the whole series on hand, it's interesting to see the various tweaks made by SNK over time. As you play each game, you can see the visuals get consistently better, and watch the cast of playable characters grow, even if none of them have anything but aesthetic differences. Consistently ugly, however, are the collection's menus, which are simplistic and look like they were slapped together in an afternoon. Metal Slug's soundtrack, on the other hand, is full of adrenaline-fueled music, but the frenetic pace of the game means that you may not even hear it over the explosions, screams, and weapon noise of the sound effects.

Control is the biggest issue when it comes to Metal Slug on the Wii. The game features 6 different control types, two just for left handed folks. One uses only the nunchuck, another only the Wii remote held sideways, one using both the nunchuck and remote, and the last using the GameCube controller. The nunchuck-only method, which has players tilting the device left and right to move, seems odd, takes some time to get used to, and really just comes off as clunky and inaccurate. The nunchuck/remote combo works well mostly, but aiming with the analog stick can prove bothersome when the action gets heavy. The most intuitive controls are found in the remote-only and GameCube controller control schemes, naturally the ones most suited for Metal Slug's gameplay. Unfortunately, the motion controls in Metal Slug Anthology seem tacked-on and offer few if any advantages; the primary showcase of the motion controls is shaking the controller to toss a grenade, an endeavor that's more frustrating than fun. It was a good try, but ultimately just wasn't worth the effort. If you're thinking you can bypass all these needless motion controls and stick to playing with a classic controller, well, think again: SNK has opted not to include what could have been possibly the best control scheme available.

Metal Slug offers a lot of bang for your buck. You get Metal Slug one through six, as well as X, for $40. For anyone that is a fan of the series or genre, it's hard not to pick up. The game does little with the Wii's motion-sensitive controller, but still offers an insane co-op game providing Wii owners with hours of fun. While the game is difficult, SNK has generously offered players unlimited continues, and while this takes away from the challenge of previous releases, the games are so blister-inducing that you won't mind the free replays. If you're looking for a great collection of somewhat dated shoot-‘em-ups or simply want to have the entire series in one spot, and can overlook the somewhat questionable controls, you won't find a better deal then Metal Slug Anthology.

Jan 8, 2007 | 0 comments
Just Celani