Metal Slug X

"Out of the doorway the bullets rip, repeating to the sound of the beat..."

Metal Slug 2 was a wonderful addition to its franchise. The classic story of a madman and the people who fought against him remain etched within the annals of SNK's wonderful 2D gaming history. The battles were intense and bloody, offering gamers visions of soldiers' bodies littering urban streets, mummies wandering through catacombs, and a race of alien monstrosities akin to H.P. Lovecraft's antagonists. There were so many enemies, in fact, that it became detrimental to the gameplay; so many animated foes on the screen at once turned the fast-paced gunplay into a slow-motion struggle of not-so epic proportions. That, combined with some simplistic level designs and other factors, made the sequel a bittersweet treat for the fans of the series. Thankfully, Metal Slug X has given the wayward game a facelift.

At first glance, you won't think that anything has changed. Marco, Tarma, Eri, and Fio still comprise the Peregrine Falcon Special Forces, a military unit that has been assigned one of the most brutally tough missions of all: the capture of General Morden. Apparently, the evil dictator has escaped from military prison and is staging an uprising that could bring the downfall of the American government. He isn't just relying on his own technology, either; Morden has made a deal with a bunch of Martians in a bid to increase his firepower. With an impending alien invasion at hand and the fate of the entire world hanging in balance, the heroes of Metal Slug 2 venture forth into battle yet again.

That's right, boys and girls. It's time for yet another round of ruthless bloodshed, the murdering of countless enemy soldiers, barrages of bullets and fiery grenade explosions, and more over-the-top baddies than you should probably shake a stick at. Forget about things like stealth and all that other stuff that have spoiled you; in the world of Metal Slug there's no time or need to be sneaky. Though the game is only six levels long, each is filed to the brim with a wide assortment of enemies just waiting to blast you to bloody bits. Armed with only your pistol initially, you'll have take on entire tank battalions, mow through soldiers and squid aliens by the dozens, and basically annihilate anything that gets in your way. See that Space Cruiser Yamato wannabe destroying the harbor over there? How about that alien mothership that just wiped out a city a la Independence Day? You can take them and everything else down; it just depends on the amount of bullets needed to get the job done.

However, a wimpy little pistol isn't going to serve you very well; with so many enemies trying to kill you at the same time, you have to upgrade your arsenal before you get slaughtered. The game boasts the tried and true weapons that made Metal Slug a true joy to play. The Heavy Machine Gun will become a primary staple of your weapons assortment, allowing you to shoot through even the toughest enemies with a flurry of bullets. There's something strangely fun (if not morbidly fascinating) about finding a flamethrower and unleashing its contents upon a bunch of random baddies; they'll shriek in delicious agony and eventually collapse into a charred heap of burned skin and camouflage. That's on top of all the missile launchers, shotguns, Molotovs, psychedelic laser beams, war camels, armored tanks, and the rest of the weapons you'll get to wield throughout the game. Needless to say, you're going to kick some serious ass.

The fun doesn't stop there, either. Metal Slug X not only features the improve arsenal from the previous games, but adds its own slew of wacky weapons into the fray. Standard weapons can be upgraded for even more firepower and wanton destruction. You'll be able to fire off lizard-shaped smart bombs, homing missiles, armor-piercing grenades, and Bouncy Balls of Doom. Since your arsenal has been greatly improved over the Metal Slug 2 version, the game designers decided to revamp all of the stages with even more enemies and challenges. Instead of facing a small group of soldiers, you'll have to take on soldiers, Martians, mechs, and whatever else the game can throw at you. Instead of merely rolling through Japanese slums, you'll have to smash your way through hidden missile silos, entrenched enemy lines and an armada of UFOs. If you thought the first version was brutal, just wait until you face twenty-plus diehard sewer monsters at the same time.

But you know what the best part is? There slowdown that crippled Metal Slug 2 is nonexistent; now you get the challenge of the second game blended with the fast-paced gameplay of the original/ There are also subtle differences as well. Many of the color palettes have been altered to give the game a more varied atmosphere. Instead of fighting your way through Arabia under a blazing sun, you'll get to get your murdering done by moonlight. Remember those annoying mummies that could turn you into one of their own? Now they're back with rolling projectiles and their undead pets. Even some of the bosses have been switched around and redone, allowing you to endure crazy boss battles like a tank-flinging harrier jet and a monstrous crab-tank…thingie. Meanwhile, all of the characters, both good and evil, retain their usual styles and animation; you'll still get to see the flowing alien tentacles and the soldiers screaming in terror at your newly revived characters. Needless to say, Metal Slug has never looked better.

Metal Slug X is a wonderful example of how to do a remake correctly. It addresses the faults of the original version, then corrects and builds upon them. The issues of gameplay speed and level designs may have marred Metal Slug 2, but they've been smoothed over completely. Our four heroes make their triumphant return, shooting their way through more enemies than ever before. The widely expanded arsenal and tougher foes add plenty of challenge to an already brutal game. The changes, both obvious and subtle, make the game far more rounded and fun than its predecessors. And who says remakes can't be better than the originals?

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/19/07