"This game is amazing!"

Metal Slug Anthology collects together all seven Metal Slug arcade games – the first five, 2's remix Metal Slug X, as well as the brand new Metal Slug 6 – onto one disc, complete with a host of unlockable extras. It's a near perfect run and gun retro collection, with the SNK series making up for its old-school 2D nature with its off-the-wall humor, frantic, hardcore gameplay and lasting replay ability. The series is home to intricately detailed environments that never repeat, insane boss battles and chaotic battles with one-hit kills, not to mention the titular super-vehicle ‘metal slugs' ranging from tanks, planes and mechs to camels and elephants. It's funny and addictive, and outside the arcades it has the advantage of being significantly easier on your wallet.

Despite this, the PSP version was fraught with many crippling gameplay issues. It's been well publicized that the PSP's UMD format can be prone to loading problems, and MSA is a testament to this with its many, many loading screens. Even once you're in the game itself, some of the newer titles have the nerve to split the levels up constantly and 6 even pauses itself while you play to keep on loading the area you're in.

If this weren't enough, the slowdown the PSP version simply can't avoid renders most of the games nearly unplayable after a few levels, with the hand held brought to its knees by the sheer volume and complexity of pixels on-screen. Aside from this, there's nothing wrong with the game on PSP: if it ran faster and didn't take five minutes to get you into a game, it would be a rare must-have for Sony's hand held. The Wii version comes fairly close, but its unusual motion control and lack of Game cube d-pad use and classic controller support render it unusual.

Thank God the PS2 is still around, eh? While the Metal Slug Anthology missed out on being a proper celebration of 10 years of Metal Slug last year, the PS2 has come to the rescue like a creepy guy in an arcade, but without the bad mustache, the weird, crusting stains on his trousers or the promise of spare change for more continues if you'll come to his flat afterwards. It's ironic that the oldest and least impressive of the current consoles is home to the best version of this classic game compilation.

Even though there are still quite a few load times and the odd spot of slowdown, Metal Slug Anthology plays like a dream on the dual shock controller. It might not have the handy ‘save anywhere' feature of the PSP version, but it also doesn't fall to its knees and blubber like a baby when the action heats up. Metal Slug's not an RPG anyway: it's obscenely hardcore run and gun gaming that's harder to put down than a really cute kitten. Sit down for a quick blast and it doesn't take long before it turns into a full-blown late-night session, and play it with a friend and you'll end up working your way through the series until it's not just late, it's light outside again.

Even though the PSP and Wii versions weren't great, the PS2 version of Metal Slug Anthology shows just how fantastic retro game collections can be. Seven of the best 2D scrolling shooters in one package is nothing to be sniffed at, and they're finally available with no stupid controls, lengthy load times or excessive slowdown. If you've never played the series before, shame on you, but now you've got the perfect excuse to see the error of your ways and enjoy some good old fashioned coin-op fun.

GamePlay-9 Out of 10

Value-10 out of 10

Presentation-6 out of 10

Mainstream Appeal-7 out of 10

-gta_master01

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/06/07