It’s rare to see the goodness of a true 2D side-scroller gracing your television screen these days, and
Metal Slug 4 and 5 is a very welcome treat.
Metal Slug takes me back and allows me to reminisce the days of playing
Contra for hours on end. The difference is that this isn’t your daddy’s NES. The fact is that
Metal Slug 4 and 5 offer a difficulty that just isn’t found in other 2D games (or many 3D games, for that matter). So sit back and enjoy the five missions per game solo-style or grab your buddy and enter into a fury of firepower so strong that you won’t be able to see your character on the screen!
The gameplay is simple; you’ll work your way from left to right on the screen, taking out baddies and machinery alike, with a variety of weapons at your disposal. You’ll start with your infinite supply of ammo from your basic gun and be able to upgrade your arsenal when you destroy certain objects or rescue the hostages throughout each level. These weapons have a limited supply of ammunition, but allow you to destroy your surroundings all that much faster.
You’ll not only have guns to destroy the enemy, but also be able to toss grenades or even hop into vehicles along the way. Each vehicle controls slightly differently (some you’re just along for the ride), but all remain very powerful and very necessary at some points during your mission.
The difference between the two games included in the box (and yes, this is a two-disc set!) is merely in the story. It’s true that the art of the games is different, but the style and gameplay remains the same between Metal Slug 4 and Metal Slug 5. Both games are pure action; both are with extreme difficulty. You will certainly die a lot when trying to work your way through these two fun games.
Unfortunately, there are two major problems with Metal Slug 4 and 5: the lack of missions and the ability to continue your game as many times as you want to. Because of this, you’ll easily be able to play through both games extremely quickly and may soon find them boring. And while Metal Slug 4 and 5 both support Xbox Live, this online ability is only to post high scores and not to play cooperatively with your buddy across the country.