Metal Slug
Metal Slug is a 1996 run-and-gun arcade video game originally developed by Nazca Corporation and released by SNK for the Neo Geo MVS. It is the first installment in the eponymous series. Set in 2028, players assume the role of Peregrine Falcon Strike Force soldiers Marco Rossi and Tarma Roving in a fight against the Rebel Army led by Donald Morden and overthrow his coup d'état to prevent a New World Order.
What it feels like
The fast-paced action and rhythmic combat flow creates a kinetic rush of speed and thrill. Cartoonish enemy deaths, wacky enemies, and humorous scenarios invite lighthearted fun and experimentation.
What it's about
Armed forces, soldiers, and military coup narrative frame the setting. The 2028 setting is close-future but not deeply science-fictional in its mechanics or tone.
How it plays
Aiming and firing ranged weapons against enemies is the core interaction loop of this run-and-gun shooter. Navigating hazardous terrain and jumping across gaps is a significant secondary challenge alongside combat. Enemies drop randomized power-ups and weapon pickups that alter the run.
How it looks and sounds
The entire game unfolds in a 2D side-on profile view, fundamental to its presentation. The game employs deliberately low-resolution pixel visuals as its defining aesthetic. The pixel art employs bold, saturated colors as part of its arcade identity.
How it's structured
Stages are discrete, mostly fixed-order levels played through sequentially. Each mission is an arcade-style stage cleared to advance, with scoring and lives. Two players can cooperate on the same machine in split-screen or shared-screen modes.
Kindred games
Shares Side View, Gunplay, Linear Levels, Pixel Art.
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Shares Gunplay, Platforming, Linear Levels, Exhilarating.
Both lean into Gunplay, Platforming, Linear Levels, Exhilarating.
Shares Side View, Pixel Art, Platforming, Exhilarating.
Both lean into Side View, Platforming, Pixel Art, Exhilarating.
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