Metal Slug X

A few months later, while I was in my accounting class, some of the other students had found a Neo Geo emulator and were playing the original Metal Slug. I was blown away. This game was ten times better then the Pocket version. Unfortunately only a few days later the emulator was deleted off the school computers. You can imagine my excitement when I heard that Metal Slug X would be coming to the Playstation.

Metal Slug X, which is actually a special edition of sorts of the Neo Geo/Arcade game Metal Slug 2, plays like many other 2D-action shooters. You choose your character, kill some enemy soldiers, pick up some cool weapon power ups, kill a mid-level boss, get a chance to ride in some very cool and powerful vehicles, kill some more enemy soldiers and pick up even cooler weapons until you get to the end of the stage and have to fight its final boss. Metal Slug X isn't just any old shooter though.

What it is that makes Metal Slug X so great is how it does everything well. The character designs are good, the weapons are a ton of fun, the stage design is excellent, the action is frenzied, the bosses are huge, and who could forget those vehicles found throughout the game. Every minute is action packed fun. The only problem is that the minutes don't quite add up to what most would expect from a game that retails at 39.99.

The arcade mode, which is Metal Slug X's main mode, includes six missions and can be beaten in under an hour. It is possible to change the difficulty setting and the number of lives you get per credit (credits are unlimited). This is good for those who like to do as best as possible in a game, but some will just get tired of playing the same stages over and over and not see any point in trying to get better at the game.

Aside from the arcade mode, Metal Slug X also has a Combat School mode and an Another Mission mode. The Another Mission mode, which reminds me of the Crazy Box mode in Sega's Crazy Taxi, is comprised of fourteen mini games that put a spin on some of the gameplay elements found in Metal Slug X. For example, one of the mini games has you throwing stones at enemy soldiers in an attempt to knock them off of a moving train.

Metal Slug X's Combat School mode is actually made up of two different parts, the PinPoint and Survival modes. The PinPoint mode is basically a time trial mode, where you choose a character and a stage and try to play through as fast as you can. Survival mode gives you one life and challenges you to play through the entire game with just that. Depending on how well you do in each of these modes you will be given points, which in turn determine your "rank". Ranks go from "Recruit" to "Generally of the Army". The Combat School mode provides a good challenge trying to get that coveted rank of General of the Army, but I found myself wanting to play the arcade mode more because of the simple fact that you aren't allowed to use vehicles in the Combat School.

The graphics in Metal Slug X are some of the best I've seen on the Playstation, at least for a 2D game. While I don't think it's quite up to the arcade version of the game, it's very close. The sound has all the necessary gun shots, explosions, and enemy soldiers' screams of terror as you blast at them with all manor of weapons.

Despite its short length, Metal Slug X is a great game that everyone should play. I can't recommend this as a must-buy because some may become bored with it after playing through it a few times, but this is a game that you absolutely have to experience. So head down to your local game rental store and check this game out, as your guaranteed to have a great time.

- Wolfman