Metal Slug 3 (Neo Geo)
Here I am again, ten years after I first played the
Neo Geo in the arcade... Once again I find myself addicted
to my Neo Geo... Metal Slug 3, when first announced, generated
controversy among collectors. Upon release, it was met with
little fanfare, and even smaller sales. Of course, the game
was only released on a pre-order status; ie the number of
games that were requested was the number that was made.
As often happens in the Neo scene, the value of this game
has since increased. Today, good luch in finding this game
for less than $500 on the home system, $350 on MVS. (Actually,
good luck finding this game at all.)
So is MS3 worth the trouble, the search, and the price of
entry? I'll do my best to answer that question in this review.
Now, every review I've read about this game to date has
been gushing with complements for it, with no named faults.
This review will point out the faults, for a change.
Gameplay:
It's Metal Slug X, with a few added twists. This is classic
2d platform/shooter all around. Of course, a lot of you
out there have probably never been able to enjoy playing
a Metal Slug game, so I'll try to give a comparison... Imagine
Turrican, Megaman, In the Hunt, and Contra were placed in
a blender-that's about right.
Important to note as a great feature are the multiple pathways
you can choose to take on your way through this game. I'd
have to point out the submarine area of the game as a very
cool example of this. I know I'm not the only gamer out
there to have enjoyed that part! This game just screams
fun; with multiple pathways, fun boss battles, and an excellent
learning curve on the difficulty.
Graphics:
Simply put, this game graphically pushes the old Neo to
it's limits. Really, don't expect to see a more graphically
pleasing game hit the old workhorse that is the Neo Geo.
Pick up this game, and you'll find brilliant 2d sprite-based
animation, with some of the nastiest (largest) bosses that
you'll ever see in this type of game.
Personally, my favorite boss in MS3 is this huge robot that
you just have to see to believe. This thing fills 1/3 or
so of the viewable area, and isn't missing a frame of animation
anywhere. Also notable is the animation on the playable
characters, it just has to be seen!
Sound/Music:
It's very SNK. Basically, you won't be rocking to this at
a party, or blasting it on your car stereo; but it's very
fitting to the game. You won't be wishing you could turn
it off *coughCrusinUSAcough*.
Sound effects are the standard Metal Slug fare, and are
just impossible to hate. The explosions in this game just
"feel" right- this brought on by the great sound
effects as well as the graphics. Of course, there are some
genuinely "cute/humorous" sounds to be found here.
Replay Value:
Will you be playing this game years from now, if you make
the purchase? Well, do you enjoy Contra, or Megaman? Simply
put, this isn't the be-all and end-all of 2d games that
raving SNK fans make it out to be. Believe it or not, it's
been bypassed in 2d graphics; a good example is Guilty Gear
X. This game IS a load of fun, and your friends will probably
enjoy it. If you decide to start a collection of Neo Geo
games, then definitely make this game a priority.
But, what about those gamers that haven't had any experience
with the series? For a worthy preview, check out Metal Slug
X on PS1, or even Metal Slug on Saturn Import. It's basically
a sure thing you'll enjoy the Slug series if you enjoy 2d
gaming.
Like all games of this type though, you WILL tire of it
eventually. Within a few weeks, you'll certainly put it
down- I did. Cool as can be though, you'll pick it up to
play again on a rainy day. I've beaten this game around
40 times now, not that it's not difficult. This game will
test you as did games like Ninja Gaiden and Castlevania;
but like those games, it's worth the trouble.
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