If there's one game most responsible for causing
me to waste my time at an arcade, it's probably
NFL Blitz, but in a close runner-up is the
METAL SLUG series in all of its incarnations.
No matter which version or where I see it,
I'll pump credits in to it.
There have been many pretenders to the throne
on the App Store, and even a few games bold
enough to completely steal art assets, but
the real-deal has finally arrived with METAL
SLUG 3 thanks to DotEmu and SNK PLAYMORE.
However, before you jump straight on to the
App Store in an almost knee-jerk twitch, be
warned, this is a brutally challenging game
and all the more so thanks to controls that
could be best described as 'spotty'.
If you happen to have an iCade, you're in
luck as it's reported to be compatible, and
all downsides related to controls can be ignored
- jump in and start shooting away.
For everyone else, a configuration screen
can be used to set the controls to your liking,
but whether you play on a small or a large
screen, it's difficult, bordering on impossible
to replicate the same snappy response of an
8-way joystick and large buttons.
As such you'll be feeling the cold-clammy
grasp of death over and over, though you can
always continue (albeit losing bonuses for
rescuing POWs in the process).
If you need a couple reasons for biting the
bullet and playing the game anyway, firstly
you can succor yourself with the knowledge
that Bluetooth co-op is available so you can
nuke zombies and armored crabs simultaneously.
Secondly, and more obviously, this is Metal
Slug 3 - a game packed with oodles of features
thanks in part to SNK's impending bankruptcy
at the time of its creation.
One major improvement is the branching path
system that allows players to complete a stage
in one of several different ways, each leading
to the same final boss, but providing unique
challenges along the way.
Better still, the vehicles the series is so
famous for have been bolstered with a host
of new ways to destroy the Rebel forces, be
it from the back of an Ostrich or Elephant,
or on a Rocket in space.
For those more concerned about presentation,
the game has several options including video
processing to smooth the pixels (my personal
preference is to turn this off), and scanline
emulation is also available in 50 and 100%
options.
Playing on the latest iDevices had the games
running silky smooth, even when explosions
and enemy corpses were flying around the screen.
Ultimately the pricey purchase will depend
on how much you love the METAL SLUG series
and whether or not you own an iCade or similar
compatible device.
It's easy enough to forgive the controls given
the spectacular gameplay, but prepare to chew
down continues like there's no tomorrow.
