The Metal Slug series is one of the most beloved and most respected franchises for old-school fanatics and action gurus. Now, in commemoration of the tenth year since the series was born on the Neo Geo, SNK has released the Metal Slug Anthology for the Wii; which features Metal Slug 1 through 6 (including Metal Slug X). While the loyal fanbase has spent countless hours debating which title is the best, everybody seems to agree that any of the games on their own is a masterpiece in its genre. So when you take seven great games and cram them all onto one disc the end result should be nothing but bliss, right? Keep reading to find out.

Facts and Features

• Contains 7 Metal Slug games
  
• Unlockable art galleries
  
• Unlockable developer interview
  
• Several control options
  
• Ability to save your game at any point

Despite SNK's struggles in the past few years, they've still managed to deliver sequels and updates of their popular franchises to their supporters. The Metal Slug series has also appeared on the Neo Geo, Saturn, PS1, Neo Geo Pocket, PS2, Xbox, GBA, PSP (soon), and mobile platforms. It seems that each time, however, there's always a reason or two (sometimes more) to nitpick the presentation choices made in the final product. Sadly, the Wii version is no exception. The game lacks any support for the Wii remote pointer functionality to help navigate it's mostly bare-bones menus and options. While this isn't exactly a deal-breaker, it's something that is so simple that developers need to feel obligated to include it. Some of the games are near-perfect translations of their Neo Geo counterparts, but others exhibit a loss in quality to some degree. Metal Slug 6, for example, suffers from a degraded sound quality when compared to the original version found in the arcades. Thankfully, every single one of the seven titles on the disc is fully intact and free from annoying bugs or glitching.

For some reason loading is a bit of an issue. The initial time it takes to get into a game seems excessive and there are occasional loading spots within levels and between missions. Considering the resources that the Metal Slug games demand, there's no reason why they couldn't have been optimized to run on the Wii without loading. Slowdown is still present in the games, but at least it takes place in the same moments as it did in the original and it's not due to the hardware having issues keeping things smooth. Some purists may prefer that the slowdown remain intact, but personally I feel that it should have been removed. A game that depends on quick reactions can only benefit from a smooth as possible framerate.


Metal Slug is all about makin' things go boom.

The Metal Slug Anthology also is devoid of both 480p and widescreen support.

The biggest issue I had with the package, however, was the lack of support for the Wii Classic Controller or for d-pad controls on the GameCube controller. 2D games that don't use of analog controls are best played with a d-pad, not with an analog stick. SNK defends the lack of Classic Controller support by claiming that Nintendo didn't provide them with the necessary information to include it into the final product. While this may be true, there's still no valid reason why d-pad support should be absent, especially since you can use the d-pad to navigate the option screens. I was crushed when I found that my import Hori GameCube controllers would be impossible to use with the Metal Slug Anthology. In my honest opinion, the games are still completely enjoyable with a GameCube controller, but it's understandable if some are willing to wait to see if the PS2 release of the same compilation will include d-pad support. There are tons of ways to control the games with the Wii remote and nunchuck (including a one-handed scheme), but the majority of them are merely throwaway gimmicks due to their imprecise nature.

The games themselves, however, are enough to redeem the title from its poor presentation. Whether you are playing alone, or with a friend, each of the seven titles provides you with heart-pounding and over the top action. Like any franchise, certain titles are better than others, but none of them are anything less than a treasurable gaming experience. With beautifully drawn backgrounds, sprites, explosions, enemies, vehicles, and bosses, each Metal Slug game is visual candy, especially for old-school fanatics. The gameplay is second to none for those looking for a challenging, old-school, shooting experience. No other franchise in the genre offers the same amount of intricate details, hidden items, frantic action, destructible objects, or humorous charm. It's quite a treat to be able to compare how the series has evolved over the past ten years as you plow through the Anthology.


Co-op play is a blast.

Final Word
With seven games found on the disc, it would be a bit too much to break them down individually. If you haven't ever experienced Metal Slug, now is the time. If you are a long-time fan of the series, this is a great opportunity to consolidate them all in one package for an incredible price. Sure, the presentation is poor, and the lack of d-pad support is a real drag; but the individual games are just so enjoyable that I can't help but recommend the Metal Slug Anthology to any fan of the franchise or the run and gun shooter genre. It's nice to see that you can still walk into a game store and pick up a rewarding title that's tough as nails and at a budget price. Just make sure you turn off those unlimited continues, ok?