Metal Slug Advance Longplay (Game Boy Advance)
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Developed by Noise Factory and published by SNK Playmore in 2004
The Neo Geo arcade system has many great titles, but I consider the Metal Slug series to be the most synonymous with the brand. SNK dipped it's toe into the mobile gaming market in the late 90's with the Neo Geo Pocket, but limited success meant that the platform lasted barely a year in the marketplace, so any future mobile games would be released on a rival hardware platform.
Released in 2004, Metal Slug Advance brings SNK's famous series to Nintendo's mobile platform. At first glance, the game seems very much like any other Metal Slug game, but the developers have tried to bring extra depth and replay value to the game by adding levels with multiple routes, hidden secrets and a collectable card system that drip-feeds power-ups and new abilities to the player across successive play-throughs.
The game is set across five main missions, with a sixth (the Dungeon) accessible by collecting a specific card and completing the game (you'll see me collect it on stage five and play it after the main game ends). Several of the levels feature secret bonus sections that can be found by destroying parts of the scenery, or by wandering off the beaten track.
All of the arcade Slug games are renowned for being brutally touch, where a single bullet (or even touching enemies) will kill you. Metal Slug Advance introduces a health bar that allows the player to take multiple hits before dying, although there are no extra lives; lose all your health and you'll have to restart the stage from the beginning. Bonus health can be earned by collecting food rations (bread, bananas and canned goods) from rescued prisoners, but you'll still need quick reflexes to make it to the end alive.
Most of the weapons from other games in the series feature here, including the ridiculously powerful shotgun and laser rifle. However, the availability of extra ammo and grenades is much more limited in this version, forcing the player to make more use of the knife and melee attacks and to keep more powerful weapons in reserve for the end-of-level bosses. Many of the collectible cards found throughout the game will increase both the power and amount of ammunition you can carry for certain weapons. This makes things easier on each succesive replay, but veteran Sluggers will certainly notice the difference the first time they play the game.
I'm a big fan of the Metal Slug games and although I do like a lot of what's on offer here, the game didn't quite capture the same feeling of excitement that the arcade titles did.
Whereas the arcade games had the player pushing relentlessly onwards under assault but ever increasingly imposing (and devastating) enemies, the combat in Metal Slug Advance feels somewhat pared back. There are certain sections where the player has to kill multiple waves of enemies before being allowed to progress and I found myself getting somewhat bored during these sections and just wanting to push onward.
Metal Slug boasted some of the best graphics and animation on the Neo Geo and the developers have ported much of the artwork and graphical style to this version. Those familiar with the original games will notice that certain effects, such as the explosions, contain noticeably fewer frames of animation than the arcade versions. Make no mistake, Metal Slug Advance looks great and is a massive improvement visually over the Neo Geo Pocket games, but it's a shame that we didn't get quite the perfect recreation of the Neo Geo's visuals that I'd hoped for.
As for the game's audio, I have to give top marks here. All of the familiar sounds, explosions and voice samples (ROCKET LOWNCHER!!...sic) are present and correct and many of the music tracks playing in the background of each level are appropriately rocking.
Overall, I think it's great that the developers have managed to bring most of what made the original Metal Slug games so great to a portable format and the inclusion of collectables and secret areas means that there's reason to go back and play again.
For fans of run n' gun platformers, Metal Slug advance should definitely be near the top of your list.
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