The Bottom Line
Pros
- One of the most popular arcade franchises of all time
- Japanese side scroller goodness
- Zany intense action
Cons
- Very dated graphics
- Xbox Live only supports scoreboards, no online multiplayer
Description
- Graphics: 2.5 Yes they are dated, but that's part of the charm. Low tech, high style.
- Sound: 3 Again, old school sound and music, but it fits, and it's fun.
- Concept: 5 This is an amazingly creative, original game. Japanese gaming at its finest.
- Control: 4 They work just as they did in the past, but my thumbs would've loved an auto-fire option.
- Replay: 4 Splitting paths make you want to go back and explore all the wacky goodness.
- Difficulty: 4 Not an easy game, but you can jack up lives, set it to easy and jump levels.
- All scores are out of 5. The overall rating is not an average of the above scores.
- ESRB Rating: Teen, Animated Blood and Violence. Honestly, it's no more violent than Tom and Jerry.
Guide Review - Metal Slug 3 - Xbox
All the two player craziness is still there. The graphics have been faithfully (for better or worse) ported over, so it's 2D sprite time. Pick up a pig and you still turn into a fat slow version of yourself, get touched by the undead and you still become a blood vomiting zombie. But more than a port, Metal Slug 3 gives us the goodies we expect in an arcade conversion. New unlockable stand alone levels and game types, as well as the ability to play with more or less lives and skip levels not only are appreciated additions, they feel right. Publishers take note, this is how we want retro games converted.
In the end, it is still Metal Slug 3, dated graphics and music, but it's still a hoot. It's a real treat for former arcade goers, and an educational experience for the post-arcade generation.
