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Metal Slug

Metal Slug is a 1996 run and gun video game developed by Nazca Corporation and published by SNK for the Neo Geo arcade and home systems. Set in 2028, the game follows Peregrine Falcon Strike Force soldiers Marco Rossi and Tarma Roving as they seek to overthrow a coup d'état by the Rebel Army, led by Donald Morden.

ShooterPlatformArcade

Space needed: About 60 MB
Time to beat: about 3 hours

Overview

Metal Slug was conceived by the same staff who created several titles at Irem that shared a similar presentation, such as In the Hunt and GunForce II. The core concept during development was a simple yet exciting side-scrolling shooter, with an easy control scheme and visuals inspired by the works of Hayao Miyazaki. Gameplay was originally more slow-paced, with players controlling the titular tank instead of soldiers across shorter, less complex missions with a darker atmosphere. The project was heavily overhauled after poor responses during location tests, and the game's length was extended at the request of SNK to make it more attractive to console players, while incorporating more platform elements into its design.

Upon its release, Metal Slug garnered mixed reviews, which lauded its sense of humor and fluid hand-drawn animation but criticized its short length and lack of replay value. The game proved highly popular in arcades and was subsequently ported to other platforms by third-party developers, with varying changes and additions from the arcade original. It was later included on compilations and re-released through download services for other systems. The game's success led to a franchise with multiple sequels, remakes and spin-offs, beginning with Metal Slug 2, released in 1998.