If you have never played a "Metal Slug" game, you're missing out. The SNK Playmore series, now in its 12th year, is the best no-brainer "kick some ass and shoot everything" series ever made. It strikes a welcome balance between serious and kiddie, and might be the foremost example of well-done hardcore cartoon violence on the market. Basically, you carry on a nonstop run-and-gun through tons of levels packed with enemies, machines and bosses. It’s not unlike "Contra," at its core, except not as hard, and way more entertaining.
"Metal Slug 7," which came out here in the States last month, doesn't depart much from the proven formula of earlier games (though it is the first in the series not to be preceded with an arcade release). It features the same characters, with the same powers, from "Metal Slug 6"; some of these avatars are better balanced than others. You get your choice among six characters and three gameplay settings.
Even set on Normal, the game can be a pain, but it looks fantastic. There is no lag that I noticed, even with a ton of sprites on the screen. The gameplay is fluid, and you have to keep your eyes trained on the next enemy, because a one-hit death can come at any time. As in all "Metal Slug" games, WTF-weapon moments abound; you're forever having to jump in a mech suit or fight an obscenely huge boss. The boss fights, incidentally, are skillfully done, and go on for a decent length of time.
You get a bunch of continues and a few lives whenever you start a game, so you can keep going for a while before it's game over. You spawn in the same spot you died, so no starting over, which I personally don't mind at all. The levels are a decent size, not too long and not too short. For a handheld game, it is pretty intense and extremely addictive. I give it a nine out of 10 -- hey, it's "Metal Slug," baby!
