A large dose of Rambo on acid, a heavy sprinkling of 1950’s B-Movies and a pinch of WW II propaganda films are some of the ingredients that could have allowed SNK to create a Metal Slug 3. The simplest of game mechanisms, a standard 2D Side-Scrolling Shooter.

Beginning on the beaches of Stage One, greeted first by Giant Crabs, our hero is tasked with making their way, left to right, across the screen, blasting through levels full of the most incredible foes imaginable, relying solely on jumping and squatting by way of variation. The Nazi-imitation troops of the three previous incarnations are still present and correct along with the mummies of Metal Slug X, but now additional danger is present in the form of huge man eating plants, bats with attitude and gangs of Sasquatch to name just a few. The all new zombies are almost too captivating to kill, as they slowly shuffle their way into action, hoping to add one more to the legion of undead. But do so and the rewards are yet more entertaining animations and, as with the whole game, nothing ever looks less than a perfect fit for the psychedelic universe of Metal Slug.

Players new to the franchise will be suitably impressed, not just by the variety on offer but also the huge care and attention that has clearly gone into their creation. It may be 2D and four years old but where many “classics” now look primitive Metal Slug has maintained its visual appeal and the huge array of sprite work offers a minutely detailed gaming world. True, with the higher resolution on offer through the Xbox, the games’ old roots show in more edgy, pixelated form than might be wished for and lack of 480p progressive scan support is somewhat bemusing. Regardless of the unfashionably limited dimensions, however, this is still gaming at its most beautifully leftfield. Of course, there’s rarely enough time to sit back and appreciate the eye candy on offer. The pace is relentless, building more and more as the game progresses until, in the fifth stage, the screen is seething with enemies of all persuasions.

Armed with just a trusty pistol, a limited supply of bombs and a dagger for when things get up close and personal could seem unfair when confronted with all the game has to offer. A heavy machine gun (with diagonal firing available); a flame thrower, enabling the all too funny flaming-flailing victim animation, and the Enemy Chaser (a small rocket launcher with homing abilities) are available. There are many more, all with their own strengths and fit-inducing levels of humour attached, and all come with very limited ammunition supplied. Being Metal Slug, obtaining the power-ups is not the standard pick-up bonus box affair. POWs are scattered around the stages, some off-route in the many all new branching paths and some are hidden entirely, waiting to be found by chance or persistence. What’s always certain is that a rescued POW will whip his pants out from under his trousers, unveil a power-up, salute and promptly scarper from the action.

Running around like a one man Armageddon can tire even the most fool hardy of heroes so, liberally placed around the stages, the “slugs” of the title become available. From the standard Tank Slugs and Sub Slugs through to the all new Slug Copter with 360 degree firing, the vehicles on offer are as varied as they are essential for survival. “Living” slugs, such as the Camel, return, joined by an Elephant Slug with side mounted cannons and a flame throwing trunk, and other more insane animals await the gamer too. It’s all part and parcel of the archaically charming Metal Slug world. And, perhaps for the first time, a faultless frame rate is fully capable of keeping up with the on-screen carnage with ease. Even in two-player mode, with all the breathless action on offer there is rarely a sense of anything less than 100% thanks to Microsoft’s behemoth.

With all the guns and vehicles on offer is Metal Slug over the top? Yes, always. Unnecessarily so? Rarely. Beating a path through each section with reckless abandon may be fun but to face up to an end of level boss anything but fully prepared and armed to the gills is just plain foolish. All well crafted, brain numbingly original and tough as can be, the Mechanical Crab of Stage One aside, the bosses are truly a gamer’s Nemesis. Old school rules apply here: face the boss and face annihilation, time and time again. For success, perseverance and an understanding of the boss’s patterns must become comrades in arms, but with the requisite effort the bosses can be dispatched, and with that a palpable sense of achievement.

The PS2 release, heavily criticised for its all too generous endless supply of continues, allowed gamers to “Run ‘n’ Gun” through the entire game in less than one action-packed hour. SNK, in a bid to toughen up the challenge (and no doubt to add some longevity to the game) have contrived to tinker with the system. Several difficulty levels can be chosen but the big catch is the all new continue system.

With a maximum of five lives and five continues the game would seem to be a walk in the park. But, when all lives are lost, using a continue will see the player thrown back to the start of the current stage. For the main part this is not much of a problem. The first four levels are short enough that the chance to charge through again is almost always too tempting to ignore but, in the fifth stage, frustration can set in. As long as the previous four missions combined and bulging with foes and compelling but dastardly mini-bosses, losing your last life with just the final boss to beat can be a maddening experience. The ‘just one more go’ ethic of gaming won’t apply for all.

To counter this, Mission mode allows the player to jump straight into action in any of the five stages, providing they have been previously played. Other additions to the home conversion are the new mini-games ‘Storming the Mother Ship’ and ‘Fat Island’. Both are worth a play through but don’t add much real longevity. For the battle hardened grunts an online ranking system has been included, a nice idea that is blighted by clumsy execution.

Played as it should be, with minimum lives and maximum difficulty, Metal Slug can provide jaded gamers with a sublime and simple gaming experience. Unapologetically tough, Metal Slug will remind players of a time when all games set this frustrating a challenge.