Sony PSP Review: Metal Slug Anthology
Published March 09, 2007
Seven games, each one a classic in its own right, on a single UMD is a steal. Actually almost anything SNK puts out with Metal Slug slapped on the box is a winner, seven Metal Slug’s are even better. While this PSP compilation boasts all of the 2-D renditions of the main series, it’s either a system limitation or poor coding that at times renders these games unplayable.
Up to date with the latest game in the series in tow, Metal Slug 6, this packed set is a portable dream at first glance. Full multi-player options, though sadly over local ad hoc connections only, allow two players to run through these three-explosions-per-second action platformers together. A few extras, including unlockable galleries and an interview, add reason to play through each game.
Fans generally award Metal Slug 3 the award for the best in the series, setting a record for the longest final level in the history of 2-D gaming. Simply stunning sprite animation is a series highlight, pushing the original arcade Neo Geo hardware as far as it could go. This also tends to lead to heavy slowdown, particularly where Metal Slug 2 is concerned. That slowdown is a part of the originals and is emulated here accurately.
What’s not accurate is the constant loading. An extended wait to enter each title through the simple menu system (filled with customization options as far as difficulty and credits are concerned) is acceptable, but waiting for animation to load during a game is inexcusable. The UMD drive struggles to keep up with new information. If a previously unseen enemy or animation routine is needed, the game stops completely for a second — sometimes more — to pull the data before letting the player continue on their run.
In other areas of the game, this is even worse. In Metal Slug 2, when trying to continue after dying, Anthology oddly loads each character as your browsing the selection, not after making a decision. Pauses like this interrupt everything, from the flow of the game to the otherwise flawless and trademark animation.
This makes each title more difficult than it already is. The unexpected pauses are more out of place here than they would be in nearly any other title. Pinpoint accuracy is the only way to survive. Given that extras are not awarded until you’ve completed a game without continues, this becomes a further issue.
Oddly, the games look only fair on the PSP's sharp screen. Even when sets to their original size, colors are faded and drab. Stretched, the added blurriness hinders this further.
Complaints aside, there are seven Metal Slugs in their original form on this disc. The inexcusable stuttering game play does mar that selection to the point that purists will find this set unplayable. Casual followers will simply be happy with the games as they are and find the loading nothing more than a small hindrance.
Metal Slug Anthology is rated T (Teen) by the ESRB for Blood and Violence. This game can also be found on: PS2, Wii.
Matt Paprocki is the former reviews editor for Digital Press. The deep game collection, which spans nearly 30 systems and 2,000 games, lines his walls for research purposes. Matt strives to bring credibility to video game journalism, and to aid the industry in becoming respected with all forms of entertainment media. He currently freelances for GameArgus.com and MultiPlayerGames.com.
- Sony PSP Review: Metal Slug Anthology
- Published: March 09, 2007
- Type: Review
- Section: Gaming
- Filed Under: Gaming: Sony PSP
- Writer: Matt Paprocki
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Comments on this articleComments
I'm actually looking forward to the PS2 version. After paying $30 for Metal Slug 4 and 5, getting all seven for one price is a steal. I see no reason why the stuttering would be stuck in the PS2 version.
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Yuck. That doesn't sound too good with all of that annoying loading.
It sounds like players would be better off just playing the non-portable versions for PS2 or Wii.
I have the Wii version, and it is pretty much flawless as far as I can tell (I assume the PS2 version would probably be about the same).
I had previously played some of the Metal Slug games, but had never owned any of them until now. I had been tempted to get some of the Xbox releases (I believe Metal Slug 3 came out at one point, then later another release that had both 4 and 5 on the same disc), but just never got around to it. Now I am glad that I held off on getting any of them since the entire collection is now available for one reasonable price.
There are some really strange control options with the Wii-remote, but there is the option to just use the Gamecube controller for a more standard style of gameplay, which I prefer (I think the motion sensor controller is great, but there's still some games that just need to be played to old fashioned way).
This, however, is my first experience in playing a game made for the Wii with a Gamecube controller, and there is one problem that I noticed. When you play an actual Gamecube game on the Wii, you need to use the Wii-remote to navigate the main menu, but once the game starts up, the Wii-remote shuts off (thus not wasting battery power) since you use the Gamecube controller from that point on.
However, when playing the Wii version of Metal Slug Anthology, when you pick the option to use the Gamecube controller, the Wii-remote still stays on for some reason. So, either more battery power gets unecessarily drained, or you have to remove the battery cover and take out on the batteries and then put it back to get the wii-remote to turn off while you play. Doing this too much causes the battery cover to become loose, thus creating a new annoyance when playing other Wii games with that remote.
Luckily I recently aquired some rechargable AA batteries and a charger for Christmas, so I'm not as worried about the batteries draining now as I previously was. But, that would be a concern for anyone who is still used regular AA batteries for their Wii-remote.
Hopefully this is a problem that they will correct in any future Wii games that give you the option of using the Gamecube Controller. They should just put in a setting where once the Gamecube Controller is selected, it automatically shuts off the Wii-remote or at least gives you the option to do so.
But, other than that issue (which is minor in the grand scheme of things), the Wii version of this collection is pretty awesome and pretty flawless. Though I haven't played it, I would assume the same of the PS2 release.
It is truely unfortunate that this PSP release is so disapointing, but at least it is not the only way to get this great collection of games.