Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Metal Slug 3 delivers a frantic, side-scrolling run-and-gun experience that remains one of the pinnacles of arcade action. Players select from four distinct heroes—Marco, Tarma, Eri, or Fio—each with identical abilities but adding a layer of personal style to the action. From the very first stage, you’ll blast through waves of enemy soldiers, armored units, and bizarre creatures, ensuring that no two levels feel the same.

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The hallmark of this installment is its imaginative roster of rideable vehicles. Whether you’re charging into battle atop a camel, stomping through enemy lines in a mechanical elephant, or commanding a heavily armed tank or robot, each mount changes the pacing of combat and adds strategic depth. Learning the nuances of each vehicle’s firepower and armor balance extends your tactical options, especially when facing the game’s relentless boss encounters.

Beyond its core arcade stages, the Xbox version of Metal Slug 3 expands the action with two unlockable modes—Storming the Mothership and Chubby Isle Paradiso. These bonus scenarios introduce new level designs, enemy patterns, and hidden areas, rewarding players who master the five main stages. A local co-op mode allows two players to team up in couch multiplayer, though those seeking an online component will find only score comparison via Xbox Live, rather than full online play.

Graphics

Visually, Metal Slug 3 stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of hand-crafted pixel art. Every character sprite, vehicle design, and sprawling background is rendered with meticulous detail and vibrant color palettes. The animations are fluid and expressive, from the slapstick way your soldier recoils when hit to the over-the-top explosion effects that light up the screen.

Each level in Metal Slug 3 introduces a unique thematic backdrop—jungle ruins, alien-infested landscapes, booze-soaked islands, and more. These environments are layered with parallax scrolling, giving depth to the battlefield while keeping performance smooth and frame-rate steady. Enemies and bosses are equally inventive, blending mechanical designs with organic elements to create memorable adversaries that stand out against the lush scenery.

The Xbox port preserves the crispness of the original arcade artwork, even when upscaled for modern displays. Occasional flicker or screen tearing that plagued older systems has been largely mitigated, and load times remain minimal. Whether you’re playing on a CRT or HDTV, Metal Slug 3’s distinctive aesthetic pops, making every explosion and mech rampage look spectacular.

Story

Metal Slug 3 picks up the series’ tongue-in-cheek narrative with General Morden’s latest bid to establish a new world order. The premise is simple—stop Morden at all costs—yet it serves as the perfect springboard for the game’s overblown, cinematic set pieces. Each stage transitions seamlessly from one bizarre scenario to the next, sending you from desert wastelands to floating islands and beyond.

Despite being light on exposition, Metal Slug 3 weaves in humor and spectacle at every turn. Hostage rescues often reveal quirky civilians who cheer you on or provide bonus weapons, and hidden paths can lead to secret endings or alternate boss fights. The game’s pacing never lets you rest, but brief interludes—such as the sudden appearance of a gigantic mutant squid or an armada of UFOs—keep the story beats memorable.

While the plot doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it’s delivered with just enough charm and escalating absurdity to keep players engaged. The sequence culminating in a showdown against Morden’s alien space fortress ties together the disparate level themes into a cohesive, if zany, finale. For newcomers, the narrative is a delightful romp; for longtime fans, it’s a nostalgic return to the series’ golden age of arcade storytelling.

Overall Experience

Playing Metal Slug 3 in 2024 still feels as exhilarating as it did at its arcade debut. The combination of precise run-and-gun mechanics, inventive level design, and day-one content ensures hours of replayability. Unlocking the extra Xbox modes provides fresh challenges long after the main campaign is complete, and discovering every hidden passage adds to the game’s replay value.

The lack of online multiplayer is a minor drawback in an otherwise stellar package, but local co-op remains a fantastic way to share the mayhem with friends. The ability to compare scores via Xbox Live introduces a light layer of competition for high-score chasers. Whether you’re breezing through on Easy for the story or tackling the hardest difficulty for a true arcade challenge, there’s room for all skill levels.

For fans of classic arcade action or those seeking a taste of retro charm, Metal Slug 3 on Xbox is an essential addition. Its timeless design, combined with the added content and refined port quality, makes it a standout title even decades after its original release. Strap in, grab a friend, and prepare for one of the most joyful, chaotic run-and-gun experiences ever created.

Retro Replay Score

8/10