Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Metal Slug 4 & 5 maintain the franchise’s trademark run-and-gun formula, delivering blisteringly fast side-scrolling action. Each title offers a series of intricately designed stages, crammed with explosions, enemy waves and branching paths. From the moment you hop into the iconic Slug tank or grab one of the many pickups, the game wastes no time in testing your reflexes with hordes of grunts, choppers and monstrous bosses.

Both installments introduce new vehicles and power-ups that expand upon the formula established in earlier entries. Metal Slug 4 offers the Eagle motorcycle and a flamethrower, while Metal Slug 5 throws in a massive crab mech and more devastating weapons. These additions keep the gameplay fresh, encouraging experimentation—especially in co-op, where two players can coordinate maneuvers, revive each other and rack up combo scores.

The compilation’s Xbox version adds an online leaderboard system through Xbox Live, allowing you to compare high scores with friends and global players. This competitive edge gives seasoned veterans a reason to dive back in, perfecting each level’s routing and farming hidden secrets. Even newcomers will appreciate the forgiving checkpoint system and generous extra lives, making the steep difficulty curve more manageable.

Graphics

Graphically, Metal Slug 4 & 5 remain faithful to the series’ beloved 2D pixel art style. The sprites are lushly detailed, with each soldier, vehicle and background element rendered in vibrant colors that pop against the often grim battlefield settings. The fluid animations—whether it’s a Slug tank punching through walls or a helicopter bursting into flames—retain the hand-drawn charm of the arcade originals.

While the core aesthetic hasn’t changed radically, the two games refine the visual formula in subtle ways. Metal Slug 4 features more experimental environments, such as high-contrast icy landscapes and underwater sequences, while Metal Slug 5 leans into bolder color palettes and larger boss sprites. Occasional frame-rate dips during boss onslaughts on older hardware are offset by the overall smoothness and clarity of the action.

The separate disc format for each game ensures load times remain minimal, preserving the arcade-style immediacy. On modern televisions, the pixel art scales cleanly, though purists may prefer a CRT filter to recapture the original sheen. Either way, the animation quality and attention to background details—blasting craters, burning ships, collapsing structures—showcase SNK’s artistry at its best.

Story

The narrative in both Metal Slug 4 & 5 is classic series fare: a ragtag Special Forces unit battles the nefarious General Morden and a host of new bio-organic threats. While the story rarely moves beyond its tongue-in-cheek war-drama premise, it’s woven neatly into each stage, providing context for your mission—whether you’re rescuing hostages from a Nazi-style fortress or thwarting mutant experiments in a hidden laboratory.

Cutscenes are brief but memorable, featuring exaggerated character expressions, comedic banter and over-the-top villains. These interludes keep the pace brisk, ensuring you’re never stuck in exposition for long. The lighthearted humor—such as soldiers flailing theatrically when hit—balances the carnage, giving the game a distinct personality that’s as entertaining now as it was in the arcades.

Despite its simplicity, the story does a fine job of guiding you through escalating threats and varied locales. Boss battles feel like climactic chapter endings, often accompanied by unique animation sequences that highlight the game’s creative flair. If you’re looking for deep lore, you might be disappointed—but if you crave straight-ahead action with a dash of campy storytelling, Metal Slug delivers.

Overall Experience

As a compilation, Metal Slug 4 & 5 present outstanding value for fans of classic run-and-gun shooters. Having two full games on separate discs means you get hours upon hours of content, from the high-intensity opening levels to the epic final showdowns. The addition of Xbox Live leaderboards breathes new life into score-chasing, elevating replayability for both solo players and couch co-op veterans.

Sound design and music further enhance the experience, with adrenaline-pumping tracks that ramp up during boss fights and comical sound effects that accentuate every explosion. Voice snippets—grunts, yells and victory shouts—add character without ever feeling intrusive. The blend of orchestral themes and rock riffs perfectly complements the onslaught of pixelated mayhem.

Ultimately, Metal Slug 4 & 5 excel at delivering unrelenting arcade action in a portable console package. Whether you’re a longtime SNK aficionado or a newcomer eager to dive into retro shooters, this double pack offers a generous dose of nostalgia and challenge. Its tight controls, dazzling visuals and relentless pacing make it a must-own for anyone who appreciates timeless run-and-gun gameplay.

Retro Replay Score

7.1/10