Metal Slug Anthology Comments by Simon Parkin

I just don't get it, I never have. But I realise some people love this series to bits. Horses for courses I guess. Cue accusations of me not being a "proper" gamer :)

@ kangarootoo

It's gamers like you that prevent the rest of us getting husbands/wives.

PSP has really gained some momentum recently, what with some nice games and the homebrew scene. Not a bad handheld choice at all anymore.

There's no school like it.

Have this preordered for the Wii. I know the first two by heart already, the 3rd was awkward and never really appealed to me, but the series is really great overall.

2D games on the PSP FTUMFW \o/

"PSP has really gained some momentum recently, what with some nice games and the homebrew scene. Not a bad handheld choice at all anymore. "

http://www.mcvuk.com/Retail-speaks-out-i...

"With only five weeks until PS3's launch, games retail has expressed concern at the shock exit of Sony’s commercial director Kevin Jowett – and highlighted major worries over PS3 margins and SCE UK’s in-store strategy...

further grumbles are emerging over Sony’s ambitious plans for in-store PS3 retail ‘experiences’. Sony has asked retailers to install display areas featuring the console, PSP, HD-TV, surround sound systems and various items of Sony-branded furniture... “Even the smaller versions won’t work with most retailers. I wish Sony had worked more closely with us.”

I'm loving Metal Slug Anthology it never leaves my psp unless I play Parodius Portable, another great game.

Gurgeh - what has that got to do with what he said?

PSP is getting some good games, and you reply with an article about Kevin Jowett leaving the company. I just don't get it.

@ HazyUK

Agreed. Parodius Portable is so much better implemented though.

2D shumups are about the only thing keeping me interested in the psp.

Amazing how even when a good game shows up at the PSP section, the spinmeisters come to troll on the PSP (not even it's games) and try to turn everything into bad news.

Gurgeh is just yet another Microsoft fanboy/astroturfer trying to convince people not to buy anything from Sony.

I do hope he's getting paid for this, for his sake.

PSP in umpteenth EG 9 shocker.

You forgot to mention the best bit about the extras.

All wallpapers and Music are downloadable onto your memory stick duo to use/listen to outside the game.

The quality of the games is a given, but something as simple as this is actually kind of brilliant and something that other games should loook at implementing.

I've been drooling over this, but didn't know if the gameplay would hold up to the lovely visuals. That score makes it a purchase necessity. With the Ultimate Ghosts and Goblins, the Mega Drive Collection and all my old PS1 games I spent the weekend ripping I'm in retro heaven right now, and for the forseeable future.

If the PSP was cheaper I'd have picked one up.

This, Mega Drive collection and Ghouls N Ghosts Extreme....it's really starting to catch up with the DS now. \o/

psp needs one- but the one- truly stand-out RPG or adventure title to go with the myriad of merely decent ones and I'll pick it up faster than EA picks up a movie license. Old school shooters don't really cut it by themselves, alas.

If the PSP was cheaper I'd have picked one up.

It would be a good idea to check second hand deals on that, because 1) It will be a tad cheaper 2) You're more likely to find a PSP with a firmware you can then convert to the highly recommended 3.10 OE.

@ dirigiblebill:

Rezel Cross sounds promising, might want to have a look at that later on.

stu campbell's great overview of the series
http://worldofstuart.excellentcontent.co...

This is a great-value compilation, but as the review says the front end is an atrocity, and neither of the PSP's control mechanisms do it any favours. The d-pad is worthless as usual (you don't need diagonals often, but you do need them), and the analogue is no good for the quick reactions demanded by Slug games. The control comes perilously close to destroying the whole thing. Even though it's only got one game, I'm really looking forward to the imminent GBA release of the first Metal Slug.

Considering the fact that Metal Slug 4 and 5 on PS2 got a 4/10 and a 5/10 a score of 9/10 was the last thing I was expecting for Anthology...

@dirigiblebill

"It's gamers like you that prevent the rest of us getting husbands/wives"

Lol. Man, I'm not even sure if that is a compliment or an insult. I'm going to assume its a compliment until informed otherwise.


@romanista

On the basis that Stu Campbell doesn't like the series, I must now embrace it and clutch it close to my heart.

Metal Slugs 4 and 5 were the weakest in the series.

This compilation is easily worth the money just for MS1,2 and 3. Getting 6 thrown in is a nice bonus, too.

And the controls aren't great, but I've managed to get by with the anaologue nub. Not great, but it's no deal breaker either.

As much as I would no doubt enjoy replaying Metal Slug games on the PSP, something for me would be lost not playing on the "big screen", such is the way with a lot of arcade ports.

Any sign of when the PS2 compilation is due out? That version should improve on the PSP's d-pad issues whilst also giving shorter loading times/pauses.

Another crap game for the PSP.......lol.....oh....wait.......

The retro collections are really kicking a lot of arse at the moment. The megadrive one is brilliant, the Gradius one is pretty good and this looks like its going to be a purchase.

One of the most frustrating ones ive got recently has been the Capcom Puzzle Collection. On the one hand, youve got block block (a reasonably crap breakout game), 3 versions of Pang (or Buster Brothers) and Super Puzzle Fighter, so its not a generous package. On the other hand there are 3 different play modes for SPF and Pang is still ace. Oh, and you can take PSP sized screenshots for your XMB background.

So, yeah, retro seems to be where its at at the moment, especially with all the PSP stuff.

@ dirigiblebill

Compared to DS PSP is a treasure trove of RPG games. Admittedly most of them are old school fares with by the numbers gameplay and story. There's hope in the horizon because DisGaea Portable is heading to Europe. Now, if they would only bring Jeanne D'Arc here... Maybe Riviera, too.

The review states: "we're not going to mark Metal Slug Anthology down for its menu design".

You really should. Too many games get away with really bad menus (*cough* PGR3 *cough*), and if game designers don't get signalled that bad or slow-loading menus can ruin an otherwise perfect game, things will not improve...

Indeed the PSP library is filling out very nicely these days.

I've bought this on PSP and played through all seven of them at least once. I'd agree that 1-3 are the best in the series.

The menu system is most certainly dire. Also the means of unlocking extras brings up the save menu upon EVERY unlocked item. ie, unlock wallpaper 1, it'll ask you to save, unlock wallpaper 2, it'll ask you to save, etc. Argh. Just ask me when I exit the unlock menu for Christ's sake and save it all in one go.

Occasionally the entire game would virtually grind to a halt. Proper slideshow territory. Didn't happen very often but worth a mention considering it usually cost you a life; Metal Slug games are hard enough anyway of course without having to deal with the framerate going south every so often. I suspect it was the UMD struggling to keep up with loading new assets so may well just be my clapped out old PSP. Or anyone else have this problem?

EDIT: but don't let the above put anyone off - it's an awesome collection no doubt about it.

There's hope in the horizon because DisGaea Portable is heading to Europe.

Wowowow! Hold it right there! It is? That would be the best news I've heard all day. Not that I don't trust you, but... got a link to back up this story?

"Stu Campbell doesn't like the series"

What are you, some sort of illiterate fucking spastic?

That sentence is funnier if you read 'Fucking' as a verb.

@ "Stu"

What are you, someone who takes themselves far too seriously on the internets?

Nope, I just enjoy swearing at thick twats.

@ kangarootoo

"I'm going to assume its a compliment"

Damn straight. I wouldn't want me to breed either ;)

@ SeesThroughAll

Indeed, looks interesting (and pretty). Thanks for the heads up.

@ spongebob

DS may not have as many RPGs as its competitor (assuming you exclude the GBA back catalogue) but it has arguably the best of the lot in that super mario rpg. I think in the long run the psp will offer a better selection though. Disgaea, FF Tactics and Crisis Core should clinch it.

"Occasionally the entire game would virtually grind to a halt. Proper slideshow territory. Didn't happen very often but worth a mention considering it usually cost you a life;"

Mostly in Metal Slug 2, right?
That game slows down like crazy on the Neo Geo as well, and none of the games are completely free of slowdown even on the original hardware. The manual does explain that Metal Slug X was created to address the 'technical problems' with MS2 as well as remixing the gameplay a little.
Oh, and there do seem to be a few times when the game just locks up for a second or so to allow the loading to catch up. Happens if you are blasting through the level a little too quickly.

Well I'll get this for the Wii anyway, can't put up with PSP controls anymore. Oh yeah, with this (also on Wii) the Megadrive collection (also on PS2) & Ghouls and Ghosts (which was rubbish) I wouldn't say the PSP is catching up with the DS by a looong shot

"I wouldn't say the PSP is catching up with the DS by a looong shot"

True, but its at least become/becoming a decent machine in its own right.
There's the new Ratchet & Clank game, Gurumin, Every Extend Extra, Chilli Con Carnage and Exit 2 all either out now, out in America or out soon.
And that's just the PSP exclusive* stuff thats already gotten good reviews.

DS is still king of the handhealds, but if you have the cash, the PSP is well worth owning.

*Yes, I know Gurumin was a PC game first, but I think it was Japan-only and hard to get hold of, so this is the first time westerners will be able to play it.

@ toy_brain:

You forgot to mention a bunch of other good games like MGS:PO and KillZone Liberation, as well as the hopefully good upcoming Virtua Tennis 3, Afterburner and Crush from SEGA.

Good times, that's all I can say :).

Colour? Metal Slug was one of the first game to pioneer the brown on grey look.
And what's with the Tom Calncy reference? What does a gun-porn writer got to do with this game?

"PSP has really gained some momentum recently, what with some nice games and the homebrew scene. Not a bad handheld choice at all anymore. "

As long as you don't mind not playing any actual, you now, new games on it. The only good on the platform are these official ports of old games
(this metal slug thing, the sega compilation, powerstone compilation, valkyre profile, the upcoming final fantasy ports of 1 and tactics, etc).

When it comes to platform specific games, games that aren't ported or modded onto it via emulator, it's still a rarity to find one that's really good and worthwhile.

"Considering the fact that Metal Slug 4 and 5 on PS2 got a 4/10 and a 5/10 a score of 9/10 was the last thing I was expecting for Anthology..."

I'd say it finally got the score it deserves. Well done Simon Parkin!

Metal Slug is one of the great side-scrolling shooters, up there with Gunstar Heroes and Contra. And even more so than those titles, it's equally beautiful and hugely enjoyable as it was on release.

To have all six games in one neat package...why shouldn't it get a 9? Remember also that 1, 2/X and 3 are probably the best in the series, 4 and 5 are really pale imitations so the 4/5 out of 10 reflects that.

Agreed on the 2D graphics .

I've been looking at the original Green Hill Zone in Sonic, and it's just one of the best looking games I can think of. Silky smooth also, and only 64 colours on screen.

Excellent.

I've not played the Metal Slugs, mostly because I won't be competing with the rabid fans for a copy of any of the games on eBay. I've loved shooters from R-Type and Xenon I/II through Thunderforce (IV) onwards, so I'll probably grab this one for the PSP.

Curse the devs for not presenting the game decently though. No need for not giving the menus some spit 'n' polish. Lazy shortcutting, jus to release the game and get our money.

Seems unmissable though!

As long as you don't mind not playing any actual, you now, new games on it. The only good on the platform are these official ports of old games
(this metal slug thing, the sega compilation, powerstone compilation, valkyre profile, the upcoming final fantasy ports of 1 and tactics, etc).

You think so? My, my, my... the FUD never ends...
Lumines 1&2 (the franchise actually was born on the PSP), Exit 1&2, GripShift (ported FROM the PSP to the PSN), LocoRoco, Syphon Filter Dark Mirror, KillZone Liberation, etc. ... the list goes on.

And don't even think about referring to this SF:DM and K:L as ports, they are no more of ports than Phoenix Wright (that was originally a GBA game), "new" Super Mario Brothers, or Mario Kart DS. In fact, come to think of it, the DS has at least as many ports and rehashes as the PSP, doesn't it?

A lot of PSP haters like to claim that porting (original) PSP games to consoles is a bad thing, but as far as I'm concerned, it only testifies to those games quality.

The problem with the PSP since lanunch has been Sony's stream of blunders.

They raise hopes and expectations through PR shit talk, then we buy the powerful hardware at a premium price (vs. the competition) and expect them to deliver.

Then we wait, and wait... until Konami, Rockstar, Namco, Sega (Sumo - as Sega have been fuckups in recent years too), SNK etc. deliver the goods and bail Sony out.

Sony pissed me off with the PSP, but I love it due to 3rd party devs and homebrew. Sony made the sexy and powerful hardware as usual, then left us with incomplete and in some cases intentionally broken features (video playback, no TV out for UMD, no downloadable video, music or games, broken web browser, no online service - nobody to play against and no way to invite them, plus hardly any games supporting online, yawn... annoying FUCKING SONY!!!!! WHERE'S GRAN TURISMO YOU FUCKING LIARS!).

So they're continuing their trend into the P$£ era, but most of us gamers have already been burned, so fuck 'em!

PSPDSWii60 will do me fine until 2009.

Sony's new trojan can fuck off.

No fanboyism, no trolling involved.

From my outsider's perspective, the attractive thing about the whole DS vs. PSP saga is that the platforms are pretty well differentiated. DS gives you a bizarre but effective dual-screen touchy-feely set-up; PSP gives you the power of a ps2 in your pocket. There's a real sense of choice, and quality gaming on either side of the line.

Sorry but this is hardly as beautiful as the clean vector graphics of Locoroco.

From my outsider's perspective, the attractive thing about the whole DS vs. PSP saga is that the platforms are pretty well differentiated. DS gives you a bizarre but effective dual-screen touchy-feely set-up; PSP gives you the power of a ps2 in your pocket. There's a real sense of choice, and quality gaming on either side of the line.

+2

Exactly.

Good new games, the homebrew scene (the emulators are insane), excellent video playback (beats iPod's video versions easily), decent mp3 playback.. PSP is a nice all around portable machine and for a reasonable price to boot. Still, it's not everyone's cup of tea.

Still needs a redesign to fix the controls.

Good job metal slug came out on the wii.. or i'd have a reason to buy a psp again.