Developer: Mega Enterprise Publisher: Ignition Entertainment Release: 10/28/05 Genre: Action
Metal Slug 3 is one of the greatest 2d action games of all time and set a high bar. So how do you follow it up? Simple, you don’t, at least for the original team of creators. Unfortunately SNK would go bankrupt not long after its release and a different team would try to keep the series alive. Metal Slug 4 is a good game overall but is definitely one of the weakest in the series. You can tell they were in over their heads with this one.
The story deviates from the typical conflict between the Regular Army and Rebel Army. In the year 20XX cyber terrorism is on the rise. A cyber virus threatens to cripple the military computer systems of nations worldwide with a group calling themselves the Amadeus Syndicate taking credit. They are deemed an international threat and the PF Squad is called in to terminate them. With 2 members out on assignment Marco and Fio are joined by new members Trevor and Nadia to take on this new threat.
Metal Slug 4 was the first and only title in the series created by Korean developer Mega Enterprise. It is clear they did not know entirely how to create a new Metal Slug from scratch. As such it heavily recycles assets from previous games and it is blatantly obvious. Not only do they reuse large background chunks and sprites they also recycle animations and reskin characters as well. There is very little environmental destruction as well which is noticeable. Not everything is reused however; the new artwork is not at the same level and clearly stands out. That being said it is not all bad as there are some clever new vehicles and enemies plus the series trademark humor is still present. It is just that after the extravagant excess of the third game part four falls short.
Because the game is a pastiche of elements from prior games there are not many new features. The two new characters only differ in their animations making the choice moot. There is only a single new weapon, the dual machine gun but it is so rare it is non-existent. The funny Utan helper from the previous game and is now a potential player transformation and is just as hilarious. There are only a few new slugs but sadly they are not as interesting. With addition comes subtraction as they remove some weapons and vehicles but there is a reason for that.
Metal Slug 4 is more grounded than its immediate predecessor. Gone are the aliens and mystical creatures. Instead you face an ever escalating series of mechanical contraptions, cyborgs and a varied set of enemy soldiers. There are still zombies and what have you but there is scientific reason behind that. Because the game recycles so much of its art it more closely resembles Metal Slug X. Some may find that a plus; I like Metal Slug 3 but it did start to get progressively weirder. It may sound boring compared to the fantastical third game but that is not the case.
Overall the level design is strong. The alternate routes return and the paths diverge wildly. If you stay on the bridge in mission one there is a fast paced auto scrolling segment. Whereas the path below continues the standard action. Mission three features a cool slide down an icy mountain in the standard route. Alternatively you can fight through a cave of Sasquatches and pilot the slugnoid up a waterfall. One thing I appreciate is that the levels are shorter. I think SNK made the levels of the third game longer since there were only five. But that meant that they could become a slog, especially the final mission. Even with recycled assets the game remains compelling; you would have to truly screw-up to make a bad Metal Slug.
Compared to its brutal predecessors Metal Slug 4 is easier and more accessible. Now keep in mind easy in Metal Slug means it will only kick your ass for a few hours rather than days or weeks. The game is extremely generous with its weapons and unless you are reckless with ammo will rarely rely on the standard pistol. Slug vehicles can now take four hits instead of three and the difference is notable as well. The biggest reason the challenge is so lax is that for most of the game there are fewer enemies. I breezed through the first half of the game because of this. In the second half it steps as bosses have multiple phases and are bullet sponges. But compared to its direct predecessor I only used four credits instead of twelve my first time through. That is a point in its favor at least.
In Closing
Metal Slug 4 might be the worst in the series but that only means it is a seven out of ten. The action is still great, the art is lush if familiar, and the easier difficulty makes it accessible. It is not the first in the series I would reach for but I would still recommend it nonetheless.
