Metal Slug is one of the most beloved action franchises out there, become a permanent fixture in many arcades around the world since its inception in the mid-'90s. By offering simple yet very intense and extremely difficult 2D side-scrolling shooting action, the Metal Slug series has established a very hardcore cult following amongst gamers. For them, SNK Playmore has released the Metal Slug Anthology, a collection of seven Metal Slug games on one disc, now available for the Nintendo Wii. The collection does run into some problems with control issues, and the set has basically the games and no extras to go with them. However, at 40 bucks, the collection is a great deal for fans of the series even if the package is relatively low on frills.

The Metal Slug Anthology comes with Metal Slug 1 through 6 as well as Metal Slug X. Each game is a perfect port of the original down to the T. A 2D side scroller in the same vein as Contra, the gameplay is simple enough for anyone to pick up and play, yet extremely tough to master. The arcade ports in the collection are very well done, capturing all of the bells and whistles of the classic franchise, from the great weapons and vehicles to the hardcore difficulty.

However, the collection won’t dazzle you with any extras of any sort. A no-frills compilation, you won’t find extras like developer interviews or any of the bonus features that have become increasingly common in collections. This collection is only the games.

However, the lack of extras shouldn’t dissuade the people that this collection is geared towards, namely the hardcore fans of the series who’d be quite content with only the games in one package. The part where things get a little sketchy is the control schemes. While you can configure the controls in several possible ways, using the nunchuck or just holding the Wii-mote sideways like a Virtual Console game, you cannot remap the buttons manually at all. This wouldn’t usually be much of the problem, except that with any configuration that you choose, grenades require you to shake the Wii-mote to throw them. This can be a pain, since when you’re getting into the action you may accidentally chuck a grenade when you don’t actually want to, or not shake hard enough and not throw a grenade, or many other things that can take you out of the game and cause some undue frustration. This element of the game felt like a tacked-on way to make use of the Wii’s capabilities, and ultimately was gimmicky and unnecessary.

Another frustrating element about the controls is that it doesn’t support the Classic Controller (GameCube controllers can be used, however, but only with the D-Pad and not the analog stick). This seems like a no-brainer, and was one of the first things that I tried upon receiving the collection, but to no avail. It could’ve helped out when dealing with the annoying grenade controls, but no such luck. 

Graphically, the anthology is spot-on with the arcade. Each one is filled with the same detailed 2D sprites as the game on which it’s based and carry with them the same charm that has been one of the series’ biggest draws. Metal Slug 6, the newest game in the collection, is kind of the oddball of the group. The game doesn’t have the same crisp look as the rest of them, and looks a bit softer instead. It also uses a zoom effect to pull you in closer to the action or pulls back for a wider shot.

The music and sound is also pulled straight from the originals, with the over-the-top voice effects and a fun MIDI soundtrack.

Metal Slug Anthology is a great value, offering up seven classic titles for only 40 bucks. While those expecting anything more than the games may be a little disappointed with the lack of extras, and the grenade controls are a bit problematic, Metal Slug fans would do well to check this one out.

Gameplay: 8.0
All seven games are great and capture the feel of the arcade games, showcasing the series well in this collection. The controls cause a few issues, however, and the motion controls feel a bit tacked-on and gimmicky.

Graphics: 7.5
The games retain the same look they have since the first game hit arcades ten years ago, but certainly won’t dazzle graphic snobs weaned on high-poly count models and textured environments. The game’s cartoony graphics add to it’s personality, however, and is one of its biggest drawing factors. No 480p support, unfortunately.

Sound: 7.0
Old-school arcade sound effects and music, just the way you remember them.

Difficulty: Hard
Not for the faint-hearted (or short-tempered), Metal Slug has the same degree of old-school difficulty that you can only find in an arcade game.

Concept: 7.0
A great collection, but absolutely no extras outside of the games themselves.

Multiplayer: 8.0
Two-player co-op, just like in the arcade.

Overall: 7.5
A fun, albeit no-frills, collection of one of the most beloved franchises in arcade gaming and a great value for hardcore fans of the series.