Game Details
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The Metal Slug series is a cornerstone of the PSP’s library, primarily through the massive Anthology collection and the standalone sequel XX. These games brought the arcade’s high-octane “run and gun” chaos to the handheld, complete with local co-op and pixel-perfect portability.
The Main Releases
Metal Slug Anthology
This is the definitive way to play the classic series. It is a massive compilation celebrating the 10th anniversary of the franchise.
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Included Games: Metal Slug 1, 2, X, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
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PSP Exclusive Features: A Sound Gallery (allowing you to export music to your Memory Stick) and a Wallpaper Gallery to customize your PSP home screen.
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Multiplayer: Supports Ad-Hoc wireless play for two-player co-op across all seven titles.
Metal Slug XX
Released in 2009/2010, this is a “remixed” and expanded version of Metal Slug 7 (originally on the DS).
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Characters: Features the core four (Marco, Tarma, Eri, Fio) plus Ralf Jones and Clark Still from The King of Fighters.
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Content: Boasts 7 branching stages and over 70 missions in the “Combat School” mode, offering significant replay value for solo players.
Series Features & Gameplay
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Vehicles (Slugs): Pilot everything from the classic SV-001 tank to camels, fighter jets, and even submarines.
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Transformation Mechanics: Your character can change based on the environment—turning into a Mummy in desert stages or becoming Obese if you collect too many food power-ups, which changes your weapon speed and movement.
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Save Anywhere: Unlike the arcade originals, the PSP versions allow you to save your progress at any time, making it much easier to beat the notoriously difficult final bosses.
Short Review: The Arcade in Your Pocket
The Good
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Insane Value: The Anthology provides seven full arcade games on a single UMD, offering dozens of hours of gameplay.
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Perfect Portability: The mission-based structure is ideal for short bursts of play while traveling.
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Visual Charm: The hand-drawn pixel art is legendary for its personality, humor, and smooth animations.
The Bad
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Slowdown: The PSP versions faithfully (and sometimes frustratingly) recreate the “arcade slowdown” when the screen gets too crowded with explosions and enemies.
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Load Times: Navigating between games in the Anthology menu can take a bit of time compared to the instant transitions of the original hardware.
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