When the Neo Geo Pocket Color died an untimely death, many thought that most of its great titles wouldn’t surface again in portable form. We couldn’t have been more wrong. The Game Boy Advance has inherited almost every high profile title on that system such as; Sonic, Puzzle Bobble (Bust-a-Move), and even the King of Fighters. But one franchise was noticeably absent, was Metal Slug. And when it was finally announced that it was heading to the Game Boy Advance, I was beyond ecstatic. Though my excitement was tempered by numerous delays, Metal Slug Advance finally arrived, and let me say it was pretty much worth the wait.

The Metal Slug series began on the Neo Geo many years ago. I still remember seeing the game for the first time at my local arcade in the old multi colored MVS cabinet. My initial impression was not that favorable, but it was on looks alone mind you. I just felt it was a Contra clone, but when I finally played it, wow, it was so much more than that. The best way to explain how Slug separated itself from the pack was with over-the-top action and a difficulty setting that made me cry and run home to mommy. Nah, that isn’t completely true, but the title did make me cuss so bad that one arcade operator asked me to leave.

Metal Slug Advance or any Slug for that matter is basically a side scrolling shooter. You begin your adventure by choosing between two different soldiers, either male or female. Your soldier starts their tour of duty with a knife, pistol, and a limited amount of grenades. Essentially your soldier progresses through five increasingly difficult levels shooting anything that moves. If this wasn’t enough you also need to rescue hostages along the way. All I have to say is, thank goodness these hostages are immune to your attacks. I guarantee there would be no survivors if the opposite were true. Once rescued these POWs leave you numerous items, and weapons. Pretty standard fare, but good fun all the same.

Metal Slug Advance like its Neo Geo Pocket color iteration uses a life meter for your hero, or heroine. This is in stark contrast to the original versions where one shot, and you are dead. This fundamental departure for me is not a big concern. Metal Slug Advance is still an extremely difficult game, and this change in game structure makes the game vastly more enjoyable. Another addition to the series that is found only in Metal Slug Advance is a nice feature that saves your progress.

And what Metal Slug game would be worth its weight in ammunition without the vehicle that the title takes its name from? Certainly not this Game Boy Advance version which comes complete with not just one, but three distinct versions:

Metal Slug: The original prototype that has hydraulics that allows it to jump, and climb almost any terrain. Add to this its two-advanced weapon systems and you have the best machine this side of any battlefield.

Slug Gunner: This is a walking version of the original Metal Slug. The gunner comes complete with long-range weapons, and the ability to change itself into a tank.

Slug Flyer: Heavily armored VTOL gun ship. This vehicle relies on its amazing maneuverability and powerful missiles.


However, the best new feature found in Metal Slug Advance is by far the card collecting. Before you grit your teeth -- as I know that a lot of Game Boy Advance games have a similar game play mechanic -- this one actually serves to heighten the gaming experience. You collect various cards, and while some don’t do anything, others unlock all kinds of cool features. Now the trick is that if you lose your life before you finish a mission, you lose all the cards you have collected. This feature seems to cater more towards the hardcore crowd.

Speaking in terms of graphics and sound, it's amazing how close Metal Slug Advance comes to the arcade originals. The huge bosses that are somewhat of a mainstay, look like they were almost transplanted straight from any number of Slug games. All your weapons are here too in all their glory. Sure there are some missing frames of animation, and the explosions have been scaled back, but overall the game remains a very impressive achievement for the Game Boy Advance.

Here we come to the part in the review where I sum up all the negative aspects of the game. Instead of touting all the faults of Metal Slug Advance, I would like to point out the most notable ‘flaw’. As most people already know Metal Slug Advance is a niche game, meaning only a certain percentage of the gaming community will enjoy it. Metal Slug is exactly what fans of this series would expect, a pure side scrolling action shooter, that doesn’t try to appeal to the masses. This kind of flaw I can appreciate, but as games seek to please so many different types of gamers; titles like Metal Slug may become a rarity. Lets hope that -- as the gaming industry grows -- it doesn’t forget to include a wide variety of different gaming choices.

Metal Slug Advance is a true delight to any fan of the series; even someone who is not familiar can easily jump into the action. The card collecting will appeal mostly to the hardcore crowd, and the unlimited continues and a save feature will make the game more enjoyable for everyone else. So despite what camp you belong too, you will certainly find a challenge in Metal Slug Advance. Hands down one of the best Metal Slug games, and that is certainly saying something considering its great lineage.