Metal Slug 4 is usually considered the black sheep of the series. Since this was outsourced to another company at the time of old SNK's fall. Korean group Mega Enterprise handled this, and whether they did a good job or not is up to the player to decide.
I think its decent, albeit a bit mediocre. Its not the best, but not the worst either. Hardcore Metal Slug fans should be able to enjoy this. ^^;
Metal Slug 4
Genre: Run and Gun Players: 2 Size: 553 Released on: AES, MVS, Xbox, PSP, Wii, PC
Brief Description:
Metal Slug 4 is a run and gun video game for the Neo-Geo console/arcade platform created by SNK.Metal Slug 4 retains the same gameplay as previous titles, with the addition of some new enemies, bosses, weapons, several new vehicles and a new bonus combo system.
Shiny likes MS4 very muchly. It was one of the last AES games I bought and I never really understood the disproportionate hate it seems to get, I think it's a blast. Massively underrated.
Count me in as one alienated. To me, anything after three (the purist in me wants to say after X) comes off as a shameless attempt to cash in on the franchise, ala Capcom's Street Fighter. This is something I find insulting to my intelligence.
Edited by Tobalman on 02. March 2010 03:39
Nintendo messaging Wii users to please buy WiiU half a year after release is like texting your ex at two in the morning 'cause you're lonely.
That might work Cat, other than that, although MS4 was somewhat of a let-down and not going to its roots, at least it gave us some new additions, Preferably the and more.
This Metal Slug has quite a variety of vehicles, especially ones you can commandeer from the enemy. However I find the forklift and the robot dog are not really good slugs. Whilst playing the part where you ride a truck and a motorbike, I feel pretty much restricted since there's you don't move around much and the prisoner drives for you.
I'm glad they've introduced the Button D for self destruction of the slug, the Button A+B combo was getting on my nerves. As for the two new players, I don't particularly like Trevor, but Nadia's okay. The introduction of the new weapon the Dual Machineguns is superb even though it cannot shoot diagonally like the Heavy Machinegun can. The monkey transformation is a comical feature. Invincible Allen returns and is revealed to be an android having been killed in the first game, eaten twice by an orca in the next two games and blasted out of a plane in the third game. The music track I like the most in the game is the one in the third mission. It is very James Bond styled reminding me of "Die Another Day".
The biggest flaw I'd say the game has, is that there are too many recurring characters, especially the mummies and zombies which seem to cramp the hi-cyber-tech theme the game has. But since the game is here this week, I think I'll give it a good chance and playthrough for the HSC.
I agree with Shiny on this one, since getting the game last year on MVS I find myself coming back to it a lot , dare I say that I would rather play this than the overlong and now tedious MS3 which is now my least fave MS. I suppose with MS1 been such a near perfect game the sequels were always gonna struggle to top it.
MS4 has plenty going for it especially the later levels ( although the first with the airship is cool). Not that keen on new characters but they dont really bother me to be honest. I think its a game that is unfairly treated as the people who do give it a chance like myself and Shiny really rate it so give it some love and time you may get a surprise. For instance I really like the big robot cool graphics and final boss as well, for a game that is technically not SNK the quality is very good overall.
Now give us MS5 GOTW that's my joint fave with MS1. Ive voted MS4 really good but not best its well worth picking up although I dread to think how much the AES cart costs, just whilst we are on the subject the MS4 it is not a cart you see every day on ebay , it usually goes for the £40+ mark I think mine was about £40 but it does tend to go for higher. In fact its probably less common than even MS5.
Edited by STE C on 02. March 2010 18:44
The eccentric cat wrote:
Hm... Maybe I'll just make a separate thread with the list, not unlike the HSC Hall of Fame. How does that sound? :3
Not a bad idea at all. I may still talk to Kaz about a dedicated section though, eventually we're gonna end up with a shedload of threads, I think it's a good idea to collect them all in one place rather than dotted around... But then not all of my ideas are good.
Actually, what I like in MS4 (since it was been given a down by most fans) is the METALISH SYSTEM. Accumulating variety of colored medals which will be given additional points to your current score. But of course, if you die, all your medals will diminish smoothly as well as your prisoners.
Although I like this rather than METAL SLUG 5 because even it is the worst sequel of the game, still I find more attractive playing it because of the storyline it potrays on the game not like MS5 (which is a bit blant to follow) don't you agree?
But as a METAL SLUG FANATIC, I like all the games they release from its past generations to its new titles >.<
Edited by OHA on 02. March 2010 18:50
I voted 'it's a classic'. Personally I love every one of the Neo Geo slug games. I'm going to have to agree with the others that Metal Slug 4 is underrated. A very enjoyable game although for me one of the more challenging games in the series. I quite like Trevor and Nadia and also the new slugs are pretty cool especially the Metal Crow.
Seems like some people were unhappy about the recycled graphics used in this game but personally that doesn't bother me at all. Despite what I've said I still think ultimately this isn't quite as good as the rest of the Neo Geo slugs but that doesn't mean it isn't a great game because it is.
merlin wrote:
I voted 'it's a classic'. Personally I love every one of the Neo Geo slug games. I'm going to have to agree with the others that Metal Slug 4 is underrated. A very enjoyable game although for me one of the more challenging games in the series. I quite like Trevor and Nadia and also the new slugs are pretty cool especially the Metal Crow.
Seems like some people were unhappy about the recycled graphics used in this game but personally that doesn't bother me at all. Despite what I've said I still think ultimately this isn't quite as good as the rest of the Neo Geo slugs but that doesn't mean it isn't a great game because it is.
Yes you got that right, merlin and I would like to agree on what you think about METAL SLUG 4. It's far more better than METAL SLUG 5 and personally I like METAL SLUG 4 because it gave a new environment on having 2 new characters on the roster and cameo roles. This was the first time on having 6 main characters on the game (counting TARMA and ERI even their were not able to play) that makes this game interesting to pursue.
Yes and it was a challenge. One thing to challenge yourself is collecting several medals to achieve HIGHSCORE points in addition to your recaptured prisoners and others in the end. I personally like METAL SLUG 4 so much because of new artworks and animations portray on the game as well >.<
Since we're talking about character rosters now, can someone please explain the purpose of them? I haven't noticed a difference in the MSs i've played. Is it simply one of those extra features SNK was/is famous for?
Nintendo messaging Wii users to please buy WiiU half a year after release is like texting your ex at two in the morning 'cause you're lonely.
The first game I ever reviewed for NG4L. I particularly like the soundtrack Noise Factory created for the game and Nadia is still my fave MS character to this day(it'd be nice if she ever appeared again).
1st Super Tobalman wrote:
Since we're talking about character rosters now, can someone please explain the purpose of them? I haven't noticed a difference in the MSs i've played. Is it simply one of those extra features SNK was/is famous for?
Anyone?
Nintendo messaging Wii users to please buy WiiU half a year after release is like texting your ex at two in the morning 'cause you're lonely.
This game is underrated as hell and IMO superior to at least MS5 and probably MS6 too. Why? Because this game is absolutely insane! Where later Metal Slugs seemed to slow down and focus on larger, almost mid-boss-like enemies, this one instead throws armies of the entire MS beastiary at you. It's frantic, furious and fun, just it should be! Sure the graphics are a bit on the low end compared to the masterpiece MS3 and the the two new characters manage to look bland on-screen - making it harder to tell them apart than the original four - but it makes up for by giving us a double doze of everything that made the prequels great. And who can resist the charm of the all mighty dual machine gun and the ability to try out some of the enemy vehciles?
Edited by HexElf on 11. March 2010 22:16
Asuka does not wait until after school, she will kick your ass right now!
I don't hate MS4, but it's probably my least favorite out of the series. I'm a big fan of Tarma and was disappointed that they replaced him. This game is not bad, but it seems to have repetitive enemies.
shot in the eye
shot in the brain
shot in the ass...
Metal Slug 4 is a ok game to me, I like the soundtrack to the game, but I liked other Metal Slug games better than MS4. I still play the game, but it's not my favorite Metal Slug game in the series.
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