Metal Slug 5 – The Arcade Gem That Made It to Xbox!

The Metal Slug series is synonymous with the fine art of creating side-scrolling shoot 'em ups. In 1996, this incredible game debuted for NeoGeo and arcades, proving what other titles like Top Hunter and Spin Masters had hinted at before—but with far more impact. Metal Slug confirmed that, with a bit of charm and flair, SNK’s 16-bit hardware could deliver a groundbreaking game without relying on 2D fighting (something even great shooters like Pulstar and Blazing Star didn’t achieve, despite being excellent games).

Metal Slug was such a hit that even today, it gets new ports for major consoles. This shows that the original vision of Nazca, its creators, was perfectly realized. So far, there have been five mainline entries, a special edition (Metal Slug X), a Game Boy Advance version, and two fantastic NeoGeo Pocket Color installments (which, despite being well-made, sold poorly due to the handheld’s limited success). Not to mention the planned 3D arcade version, which was supposed to arrive this year—though the lack of news suggests it might be delayed or canceled.

This time, we’re not reviewing the sixth entry or the 3D version, but Metal Slug 5, a 2D episode released in late 2003 for the 1991 NeoGeo hardware and now ported to Microsoft’s Xbox (a console that, if pushed, can perfectly emulate the original hardware without needing reprogramming). This time, our guerrilla fighters face a new crisis: the Ptolemaic Army (a paramilitary group that kills time hunting for hidden relics) has uncovered the disks needed to produce Metal Slugs, and they’re flooding the screen with these adorable tanks.

Gameplay

Anyone who’s played a Metal Slug game can skip this part, since the core gameplay remains the same. We’ll start by explaining the basics before covering the new additions. Like the rest of the series, Metal Slug 5 falls into the old-school "slash 'n hack" category—mixing platforming skills with shoot 'em up action. You begin (after picking your character) with a short-range weapon, a long-range weapon (automatically selected), limited grenades, and the ability to jump and aim in any direction. A series trademark is the occasional appearance of vehicles (Slugs) that boost your firepower and durability. You’ll also find other weapons and POWs who, once freed, lend a hand in various ways.

Now, let’s look at what sets Metal Slug 5 apart from its predecessors. The changes boil down to a new robot called the Slug Gunner and the ability to slide on the ground. That’s about it—there aren’t many, and some "innovations" from past games (like branching paths or transforming into zombies or mummies) are missing. This time, the only transformation is into a fatter version of your character, another franchise staple.

This is the biggest complaint about Metal Slug 5. Unlike similar series (such as Konami’s Contra, which introduced major changes across its first five entries), Metal Slug has barely evolved over the years (First Mission on NeoGeo Pocket being the most unique). Whether due to lack of ambition or resources, this stagnation disappoints fans—and they’re not wrong. Worse, Metal Slug 5 only has five stages, far too few for this genre. Replay value is nonexistent unless you’re chasing high scores, as there are no extras—not even a basic image gallery to unlock after beating the game.

In short, it’s still fun thanks to its tight gameplay and humor (a series trademark), but it doesn’t surprise—it just feels like "more of the same."

Graphics

Let’s be clear: This is an Xbox game, and as such, it should meet certain standards, whether it’s 2D (like this one) or 3D. Shouldn’t it take advantage of Microsoft’s hardware for beautiful backgrounds, high-res sprites, smooth gunfire, and lighting effects? Forget all that—SNK Playmore went with a lazy port, turning your Xbox into a 90s machine. That wouldn’t be a problem if this were a retro compilation, but it’s not.

That said, Metal Slug 5 is colorful (you could say it’s part of the "defend the blue skies" program), with animated bitmap graphics, smooth side-scrolling, and decent character designs—especially the mechanical creatures. Animations are as charming and well-crafted as ever, and the screen stays packed with action. The shame is that the Xbox has proven (with games like Guilty Gear XX or Alien Hominid, a Metal Slug spiritual successor) that 2D games can look much better.

Music & Sound

The soundtrack is as energetic as it needs to be, with guitar-heavy tunes that keep the adrenaline pumping. Thankfully, the sampled audio quality is better than the original—a nice touch that could’ve been applied to the graphics too. Sound effects remain familiar (gunfire, slashing enemies with knives or axes) and do their job perfectly. Voice lines are as sparse as ever, but since they don’t impact the story, the lack of localization isn’t an issue. Text isn’t in Spanish either, though it would’ve been appreciated.

Verdict

Metal Slug 5 isn’t a bad game, but it’s hard to justify spending €29.95 on it (the same price as Alien Hominid, a similar game designed for the Xbox). Especially when other regions got it bundled with Metal Slug 4. That’s a double insult—not only is it pricier, but Spain got it later just to avoid overlapping with the fourth game’s release. On top of being nearly identical to past entries, it’s possibly the shortest Metal Slug yet, and the lack of replay value makes it hard to recommend. That said, if someone gifts it to you, it’s entertaining enough that you won’t want to return it.

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