Metal Slug X - Arcade Review - Comparison with Metal Slug 2
This game is the upgraded version of Metal Slug 2. Metal Slug X was released 1 year after the original game.
It still has the same cleverness, humor and action pack game from the original one but with some improvements that in my opinion made this game way way better than the original one.
SNK did a marvelous job upgrading this game and filled in the holes that were obvious in Metal Slug 2.
You can check this previous review of mine of Metal Slug 2.
https://steemit.com/gaming/@rye05/metal-slug-2-arcade-review-the-old-school-way
Metal Slug X on Vita
Character Selection Screen
Story
Story wise, nothing was changed from Metal Slug 2.
It's set 2 years after Metal Slug 1, various factions from around the world are joining forces and is wreaking havoc. These groups are supporters of General Morden, the main boss from Metal Slug 1.
There will be 2 additional heroes deployed that will help our protagonists from Metal Slug 1 to once defeat the rebel army again. Players can choose any characters they want.
Characters
Marco
The main character and hero from Metal Slug 1. He will be accompanied by his best friend and 2 new protagonists to help him defeat the new Rebel Army.
Eri
Discovered by the Government Intelligence Agency when she was still a street gang leader. She was trained to become an assassin but despises it. So she was transferred to S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S. and was sent to assist Marco and Tarma in their mission.
Tarma
Marco's best friend and was with him during the events of Metal Slug 1. He got promoted because of their last mission and will continue to support his best friend till the end.
Fio
She is an heir to a wealthy family that has a tradition of the first son being a soldier. Due to his mom cannot give birth anymore after her, she was forced to become one and is the first female soldier in her family. Expert in medicine and a bit childish.
General Morden
After escaping from prison, he made a pact with an alien race and thus started not just a coup but a total invasion on earth. He got betrayed in the final stage and become the alien race's prisoner resulting to the alliance of the heroes and the Rebel Army.
Graphics and Changes
It still has the same awesome graphics but with a few tweaks and upgrades from Metal Slug 2.
The most obvious one is the the time of the day for each stages. In Metal Slug 1, you start with a fix time of the day like in the desert stage, you start in daylight but in in Metal Slug 2, you start during the night but can change randomly from daylight, dawn or evening. There are also added graphics and more secrets to be found.
Metal Slug X
Metal Slug 2
Some of the Super vehicles are also changed or added in some stages too like this on stage 1 where the camel and the tank is available.
There are also more enemies compared to the original game.
And new kind of enemies like this mummy who spits bugs instead of poison that turns you into a mummy.
There are also changes in the bosses like the one on mission 1 that is similar to the boss in Metal Slug 1
And finally, in Metal Slug 2, your characters get fat only in stage 4 while in Metal Slug X, they can become bigger in any stage after mission 2.
Mission 3
Mission 4
Final Mission
Sound
The music of Metal Slug X has become much better for my ears. It became more epic and much cleaner than the Metal Slug 2 but it might be just me.
Here's a comparison of the sound tracks from the 2 games.
Metal Slug X
Source
Metal Slug 2
Source
Gameplay
There's no change in the gameplay, it's still a run and gun side scrolling kill all of your enemies. However, there are new features that I'm gonna be adding to show how this game became much much better than the original one and the controls have become smoother.
Sample Gameplay
New Features
Here are some of the additional features added to Metal Slug X that are mostly on weapons.
Super Weapons
The original weapons from Metal Slug 2 has improvements where you can get a stronger version of them. It has appearance changes and deal massive damage to the enemies.
The appearance of the power up is like glowing and becomes bigger.
And once you fire it, it has a different appearance too that looks like more powerful than the regular version.
New Weapons
Iron Lizard {I}
A peculiar weapon, the iron lizard is like rockets and grenades that do splash damage whenever it hits the targets. Once shot, it goes to the ground and then races very fast along the road to hit the targets forward.
The fat version of the iron lizard looks like an egg that is kind of slower and sometimes get tired lol.
Enemy Chaser {C}
This baby shots small missiles that has better tracking than the rocket launcher but with less firepower. It tracks the nearest enemies or objects and is also good for finding hidden objects.
The big version is a bit bigger and rounder but has lesser tracking and slower.
Drop Shot {D}
A unique weapon in Metal Slug X. The accuracy isn't very good but can shoot over enemies that take cover. This is like a rubber bullet that bounces off 3 or 4 times before it explodes if it doesn't hit anything.
The big version, well it is more bigger and has more power :-)
And then there's a new grenade that turns it into stone, yes stone that can kill single enemies more rather than an area of impact damage.
Golden Tank
The only new vehicle in the game, it is an upgraded version of the regular tank in the game. It can jump higher and move faster.
Overall
More features, improved game makes this a little bit superior than Metal Slug 2. Definitely worth playing to try the new things it can offer. More action and more fun.
Replay of the game isn't that much, you'll eventually get all the features in one game. One challenge would finishing the game with lesser continues but that's about it.
Thanks for reading guys :-) Look forward for more awesome gaming reviews.
All pics and vids without source are screenshots from my Vita and Youtube channel
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Thanks for sharing gane post, Ilove playing games and knowing about them.
GREAT POST.
Thanks man, I love your gaming reviews too, wish I have a PS4 to play the new assassins creed but can't do right now because of work and family so I settle with my Vita, I do have assassin's creed liberation in my Vita but I think it's the worst in all of them :-)
Nice review :), seeing picture of your Vita made me think about getting mine back out, haven't played it in a long time
Thank you my friend, love to see a fellow vita user here :-)