GENRE
	Action
	DEVELOPER
	Ignition
	PUBLISHER
	SNK Playmore
	LOCAL WIRELESS MULTI-PLAY
	No
	Wi-Fi/GLOBAL ONLINE MULTI-PLAY
	No
	MICROPHONE
	No
	BUY NOW AT

Many gamers consider games like the Mega Man series to be a true test of skill and memorization, but the Blue Bomber is just some loser in blue underwear compared to SNK’s crew of battle-hardened soldiers. Metal Slug 7 is a nail-biting, tooth-grinding, hair pulling shoot-em-up for only the hardest of the hardcore. For years, the venerable series has been giving gamers panic-induced heart attacks in arcades, where it has a reputation for eating quarters faster than a pinball machine on a 90-degree incline. Metal Slug 7 hits the DS with the same hardcore challenge while becoming a bit more accessible to the average gamer.

visuals

As long as games like Metal Slug 7 exist, 2D graphics will never truly die. Sprites fill the screen at all times, from tiny bullets to screen-filling bosses. Every character and machine of war is lovingly animated, lending Metal Slug 7 a cartoony feel. It’s the perfect foil for the intense violence exploding across the screen. Enemy soldiers bleed and their vehicles explode in gigantic fireballs. It’s a little small and grainy and every so often there is slowdown from the sheer amount of sprites on the screen, but by and large Metal Slug 7 is a true 2D showcase.

audio

Intense military dirges accompany Metal Slug 7’s nonstop carnage. It’s decent music, but it’s rarely heard over the din of dying enemies and exploding machinery. And on that note, the sound effects are great, many of them mainstays of the series throughout the years. Explosions rattle, soldiers scream in pain, and bullets blast with a constant barrage. It’s like having a cute little war in the palm of your hand.

gameplay

Take the run and gun gameplay of Contra, pump it full of stimulants and add the hectic bullet-dodging of a space shooter, and the end result would be something like Metal Slug 7. The main goal is to travel from point A to point B and destroy absolutely everything in between. With the ability to choose from six characters -- each specializing in different areas like explosives or melee combat -- and a whole armory of weapons and vehicles scattered along the way, Metal Slug 7 is not lacking in variety.

Another thing Metal Slug 7 isn’t lacking in is difficulty. Fortunately, the game caters to both hardcore and casual gamers thanks to the ability to choose a difficulty setting. While it’s still a relentless meat-grinder, the easy mode gives abundant lives and slightly more forgiving enemies and bosses. It’s still tough, but nowhere near the intensity of normal or hard modes.

It may seem like Metal Slug 7 is lacking in content with only seven main levels, but there are also several side missions, with simple goals like “don’t get hit” or “kill all the enemies in x amount of time”. These mini-challenges are fun and offer a huge challenge, sometimes harder than the main game.

multiplayer

The only major disappointment is Metal Slug 7’s conspicuous absence of multiplayer. The series has always featured some of the best co-op play to be found anywhere, and the fact that Metal Slug 7 is completely devoid of such an option is disappointing. The DS has certainly proven to be a capable multiplayer platform, which makes the situation all the more baffling.

overall

Metal Slug 7 is a godsend to hardcore gamers looking for a portable fix. It should also please longtime fans of the series by staying true to its roots without adding anything in the way of touch-screen gimmickry. While it may not be a sprawling epic, Metal Slug 7 is a short blast of adrenaline, perfect for getting a quick fix of action on the bus or in between classes. It’s not for everyone, especially those not inclined towards twitch-reflex gameplay, but for those who like that style of game, Metal Slug 7 is a satisfying portion of hardcore gaming on the go.

8.0/10