Metal Slug 3 is a 16-bit blast from the past that is available from both Google Play for $3.99 as well as on Humble Bundle 10 (the most recent as of this writing). In this side scrolling shooter, it’s the player’s job to keep the world from the oppression of an invading force fashioned after the Nazis, among others.
The gameplay is fairly straightforward. You can play in Arcade mode where you are given five credits/continues at three lives apiece to see how far you can progress through the game. There’s also Mission mode where you can choose to play any mission you’d like that’s already been completed in either mode. Lastly, there is multiplayer where you and another player can co-op on the same mission via Bluetooth. This is a neat idea, just be aware that both characters need to remain on the screen together, so players will definitely need to work together; no splitting up throughout the levels. Players choose one of four characters that all function the same with the only difference being cosmetic.
While the time period of the game isn’t set in stone, there’s definitely a 1940s feel to most of what you’ll encounter. The enemy soldiers, vehicles, weapons, and the like all seem to be inspired by, but not confined to, World War II in a way that works. And while most of that tech seems to be from that era, you’ll also see a laser, jet pack, or something else anachronistic mixed in now and then that doesn’t feel at all out of place for the game. Be advised that the fifth and final level is easily twice the length of any of the other four, causing it to be much more difficult than the others simply by attrition of your lives alone.
The graphics are nice for being 16-bit. The missions takes you through different theaters that range from underwater, to desert and jungle, to outer space and more, and these are rendered in typical fashion for that level of graphics, and are still enjoyable. The music is conducive to action oriented gameplay. None of it stands out as memorable, but it’s fitting for the game and has the expected ’90s action feel.
I appreciated the variety within the game, as well as a certain quirkiness that was subtly mixed into it. Variety is found in that you fight not only the World War II looking soldiers, but also walking Venus fly traps, mummies, giant crabs, and more. You will control various vehicle that range from armed camels and ostriches to choppers, walkers, jet packs, and more. I also noticed that on a few of the missions that the player can take more than one path to get to the end. I enjoyed trying out these options as I found them (some are quite subtle and easily missed).
On replays of levels it was nice to see how different one path would be versus another and where they would converge near the end of that level. Examples of the quirks are numerous, ranging from being turned into a zombie, to growing obese when you eat too many of the food-shaped bonus points in rapid succession, or how throughout the game there are POWs for you to rescue and the ones underwater turn blue from being down there too long. These small touches have only a minimal impact on the game, but they indicate some thought and creativity were put into Metal Slug 3.
My only complaint on the game is that I did notice a touch of lag when playing. Everything would just slow down just a little bit, for a few seconds, and then resume to normal. On at least one level in particular, it was always in the same spot. This didn’t dissuade me from enjoying the game, but I felt it noteworthy nonetheless. With that said though, I’d solidly recommend this game to anyone that appreciates a good, retro-style shooter, or even if you’re curious about the genre.
