Rather than write a long review about Metal Slug Anthology for the Nintendo Wii. I decided to give a simple pros and cons review. I hope this review is easy for you to read and understand.
Pro.
* 7 Metal Slugs games in one (Metal Slug 1, 2, X, 3, 4, 5, 6).
* Metal Slugs fans finally get a chance to play Metal Slugs 6 (The arcade game was available to play in Japan but not here in the USA).
* 6 unique, odd, and interesting ways to play Metal Slug Anthology for the Nintendo Wii including the uses of the Nintendo GameCube Controller.
* You can play Metal Slug Anthology anytime you want so no more bringing a butt load of quarters to the arcade plus if you prefer a real challenge you can turn off the Unlimited Continue options and go for the Limited Continues option. (Easy-30 Credits, Normal-20 Credits, and finally Hard-10 Credits. Good luck for those who choose hard mode.)
* Rapid Fire Mode-No more button mashing (You can turn this feature off if you like in options menu or the pause menu.)
With all the good things I just wrote about Metal Slug Anthology for the Nintendo Wii now come the bad things.
Con.
* Annoying loading time between levels. (Don't worry the loading time only last for about a few seconds)
* Out of the 6 ways to play Metal Slug Anthology only 3 seem useful. The other 3 seem useless. (Nunchuk mode should be dubbed lazy mode, Tilt Wii Remote mode and Arcade mode are very difficult and almost impossible to play because you have to hold the Wii Remote up or on it side and tilt the Wii Remote Up, Down, Left, and Right.)
* Depending on which way you play Metal Slug Anthology (not counting the GameCube Controller option.) you have to flick the controller to throw grenades. (which can be a pain sometimes)
* Metal Slug Anthology won't support the Wii Classics Controller. (Come on Nintendo and SNK. A game like this has Classics Controller writing all over it.)
* If you are using the Wii Remote or Nunchuk and you have the Rapid Fire Mode on be very careful because if you are in any slug vehicles and you push the jump button while rapid fire mode is on the game will think you activated the metal slug attack thus you lose your slug vehicles easily especially when you are in a tight spot. ( In case if you are wondering the metal slug attack happen when you push the jump & fire button and the same time thus killing any enemies and enemies vehicles along the way.)
Overall I still recommend Metal Slug Anthology to anyone. Especially those who are looking for some good old 2-D shooter games.
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The Metal Slug games are arcade classics. Giving classic shooters such as Contra a run for their money, Metal Slug truly made shooters a completely different experience. These arcade classics are now available in an anthology package. The games include Metal Slug 1-5, Metal Slug X and the never before officially released Metal Slug 6.
When you begin the game you have all the Metal Slug games from the get go. So you don't have to unlock any of the games, they're all right there from the get go. It's fun to play these games for two reasons. One, it's nice to see just how each game changes from one to the next. The series really evolves as time goes on. Also, they're really tough games that even the most experienced of gamers will have trouble with.
Each game has a unique art style going for it. Each level in every game is literally littered with thousands of enemies and troops. You'll be able to get a hold of weapons like a flamethrower or shotgun to thwart your enemies. You'll also be able to throw grenades. The challenge in these games don't let up, though. It's a good thing that you can give yourself infinite continues. You'll certainly need them. The look and feel of these games hasn't really changed much. It's all still there. The blood, the explosions, the tough bosses. They're perfect emulations.
Part of the excitement with the Metal Slug Anthology, specifically for the Wii, is the immense number of control set ups you can have. There's the standard classic set up which involves you holding your wii remote horizontally (as if you were playing Excitetruck or a Classic NES title from the virtual console) and mowing through your enemies in a classic fashion. You'll flick the remote to use grenades. Another style involves you using the wii remote as a joystick. Another is the basic nunchuck for movement/wii remote to activate actions. There's even a control mode for you to use just the nunchuck. Another control mode involves you tilting your remote to do certain actions. Finally, the Gamecube controller itself can be used to play these games.
All these control set ups seem fantastic, but only two of them are really all that comforting. The wii remote being used like an NES controller and the Gamecube controller setup. Other than that, most of these controls mode are a pain. Also, it's a shame that the classic controller isn't one of the controller setups at all. Metal Slug Anthology is a classic game, yet it doesn't utilize the classic controller at all.
The extras are even more mundane. As you complete games you'll unlock some neat artwork for the art gallery, and some interviews but that's about it. Nothing really outside of that. The interviews aren't spectacular at all. No audio or video to speak of. Just text on your screen for you to read. While the art is nice, it seemed that far more extras could've been included.
To give credit to the Metal Slug Anthology, however, you are getting seven games for a relatively cheap price. To make it even more worthwhile all seven games are actually good, unlike some anthologies where there's usually one black sheep. In the Metal Slug Anthology there is no "blacksheep" in the flock, they're all marvelous games. It's just sad that there weren't enough extras to be included here, and that the majority of the six control schemes are just worthless.
They're fantastic games, but they could've done more with the package.
The Good
+For seven games, the price tag is just right
+All seven games are good games
+Intense, fast, and exhilarating gameplay
+Quite a challenge
The Bad
-What extras there are lack; there could've been more extras
-Of the six control schemes, only two of them seem particularly useful
-Of the six control schemes, the classic controller isn't one of them
Best Deals for Metal Slug Anthology - Nintendo Wii
Metal Slug Anthology provides Metal Slugs 1, 2, X, 3, 4, 5 and 6 all in one package. There are a few extras as well, including artwork and text interviews.
This includes every Metal Slug game made, and includes the brand new, never seen Metal Slug 6. In Metal Slug 6, the enemies of the old games join forces with you against a new, nasty enemy. You also get new characters the Ikari Warriors Clark and Ralf from the Kingdom Fighter game.
There are varying levels of difficulty, and also a variety of controller setups to choose from. For example, in one mode you hold the Wii controller sideways, use the buttons to move and fire, but have to actually make a throwing motion with your hand to launch a grenade. Be sure to experiment with all of the different controller styles for a little while to figure out which one best suits your style. It's going to be an adjustment no matter which one you go with, compared with the old style standard controller with lots of button pressing. Yes, it'll be annoying at first. Just tough it out through that period and soon it'll start to seem second nature to do the movements.
The graphics are typical Metal Slug, which means they're not incredibly detailed close-ups of human style faces they are just flying bullets, scrolling landscapes and lots of explosions. Really, you don't play Metal Slug to ogle at finely detailed castles and flowing capes. You play it to blast away thousands of bullets at a never ending stream of enemies, alone or with a friend. These are the types of games where you have a buddy over for the afternoon, sit down for a few hours with a bowl of popcorn and rip through an entire game for fun. It's mindless, it's relaxing, and it's satisfying to win the game.
If you're a fan of the previous games, it's of course great fun to play Metal Slug 6, with its all new enemies, storyline, and levels. If you've memorized all the previous games and levels, this gives you a new challenge to take on. If you've not played the others before, you can catch up on the entire franchise all on one game disc. It's pretty amazing that you can get seven full different games on one disc, for one price.
There's still no speech, but they do provide cut scenes to give you a sense of the story that is unfolding. Easy mode gives unlimited machine gun fire but not as many reward tokens graduate up to harder mode to get the standard pistol fire as your default and to unlock secrets more quickly.
It's a little frustrating when you take on the enemies, because they do not flash to show you if you're hitting an area that can actually take damage. Still, that's a minor complaint in a game this fun. Highly recommended for old school side scrolling fans!
Honest reviews on Metal Slug Anthology - Nintendo Wii
The Metal Slug arcade machines are notorious for being unbelievably hard. It's not uncommon to find yourself feeding well over $10 into a machine just to finish the game. Multiply that by 7 and you might come close to even $100 if you are playing with a partner.
Instead, invest your dough in the Metal Slug Anthology. The games are perfect arcade emulations and you get infinite continues. They are still very, very hard and you'll never finish a single level with all of your stats intact, but it's a fun ride nonetheless. Some of the games can be a bit samey and you'll finish them all in about an hour. But for chaotic, button-bashing mayhem with loads of explosions and firepower, you can't go wrong with Metal Slug.
Graphics A
Sound B
Gameplay B
Lasting Appeal B-
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Metal Slug Anthology - Nintendo Wii
Classic games and motion control do not mix.
I bought the Wii version of the MSA as it was cheaper than the PS2 version. I figured since there was a GC controller option, I could hook up my PS2 controller via my controller adapter. I was disappointed to find out the D-Pad does not work. And it wasn't because the adapter isn't compatible since I also tried hooking up a GC controller and using the D-Pad on that, and it turns out that the D-Pad is just not activated in GC controller mode. So the only way to play with a D-Pad is with the Wiimote, which would've been fine, except you have to shake it to throw a grenade. They didn't even give the option for the classic controller. I like using motion controls on Wii games meant for motion control. I like thumbsticks for 3D games. For classic 2D gaming, however, I prefer to keep the controls classic; with good ol'-fashioned D-Pad and buttons.
I highly recommend Metal Slug Anthology; just not on the Wii.
