To keep the festivities going as the year motors to a close, the company ships a PS2 conversion of MS6 which provides a nigh 1:1 conversion of the Atomiswave original. The game runs at a vigorous pace and the controls are spot on. New modes in the PS2 release of Metal Slug include a Combat School Mode and a Gallery Mode which contains artwork from the previous games in the Metal Slug series.

View the back cover and screenshots on the main NCSX website.

NCS Game Notes
» The tagline at the outset of the game is "See the biggest offensive ever!"

» Upon starting the game, players may choose Marco, Fio, Eri, Tarma and the two Ikari Warriors who bookend the regulation grunts - Ralf is on the left and Clark is on the right. When Ralf is highlighted, the text reads "His Vulcan Punch is a WMD." Highlight Clark and the text reads "His SAB eradicates enemies." SAB refers to Super Argentine Backbreaker which Clark can use to add a little variety to his offensive repertoire. The taglines for the other characters are as follows from left to right:

Marco: "His handgun is powerful"
Tarma: "Skilled at handling Slugs"
Fio: "Has the most Power Gun ammo"
Eri: "A master with grenades"

» In the first level, the grunt of choice drops down on a grassy field with serene clouds in the background. Run to the right and an enemy soldier appears. Kill him and continue running while checking out the decrepit hulking truck in the distance. More enemies appear along with the first hostage - kill the soldiers and free the hostage who bellows the default "Thank You" in the standard voice sample of yore. As all the killing action is going on early in the level, a small flock of birds flies to the right of the screen to escape the carnage. After that, the hero enters a village that has been taken over by the soldiers. Perform the usual decimation of their ranks and roll towards the first Slug. Despite the hardware that is thrown at the player, the enemy soldiers aren't too keen or sharp and provide cannon fodder for the one-man assault. In the middle portion of the first level, there's a convoy of mechanized troopers that are reminiscent of Imperial AT-AT walkers in Empire Strikes Back. They provide a procession of armor to destroy and don't provide any serious offensive attacks. Later in the level, players have to do a bit of cliff jumping on a Slug...

» The hostages are still the same old raggedy group from previous Slugs who make the same old salute from back in the day. It's time for some new hostages.

» There's an alien creature in the game who looks like a movie prop from 50s sci-fi movies. When it walks, it makes wheezing sounds from its joints and shoots energy spheres that move around lazily. It can launch a hazardous attack where the entire lower half of the screen is energized with blazing electricity.

» The enemies in the game are a varied lot with UFOs attacking along with alien creatures who heft ray guns. Then there are the flying alien creatures with wings and big beasts that explode with purplish blood as artillery erupts on their bodies.

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