Posted by C.Hallam@iti.salford.ac.uk
     
     Right
     
     A full list (as far as I know) of all secret hostages in Metal Slug.
     
     STAGE 1
     
     Two lots of 2 hostages hidden in the two waterfalls just before you 
     get to the boss.  Just blast the tops of the 2 waterfalls and they 
     will fall earthwards!
     
     STAGE 2
     
     Blast down at the funny looking green bush underneath the bridge just 
     before you reach the mid level boss (large tank on rails above you) 
     and three secret hostages will come running in your direction.
     
     STAGE 3
     
     There are secret hostages hidden within the two large trees that you 
     can blast down in the section where you have the Metal Slug tank.  
     These seem to be random and I have no guarantee of how to get them but 
     just try blasting those trees down and sometimes they appear!  Does 
     anyone have a reliable method of getting these?  It seems common to 
     get them if you have lost a life previously on that stage - as if they 
     appear to help make up the numbers.
     
     There are also hidden hostages that drop down from the sky when you 
     are fighting the end of level boss - just don't kill the boss until 
     they have all appeared - spend as long as you can before finishing off 
     the boss!  I think the maximum number of hostages that I have 
     collected here is 5.
     
     STAGE 4
     
     Just after you have got the Metal Slug tank at the beginning of the 
     level - blast the ceiling of the bar just above the light/lampshade 
     high up on the wall at the entrance of the bar - this is difficult to 
     spot but it is easier to listen for the sound of the tanks laser 
     hitting the secret area - 3 hostages will soon drop from the ceiling.
     
     At the end of level bosses you can either blast in the top right hand 
     corner of the cave to get 3 hidden hostages OR blast the far bottom 
     left hand corner for 3 hidden hostages - IT IS NOT POSSIBLE to get 
     both of these groups - you can only get one or the other - I personall 
     go for the ones at the bottom left - it is easier!
     
     STAGE 5
     
     Blast the top of the first AND second trees in the stage inbetween the 
     shops and houses.  The first tree yields 3 hostages and the second 
     only two.
     
     Blast the undercarriage of the end of level boss after it has lifted 
     up on stilts to get three extra hostages who also provide useful power 
     ups!
     
     STAGE 6
     
     Blast the small white cloud above you just after the boat you are on 
     has run ashore to get two hidden hostages - the section towards the 
     end of the stage.
     
     If anyone knows of any more that I have not covered then please add to 
     the list because I am sure that it is not comprehensive - I would love 
     to hear of any more that I have not yet found.
     
     GREAT!
     
     Chris
     SUD