Metal Slug 5 in depth review

Sorry to make another topic (mods you can un-sticky the older topic if you want now), but I thought I'd post this because a lot of people might be considering buying the MS5 cart at the moment. I finished my MS5 review and have posted it here:

http://www.neogeoforlife.com/reviews/metal_slug_5.shtml

There's a ton of screenshots and a couple of music samples as well as a long write-up on the game, hopefully it will be useful to some of you. I'm not sure whether you'll agree or disagree with my opinion on the game, but comments and/or constructive criticism is always welcome . Let me know what you think!

Kaz

i'm mentioned so it's cool

Fucking golden man.
You do some of the best reviews I have seen. They rank right up there with those of gargs temple.

Orpheus: Thanks!

Setsuna: No probs... I was hoping you wouldn't mind me using those pics. I do always give credit to people if I get something from another source

Kaz

Nice review Kaz, seems to sum up most peoples 'almost' opinion of the game.

Thanks nice review may even buy the game

By the way, my cousin is making a SHITLOAD of gifs and flash animations with secret enemies/bosses, including their attacks, stages, etc.

I've read part of the article and it's fucking interesting, with lots of beta stuff. I'll translate it to english as soon he gave me a copy.

I hope it will be public soon.

Kazuya, awesome review!

It's a pretty good review, but I think you focus too much on what you think could have been or on things that NO Metal Slug game has ever addressed. There was never a real cohesive story in any Metal Slug much more than what the player wanted to make of it, and no one seems to complain about no branches in part 1 and X. It's just not an issue when what you have in front of you is good. Well it's a good review, but I guess I just don't agree on the level of attention to what's "missing".

nice review thanks!
Stage2 music reminds me of capcoms Gunsmoke

dmhawkmoon said:

It's a pretty good review, but I think you focus too much on what you think could have been or on things that NO Metal Slug game has ever addressed. There was never a real cohesive story in any Metal Slug much more than what the player wanted to make of it, and no one seems to complain about no branches in part 1 and X. It's just not an issue when what you have in front of you is good. Well it's a good review, but I guess I just don't agree on the level of attention to what's "missing".

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Point taken, although I think the amount written about the branching paths in particular is justified. With the lack of alternate routes, it wasn't an issue at the time of MS1/2/X as the series had never had them, but with MS5 only having 2 stages that had different paths to take, it was very disappointing as we have had two MS games since MS3 and this aspect has gotten gradually worse, which really hurts its replay value imho.

With the storyline, I was one of the first people to start arguing MS5's case when the game came out, as I also said that none of the other games in the series had ever had a decent storyline. However, MS5 just seems to have less storyline than any of the other games and it doesn't give your journey through the game much of a purpose, because at least with the others you had a general idea of what was going on (with the small cut scenes with the aliens etc and some quite funny moments here and there). I was mainly disappointed because it looked as if they wanted to add some more storyline after the stage 1 cut scene, but they just abandoned the idea totally. After 6 games you'd expect that they'd try and improve on these things really.

But anyway, I don't want to make out that the game isn't good, it is great to play through now and then and it's a total blast while it lasts, but I don't find myself wanting to go back to it as often as I did when I originally played MS3, or even MS2/X. It's just a shame that a damn good game like MS5 could have been fantastic if a little bit more work had have been done. Despite all the new stuff, it still doesn't feel like as much of a complete game as MS1/2/X/3 were.

Setsuna: that sounds great, I'd really be interested in seeing that stuff personally! If you happen to need a page to host it on or anything, let me know because I could always put it up on the site. No probs if not, but the offers there if you need it

Kaz

Kazuya_UK said:

Point taken, although I think the amount written about the branching paths in particular is justified. With the lack of alternate routes, it wasn't an issue at the time of MS1/2/X as the series had never had them, but with MS5 only having 2 stages that had different paths to take, it was very disappointing as we have had two MS games since MS3 and this aspect has gotten gradually worse, which really hurts its replay value imho.

With the storyline, I was one of the first people to start arguing MS5's case when the game came out, as I also said that none of the other games in the series had ever had a decent storyline. However, MS5 just seems to have less storyline than any of the other games and it doesn't give your journey through the game much of a purpose, because at least with the others you had a general idea of what was going on (with the small cut scenes with the aliens etc and some quite funny moments here and there). I was mainly disappointed because it looked as if they wanted to add some more storyline after the stage 1 cut scene, but they just abandoned the idea totally. After 6 games you'd expect that they'd try and improve on these things really.

But anyway, I don't want to make out that the game isn't good, it is great to play through now and then and it's a total blast while it lasts, but I don't find myself wanting to go back to it as often as I did when I originally played MS3, or even MS2/X. It's just a shame that a damn good game like MS5 could have been fantastic if a little bit more work had have been done. Despite all the new stuff, it still doesn't feel like as much of a complete game as MS1/2/X/3 were.

Setsuna: that sounds great, I'd really be interested in seeing that stuff personally! If you happen to need a page to host it on or anything, let me know because I could always put it up on the site. No probs if not, but the offers there if you need it

Kaz

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guess what: MS5 REALLY had a storyline developed trhough the game. But for some reason Playmore fucked it up, god knows why.

Every time I see another rejected idea of MS5 beta i'm more pissed.

The big ass turtle not only have it's graphics, but sounds and program code too.

MS5 is the most "fucked-up during production" game ever (Even more than Sonic 2). And it's still a good game... but perhaps with a little COMMON SENSE it could have been a LOT better.

Never mind about hosting, i have my own host: www.neogeopro.com

Nice review, and I have to agree with the way you pull out whats missing in the game. When the game is the 6 in the MVS series you have its predasessors to directly compare it to. Now if this was the first game of a series I'm sure it would have read very differently. I also agree with the cut scenes between levels. This is something thats really needed but mised.

In my view the game seems like it was put out to early, they probably simply removed stuff that couldent be fine tuned in time (like the turtle boss). I also have a feeling that the reason for this could be due to the sammy tie up, there was probably a cut off date in the contract to stop MVS titles of games being moved to the new hardware.

Its possible there could be a Metal Slug X2 or something like you suggest, it wouldent surprise me at all.

Raz

great review, give it at least an 8

that's a great review, although i'm a bit surprised at how delighted you were with the slug gunner. besides for it's transformation ability, it's basically the exo-suit that morden's troopers uses in metal slug 3 (which you can also use in level 3 and level 5). everything from the shell casings popping out, to the punching up close, to the double jumping is straight from the morden exo-suits.

Great review, as usual Kaz. I love all the depth you include, and it really makes for an educated purchase, if I so wish. Thanks a million.

very well put together quite a read but, you basically put together what the community was mostly thinking.

OrochiEddie said:

very well put together quite a read but, you basically put together what the community was mostly thinking.

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It is my opinion of the game, but it does seem that in general most people seem to feel the same way about it... kind of a missed chance for the series to go out with a *real* bang on the Neo hardware.

Nash: yeah it's true that it is pretty much the same, but I really like being able to turn it into a tank, and you get to use it a bit more often than the exo-suits. It's become pretty much one of my favourite slugs now.

Thanks all!

Kaz

Setsuna1982 said:

guess what: MS5 REALLY had a storyline developed trhough the game. But for some reason Playmore fucked it up, god knows why.

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Would you go more into this subject?

Apart from what has been found in the SLUG5 romz, have you found any evidence of what has been cutted?

G.

Shito said:

Would you go more into this subject?

Apart from what has been found in the SLUG5 romz, have you found any evidence of what has been cutted?

G.

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a shitload of them.

some other members can confirm that (although they have been told to keep the secret)

all misteries will be public as soon as www.neogeopro.com opens