are the equivalent of writing a high school paper with a larger-than-normal font and double spaced to make it seem like it has more substance than it does.
IMHO Metal Black is rather meh, it plays well but it looks so uggh, I just loose interest quickly for a long while after a few tries, I'm sure I'm alone on this 'cause people seem to jump on them when they're up for sale. I have yet to play it in anything other than emulation, maybe the Saturn port is better? I'm just not sold on it yet.
If you want to try it outside mame, the cheapest way is probably the Taito Legends 2 disc.
About the bonus stages: The shift in weapons is what seems the most out of place. Where are the lock-on missiles during the rest of the game? No first person laser duel? (actually that would be silly)
Also see the chase-cam stage in Gradius III, which serves even less of a purpose.
Watched a longplay of this. Such a depressing game. Can't pinpoint why, maybe someone good with words can. Still a great game. Way better than Gun Frontier at least.
edit: game has dark colors, slow music and a sad ending. that's why.
I just loose interest quickly for a long while after a few tries, I'm sure I'm alone on this 'cause people seem to jump on them when they're up for sale.