The first Metal Slug, back in action
METAL SLUG is the original 2D run and gun entry in SNK's series, now on Steam through Dotemu. You take the role of the soldiers Marco and Tarma, running and shooting through side-scrolling stages packed with enemies and gunfire. The centerpiece is the METAL SLUG tank itself, which you can climb into and use to push through heavy resistance. The main campaign is the arcade version of the game, made up of 6 missions that follow the fight against Gen. Morden's ambitions. The presentation stays true to the arcade original, with pixel graphics, cartoony animation and a soundtrack that carries the fast-paced action.
Playing with friends
The game supports Online Co-op through Steam, so you and a friend can clear missions together even when you are far apart. There is also Remote Play Together, which lets someone join your session from their own machine. Mission Mode works as a stage select: once you have unlocked a stage, you can replay it on your own or with a partner, skipping straight to the parts you want to practice or show off. Arcade Mode is the full run through all 6 missions in order, which is the natural choice if you want to play the game start to finish together.
Settings and things to check first
Before you start, the settings menu lets you configure controls, language, video display and sound volume, so it is worth setting those up rather than playing with defaults. Leaderboards are built in, tracking your rank and score against other players if you care about chasing a better result. The game will not run on Windows XP, so check your system before installing. Expect a straightforward arcade-style challenge: the action is quick, the stages are short, and the difficulty comes from learning enemy patterns and managing your resources across the missions.