Widely considered the best Metal Slug, Xbox port with additional modes. Overflowingly creative run-and-gun, deliciously macabre humor, memorable bosses. The final mission with the giant boss remains legendary. An absolute must-have for genre fans.
Your verdict
Category
Action4 players12+
Co-op
Description
Marco Rossi and his Peregrine Falcons companions face General Morden's mutant army and extraterrestrials in this cult entry of the run and gun franchise. Published by SNK Playmore, released in 2004 in the United States, Europe, and Japan. Features 5 missions with branching paths, a legendary epic-scale Mission 5, 2-player cooperation, and dozens of character transformations.
Metal Slug 3 review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Pixel art of extraordinary finesse, hilarious animation and backdrops teeming with detail: every screen overflows with life and humour. The graphic density and the readability of the action stand as an absolute benchmark of the run-and-gun. This virtuosity of hand drawing has never been equalled on the platform.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Often considered the peak of the series, this entry multiplies branching paths, lunatic transformations and oversized bosses in a permanent firework. The wealth of situations and the finesse of the 2D animation command admiration. Frantic, funny and inexhaustible, especially with two players, an exceptional run-and-gun that never wavers.
A peak of the run-and-gun saga, this entry pushes the madness further: multiple branches, a hero turned zombie or mummy, and a deranged final mission that stacks guardians across several phases. Felling these colossi of metal and flesh under a hail of fire calls for composure and memory. The virtuosity of its animation and the inventiveness of its battles make it a benchmark of the genre.
Is Metal Slug 3 still worth playing in 2026?
A peak of SNK's run and gun series, Metal Slug 3 brings to Xbox the frantic arcade action and the exceptionally fine pixel art that made its legend. The branching levels, the zany vehicles and the visual humour stay a treat, and the fearsome difficulty rewards mastery. Two player co-op remains the best way to enjoy it. A timeless 2D action classic for fans of demanding run and gun and nostalgics of Neo Geo arcade.
