SNK compilation bringing together Metal Slug 1 to 6 in one package with additional modes. The best value to discover the entire saga on PS2. The six collected games offer dozens of hours of frantic run-and-gun for franchise fans.
Your verdict
Category
Compilation2 players12+
Co-op
Description
A Western SNK Playmore compilation released in 2006-2007 (US, Europe), gathering the seven arcade Metal Slug games (1, 2, X, 3, 4, 5, 6) on a single PS2 disc. Simple but decent emulation, local multiplayer and access to the entire classic franchise on a single disc. A solid Western entry point.
Metal Slug Anthology review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
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.
An anthology of a cult run-and-gun, the compilation gathers nervy military themes blending rock, jazz and supercharged fanfares. Each mission pulses with a frantic energy perfectly in tune with the on-screen chaos. This sonic generosity, retro and rousing, brings back all the panache of the SNK series.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
The whole saga gathered on a single disc: from the first entry to the latest, the anthology rolls out years of supercharged arcade action without changing media. Rediscovering these classics, alone or with two, delivers a constant nostalgic pleasure and enormous replay value. Generous and polished, an essential box set for any fan of run-and-gun and pixel art.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Gathering a whole saga of run-and-gun with finely chiseled pixels extends the pleasure of strafing, dodging and freeing prisoners well beyond a single episode. Aiming for a better score and surviving a gigantic boss revives the game at once. The difficulty pushes you to chain credits, but this generosity of animation and this arcade nerviness keep an immediate pull.
Difficulty
"Difficult"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Gathering the entries of a legendary run-and-gun series, this anthology offers hours of frantic action to tame by the sweat of your thumb. Surviving the enemy waves, aiming for the perfect score and finishing each episode takes dozens of attempts. That compilation generosity, demanding and brisk, sustains a longevity dear to arcade fans.
Is Metal Slug Anthology still worth playing in 2026?
A run and gun compilation from SNK, Metal Slug Anthology gathers the main episodes of the cult series, where you cross horizontal scrolling levels shooting at hordes of enemies, freeing prisoners and piloting vehicles, in a riot of pixelated animation and humour. The timeless quality of the action, the richness of the hand drawn animation and the pleasure of cooperation appeal to fans of the genre and arcade nostalgics. The high difficulty stays faithful to the arcade spirit. For a fan of run and gun or an arcade nostalgic, the title keeps a perfectly preserved intensity and charm.
