Compilation of seven arcade Metal Slug games emulated directly from Neo Geo. All essential entries (1, 2, X, 3, 4, 5, 6) with save and unlimited continues. Arcade run-and-gun in full glory, iconic sprite art, dense level design. Local co-op still joyful. Honest emulation, no audio remixes but source material intact. Essential for any genre fan, pure arcade delivery.
Your verdict
Category
Compilation4 players12+
Co-op
Description
Run-and-gun shooting compilation developed and published by SNK Playmore in the USA in March 2008. Brings together Metal Slug 1 to 6 and Metal Slug X in faithful originals with characters Marco, Tarma and Eri. Frantic shooting against rebel army hordes, vehicles to destroy and pilot, prisoners to rescue, monumental bosses and absurd humor. Near-complete Metal Slug franchise on a single Wii disc.
Metal Slug Anthology review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
A peak of animated pixel art, the saga lines up sprites of wild expressiveness, where every explosion and grimace teems with hand-drawn detail. The visual density stays readable even under a hail of bullets. This graphic virtuosity, never disproved, still commands the admiration of connoisseurs.
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"
Gathering the run'n'gun series' flagship entries on a single disc offers a generous dose of frantic, hilarious action. Pushing forward gunning down everything that moves, freeing prisoners and triggering explosions galore stays an intense pleasure, from one entry to the next. Two-player co-op multiplies the chaos. Handy and essential, an anthology condensing the best of the genre.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Pushing forward screen by screen through a downpour of bullets, freeing captured prisoners and grabbing devastating weapons chains together adrenaline and laughs at every stage. Gathering the whole saga in one place, the compilation fuels the urge to run through each episode. Without infinite credits the challenge stays punishing, yet the lavish pixel art and the frantic action keep a fearsome grip.
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Bundling Metal Slug 1 through 6 plus the X edition onto one disc already guarantees dozens of runs, but run-and-gun only truly rewards perfection: memorising waves, freeing every prisoner, downing colossal bosses without losing a life. Each game begs to be replayed for score and mastery, solo or in co-op. That arcade density explains its lasting reputation among enthusiasts.
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.
