It feels like only yesterday when a teenaged girl in pigtails would pluck quarter after quarter in an arcade cabinet that lit up with the sight of cartoonish violence and the sounds of guns blasting and explosions filling the greasy pizza place down the street. It’s hard to believe that SNK’s Metal Slug franchise is celebrating its 10^th anniversary and while next-generation games have evolved to new and complex heights, you can still find the Metal Slug games popping up on the new consoles (everything from the Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii). Thankfully, SNK has brought the Sony PSP a definitive collection of the original six including the seventh addition to the series with Metal Slug Anthology for the PSP.

The Anthology covers everything from the 1996 arcade original straight on down to the first-time-in-a-portable-format Metal Slug 6. This side-scrolling 2D shooter series was popular enough to warrant a sequel with Metal Slug 2 and its beefed up update Metal Slug X (consider this one Metal Slug 2.5) and of course a third, fourth, fifth and sixth sequel. The theme of all seven games are the same: you play a soldier fighting for the Regular Army, a government military force set on keeping the peace by going to war against the Rebellion terrorist army. The first game only allows you to pick from two characters (each with their own specialty) but in the six sequels you’ll get to pick from four characters. Metal Slug 6 has a total of six characters, many of them returning favorites like Marco and Fio.

Like most side-scrolling shooters, the Metal Slug games toss you into the battlefield immediately and like the far more serious shooter, Contra, the action is fast-paced and the enemies will show you no mercy whatsoever. That means you’ll start the game blasting and tossing grenades and you’ll end the game shooting and tossing grenades. While all seven games run on a linear path, the fun comes in defeating various bosses whether they arrive by air, sea or land. You’ll also go up against a wave of enemy soldiers, many of which are crafty enough to take cover, lob grenades of their own or even place mines. Oftentimes you will find yourself overwhelmed by the enemy and you’ll find yourself switching to your combat knife (something your character does automatically when enemies get too close). You’ll also be able to hop on a vehicle such as a tank or even a burro armed with a gun turret and an attachable wagon!

Part of what makes each Metal Slug game so charming is the fact that it never takes itself too seriously even though the difficulty setting will put you through hell. The blood will flow and enemies will turn into fried crisps when you take a flamethrower to them but still the games manage to retain their humorous tone. Metal Slug 6, for example, has you dishing the pain on the usual assortment of soldiers but an alien invasion turns enemies into allies who cringe like frightened children at the sight of the alien horde … and these are the heavily armed guys that would fearlessly get in your line of fire when you weren’t so chummy. Secondly, the boss battles are all outrageous, whether you’ve jumped on a runaway battle train or attempt to take down a giant Metal Gear Solid-like Metal Gear Rex monstrosity that launches giant missiles at you.

As far as the controls are concerned, the Anthology makes good use of the PSP control scheme and that’s good news since the game is filled with fast-paced action. The problem is that there are many load times that do slow the game down and there are many times when the game loads in the middle of the action. For the most part, the game does run smoothly but it’s the load times that keep the framerate as smooth as the console versions of the Metal Slug games. The good news is that there are checkpoint saves and a friend can always join you thanks to the Ad Hoc connectivity.

Graphically speaking, all seven games are easily the best-looking 2D games you’ll find on your PSP. They still manage to impress with their incredible attention to detail, colorful backdrops and charming characters. The effects are still easy on the eyes and while the level of violence is extreme, it doesn’t come off as offensively gory. Each game also sports a number of impressive bosses that nearly fill the PSP screen. Speaking of filling the screen, the games do fit nicely on the PSP widescreen without missing out on the platforms and the number of enemies on the screen.

Even the music for each game is good and there’s plenty of variety thanks to the fact that you are playing seven different games. Still, the best part of the game is the sound effects that are just as over-the-top as the visuals and there’s plenty of explosions to fill your ears. Enemies will scream in pain and each weapon will make its own distinct noise. This is great stuff, indeed.

Far from perfect, Metal Slug Anthology for the PSP is still a collection worth buying for those who love an addictively challenging platform/shooter that fits right on the palm of your hands. The occasional framerate stutter that comes with the loading times will certainly annoy but not to the point that it distracts too much from all the deliciously entertaining action the series provides. If you’re a Metal Slug fan or love a fast-paced and action-packed shooter for your PSP, this is a game well worth the money. 

Gameplay: 8.2
Whether you’re playing the first game or the seventh entry, this is classic side-scrolling action at its most intense and challenging. While all six games can be a bit on the linear side, the action is hot and there are plenty of cool boss battles and POWs to rescue. The bad news is that load times crop up at all the inappropriate moments.

Graphics: 8.7
The PSP widescreen manages to cram in all the gorgeous details you’ll be bombarded with in each of the games. Things will explode and vehicles will shatter into a dozen smoking pieces. The enemy will explode in a shower of blood or, if you so happen to light them up with a flamethrower, will fry right in front of you. The action is over-the-top violent but in the most cartoon-like way that never gets too bad for those who are squeamish when it comes to gore.

Sound: 8.5
The music in each game gets you pumped up and while there’s very little voice acting involved the sound effects in each Metal Slug game are spectacular. You’ll know when helicopters are after you because you’ll hear them before you see them and explosions are just plain loud.

Difficulty: Medium/Hard
Much like the 2D side-scrolling action game Contra, the Metal Slug games have always been known to be unflinchingly hard so expect no mercy in this anthology. Yes, you’ll be able to continue as much as you want but you’ll end up losing all of the points you gained along the way. This is one seriously challenging collection of games.

Concept: 9.0
It’s always great when classics are crammed into a single UMD and it’s even better when they are just as faithful to the original with a few minor incontinences. No matter what sequel you like the most, this collection has enough treats to enjoy. The wallpaper extras are also a nice touch.

Multiplayer: 8.5
Despite the lack of online play, this is a game you will still be playing with a friend thanks to Ad Hoc connectivity. These games were certainly made for two-players and the best part is that a friend can just jump into the game at any point … just like in the arcade.

Overall: 8.5
Metal Slug Anthology for the PSP is a complete package for any fan of the addictive shooter even with the annoying load times that show up often. Still, it’s hard to ignore the action-packed collection that is still just as fun as the day you plucked that first quarter in the arcades. If anything, this is a real Must Have for fans new and old so pick this one up.