Metal Slug 2 is a run and gun arcade game created by SNK. It was first released in 1998 for the Neo-Geo MVS arcade system as a follow-up to the 1996 game Metal Slug. The original version had slower and less smooth performance, which led SNK to release a revised version in 1999 called Metal Slug X: Super Vehicle-001 ( メタルスラッグX ). The game has been released on multiple platforms, including the Neo Geo CD, PlayStation, Virtual Console, iOS, Android, Wii, PlayStation Portable, and PlayStation 2 (as part of the Metal Slug Anthology). It introduced new elements to the gameplay, such as additional weapons, vehicles, and the ability to change the character’s form. The game received generally positive reviews and was followed by Metal Slug 3, which came out in 2000.

Gameplay

In Metal Slug 2, gameplay is similar to the first game. The player must shoot enemies constantly to complete each level. At the end of each level, the player faces a boss, which is much larger and stronger than regular enemies. Along the way, players can find weapon upgrades and "Metal Slug" tanks, known as the SV-001 ("SV" stands for Super Vehicle). These tanks improve the player's attack power and defense.

In addition to shooting, the player can use a knife or kick enemies in close-range attacks. The player does not lose a life when touching enemies, and many enemies also use close-range attacks. Many parts of the game's environment can be destroyed, which sometimes reveals extra items or power-ups.

During a level, the player may find prisoners of war (POWs). If freed, these POWs give the player random items or weapons as rewards. At the end of each level, the player earns points based on how many POWs were freed. If the player dies before finishing the level, the count of freed POWs resets to zero.

Metal Slug 2 adds the ability for characters to change during the game. It also doubles the number of playable characters from two to four. New in-game characters help the player during battles. One character is Hyakutaro Ichimonji, a prisoner who, when rescued, fights alongside the player. He throws special balls at enemies or kicks them if they get too close. Another character is Sgt. Rumi Aikawa, an army supplier who is easily lost, earning her the nickname "The Wandering Ghost." She carries a large, full backpack and drops random items for the player. More items are dropped if the backpack is damaged.

Plot

Two years have passed since the end of Metal Slug, when Captain Marco Rossi and Lieutenant Tarma Roving of the Peregrine Falcon Strike Force defeated and killed General Morden, who had attempted to seize control of the world's governments. Some groups that supported Morden are still active, but they are not seen as a major threat. However, these groups are now working together, and army intelligence believes this can only happen if Morden is still alive and trying to launch another takeover. Rossi is now a Major, and Roving is now a Captain. They are joined by two members of the Intelligence Agency's Special Ops Squad S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S.: Sergeant Eri Kasamoto and Sergeant First Class Fiolina Germi.

As the story progresses, it is revealed that Morden has made an agreement with aliens to help him achieve his goals (the previous game ended with one of Morden's soldiers sending a paper airplane into space). In the final mission, however, the aliens attack Morden's forces and capture him. A temporary alliance is formed between the Peregrine Falcon Strike Force and General Morden's army to fight the alien threat. After a long battle, they succeed in destroying the alien mother ship. When the ship explodes, Morden falls to the ground, attached to a heavy iron plate. While his soldiers cheer because he survived, the plate becomes unbalanced and crushes him. The game ends with Rossi, Roving, Kasamoto, and Germi celebrating their victory.

Metal Slug X

An improved version of Metal Slug 2, called Metal Slug X, was released in March 1999 for the Neo Geo MVS. The game used a changed version of the engine from Metal Slug 3, which fixed the slower performance issues of the original. In addition to greater difficulty, Metal Slug X included several changes to gameplay and presentation:

• Much of the music was changed or remixed.
• A new voice actor was added.
• Many stages now have different times of day. Instead of levels being set only during the day or night, stages can take place during dusk, twilight, or sunset.
• After Mission 2, players can make their character fat by collecting food items. In the original game, this transformation was only possible in Mission 4.
• All levels have more enemies, new enemy placements, different enemy characters, and new boss locations.
• The types and locations of vehicles are different.
• Each mission has more power-ups, POWs, and items, especially food. These items are often hidden.
• Many environmental elements react differently when shot, such as exploding unexpectedly or randomly releasing items or enemies.
• Stronger versions of weapons like the heavy machine gun, flamethrower, shotgun, laser rifle, and rocket launcher are available. These weapons deal more damage, look different, and have a wider or longer area of impact. If the player is fat while using these weapons, they appear differently and cause even more damage.
• New weapons were added, including Stones, Iron Lizard, Enemy Chaser, Super Grenade, Drop Shot, a new Golden Metal Slug (available in Mission 3), and the Armor Piercer (available in Mission 4).
• Fio’s death sound was added (in Metal Slug 2, she uses Eri’s sound).
• New enemies were added or replaced, such as the Mummy Dogs.
• At the end of the game, the original art from Metal Slug is shown during the credits, instead of the black screen used in Metal Slug 2.

Release

Home versions of Metal Slug 2 were released for the Neo Geo AES in April 1998 and for the Neo Geo CD in June 1998. The Neo Geo CD version includes a "Combat School" mode, which is similar to the CD-ROM versions of the earlier game. This mode allows players to replay missions with new goals.

Metal Slug X was released for the Neo Geo AES in May 1999 and for the PlayStation in January 2001. The PlayStation version was available in North America and PAL regions by Agetec. It includes the same "Combat School" mode found in the Neo Geo CD versions of the first two games.

In 2006, a compilation called Metal Slug Anthology (known as Metal Slug Complete in Japan) was released for the Wii, PlayStation 2, and PSP. This collection includes the original Metal Slug and all its arcade sequels, such as Metal Slug 2 and Metal Slug X, up to Metal Slug 6. These games are copies that mimic the original arcade versions, and they do not include extra modes or content from other home versions.

The Neo Geo AES version of Metal Slug 2 was released for the Wii Virtual Console in October 2008.

Both Metal Slug 2 and Metal Slug X were included in Metal Slug Collection PC, which was released in Europe in 2009. In 2013, versions of both games were made available for iOS and Android devices.

The original arcade version of Metal Slug X became available on the Nintendo Switch through ACA Neo Geo in 2017.

Reception

When Metal Slug 2 and Metal Slug X were first released, they received mostly positive reviews from players and critics. Later versions and re-releases of the games received mixed feedback. For example, the iOS version of Metal Slug 2 has an average score of 77% on GameRankings, based on 5 reviews, and 76 out of 100 on Metacritic, based on 6 reviews.

At the February 1998 AOU Show, Metal Slug 2 was highlighted as a major attraction. Sega Saturn Magazine reported that "SNK proudly displayed what many felt was the game of the show—Metal Slug 2. Large crowds gathered to see one of the greatest sprite-based games they had ever seen."

When Metal Slug 2 was released on the Virtual Console in 2008, IGN reviewer Lucas M. Thomas gave it a score of 7.5 out of 10. He criticized the game’s slowdown, a common issue when it was first released, but praised its humor and fast-paced shooting action. Eurogamer reviewer Dan Whitehead scored it 7 out of 10, noting that the price was higher than a collection of seven games from the series. He recommended the game for fans of fast action and humor but suggested buying it outside of the Virtual Console.

Eurogamer reviewer Tom Bramwell scored the 2001 PlayStation version of Metal Slug X 8 out of 10. While he noted the game felt outdated by modern standards, he called it a simple but satisfying update to the series and praised it as one of the best side-scrolling shooters on the PlayStation. Game Revolution reviewer Johnny Liu gave it a B, calling it a quality port of a game that is becoming harder to find. GameSpot reviewer Ryan Davis scored it 8.2 out of 10, highlighting its humorous style, such as enemy soldiers laughing when players die and reacting with fear when players return. He called it one of the best side-scrolling shooters available. Metal Slug X was nominated for GameSpot’s "Best PlayStation Game" and "Best Game No One Played" awards.

Scott Steinberg of Next Generation gave the PlayStation version of Metal Slug X three stars out of five, calling it a "derivative but instantly endearing military shooter."

In a later review, Neo-Geo.com scored Metal Slug X 10 out of 10, stating that it improved on the original game in small ways and was better suited for players seeking the best gameplay experience.

In Japan, Game Machine listed Metal Slug 2 as the third most successful arcade game in March 1998 and Metal Slug X as the seventh most successful arcade game in April 1999.

The PlayStation version of Metal Slug X sold 95,103 copies in Japan and 69,035 copies in the United States, totaling 164,138 copies sold in those regions. The later PC version of Metal Slug X sold 229,374 digital copies worldwide on Steam, resulting in at least 393,512 total copies sold for the PlayStation and Steam platforms.