Metal Slug 3 is an action video game created by SNK. It was first released in 2000 for the Neo-Geo MVS arcade system as the follow-up to Metal Slug 2 and Metal Slug X. The game’s music was made by Noise Factory.
The game was later made available on the PlayStation 2, Xbox, Microsoft Windows, iOS, Android, Wii, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and Nintendo Switch.
It includes new features such as additional weapons and vehicles, as well as different paths to choose from in the story. The game received mostly good reviews.
Gameplay
The gameplay in Metal Slug 3 is similar to earlier games in the series. The player must keep shooting at many enemies that keep coming until the end of each level. At the end of each level, the player faces a boss, which is much bigger and stronger than regular enemies. Along the way, the player can find many weapon upgrades and "Metal Slug" tanks. The tank is called the SV-001 ("SV" stands for Super Vehicle), which helps the player attack better and protects them more.
In addition to shooting, the player can attack enemies up close using a knife or by kicking them. The player does not lose a life when touching enemies, and many enemies also use close combat attacks. Much of the game’s environment can be destroyed, and sometimes breaking things reveals extra items or power-ups.
During a level, the player may find prisoners of war (POWs). If the player frees a POW, they receive random items or weapons as a reward. At the end of each level, the player earns extra points based on how many POWs they freed. If the player dies before finishing a level, the count of freed POWs resets to zero.
A new feature in Metal Slug 3 is the branching path system. In most missions, the player must choose between paths that split. Each path has its own challenges, length, and difficulty. All paths lead to the same boss battle, but the player may have different equipment or rescue different numbers of POWs depending on their choice.
Plot
Several years ago, General Morden tried to take over the world's governments, but he was stopped by the Peregrine Falcon Strike Force. Later, Morden tried to form a new plan by teaming up with an alien race. However, he was tricked by his new allies and captured. His rebel soldiers then joined the Strike Force and the aliens in a temporary team, leading to Morden's defeat and death. Important in helping defeat Morden during the first attack were Captain Marco Rossi and Lieutenant Tarma Roving. Now promoted to Major and Captain, Rossi and Roving led the fight against Morden during the second attack, supported 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.
Many years later, Morden is reported missing by his followers. To eliminate all traces of Morden's influence, the army sent Rossi and Roving to destroy the remaining rebel bases. During the battles, Rossi and Roving noticed that the enemy was too organized, raising doubts about Morden's death. At the same time, S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S. discovered strange events that led the army to believe the aliens Morden once allied with had returned.
The Peregrine Falcon Strike Force and S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S. joined forces again to face this new threat. After fighting Morden's forces, the heroes faced Morden directly. It was revealed that Morden was an alien in disguise, and the real Morden had been captured by the aliens. The aliens took the player character and left Earth. At this point, another character took the player's place. A temporary team was formed between the Strike Force and Morden's troops to rescue their captured teammate. The rebels launched a large group of rocket ships to attack the alien mothership, Rugname. After a long battle inside the ship, Rugname began to collapse from the damage. After destroying the ship's core, the Strike Force fought through armies of clones of their captured teammate, some of whom had become zombies. Both the captured Strike Force member and Morden were freed. As they escaped, they faced the aliens' leader, Rootmars. A battle in Earth's atmosphere was won by the Strike Force, who left Rootmars' body in the ocean. When Morden and his soldiers celebrated, the player character threw their weapon into the water in disappointment.
Versions
In the PlayStation 2 (PS2) and Xbox versions of the game, players can access two mini-games after completing arcade mode. These mini-games are called "Storming the UFO Mothership" and "Fat Island." In "Storming the UFO Mothership," the player controls one of General Morden's soldiers. The goal is to rescue other soldiers and attack Martian forces. Players can choose between three soldier types: "Shield Soldier," "Bazooka Soldier," or "Normal Soldier." Each player starts with one life, and reinforcements from other soldiers help balance the difficulty. In "Fat Island," two players compete to gain the most weight in a limited time by eating different foods. They begin at 100 kg and must reach 200 kg. If players lose too much weight, they return to their normal size and then become mummies.
The Xbox version of the game supported online leaderboards through Xbox Live. Like other original Xbox games, Xbox Live support ended in 2010. Metal Slug 3 is now available on Insignia, the replacement servers for original Xbox Live.
In 2006, Metal Slug Anthology (called 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 up to Metal Slug 6. The games are recreated versions of the originals, and they do not include extra modes or content from other home versions.
Metal Slug 3 was released on Xbox Live Arcade on January 2, 2008. This version features improved graphics and co-op online gameplay but does not include the extra modes from console releases. It became compatible with Xbox One in 2015.
In March 2012, the AES version of Metal Slug 3 was released on the Wii’s Virtual Console. In July 2012, the game was released for iOS and Android devices. A PC version was released on Steam in February 2014. A version for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita (through PlayStation Network) was released in Japan in November 2014 and worldwide in March 2015. The PlayStation 4 version came out globally in December 2017. A Nintendo Switch version was released on March 9, 2017.
Reception
When Metal Slug 3 first came out, it received mostly good reviews. Later versions and re-releases of the game also got positive feedback. On GameRankings, the PS2 version has a score of 76.78% based on nine reviews, the Xbox version 75.71% based on sixty-four reviews, the Xbox 360 version 78.46% based on thirteen reviews, and the iOS version 74% based on five reviews. On Metacritic, the Xbox version has a score of 76 out of 100 based on fifty-six reviews, the Xbox 360 version 78 out of 100 based on twelve reviews, and the iOS version 76 out of 100 based on five reviews.
IGN’s Hilary Goldstein gave the Xbox version a score of 6.8 out of 10. He said the game worked well as an arcade shooter but was weaker as an Xbox title compared to other games on the system. He wrote, “If this game cost $20 or $30, it would deserve a better score and recommendation. This is not a $40 value unless you must have it on your Xbox. When the price drops, that is when you should buy it.” He gave the Xbox 360 version a score of 7.4 out of 10, saying the game was good but somewhat outdated compared to newer titles. He wrote, “Before buying Metal Slug 3, ask yourself how much you value ten dollars. This is a short experience that won’t last long even with multiple playthroughs. Metal Slug 3 is fun, but it should cost $5. Especially when other great games are available.”
GameSpot’s Ryan Davis gave both the Xbox and Xbox 360 versions a score of 7.5 out of 10. He praised most parts of the Xbox version but criticized its high difficulty. He wrote, “The basics of Metal Slug 3 are excellent. You’ll struggle to find another 2D side-scroller with such detailed environments and smooth animation, and the gameplay is fast-paced. However, the difficult continue system added for the Xbox version makes the game too hard. If you get frustrated easily, you might want to think twice before playing.” For the Xbox 360 version, he said the game itself was excellent but somewhat outdated. He wrote, “Factors like how many times it has been released, its price, and the lack of extras are not as important as the experience itself. If these things don’t matter to you, you’ll enjoy the game.”
Eurogamer’s Spanner Spencer gave the Xbox version a score of 7 out of 10. He praised the original game but said it was weaker as an Xbox title. He wrote, “The game is short and sweet. Two-player mode and harder difficulty levels extend the experience, but at £15, it is better than usual rental games. You’ll finish it in a day. You can collect extras, but there isn’t enough to justify paying full price, no matter how fun it is.” Patrick Garratt gave the Xbox 360 version a score of 9 out of 10, writing, “It’s fascinating that an older game has found a new audience on a modern console. This is the best version, and you’d be wise to buy it.”
GameSpy’s Darryl Vassar gave the Xbox version a score of 4 out of 5. He wrote, “Each part of Metal Slug 3 is not special on its own, but together they make a great game. It is easy to play, has good characters and depth, and is even better with a friend. This game should bring more fans to SNK.”
In Japan, Game Machine listed Metal Slug 3 as the third most successful arcade game in April 2000. The PS2 version sold 47,581 copies in Japan. The 2014 PC version sold 651,482 digital copies worldwide on Steam, totaling at least 699,063 copies sold for the PS2 and Steam platforms.