Metal Slug 4

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Metal Slug 4
DevelopersMega Enterprise
Noise Factory
SNK Playmore (MVS,AES,Xbox)
Publishers
ProducersHong Ick Cho
Keiko Iju
DesignersKazuki Ito
Masafumi Fujii
ProgrammersHiroshi Hishikawa
Kazuaki Ezato
ArtistsJoo Hwan Sohn
Yong Hee Lee
ComposerToshikazu Tanaka
SeriesMetal Slug
Platform
Release
March 27, 2002
  • Arcade
    Neo Geo AES
    • WW: June 13, 2002
    Windows
    • KOR: December 5, 2002
    PlayStation 2
    • JP: September 22, 2004
    • NA: May 24, 2005
    • EU: October 28, 2005
    Xbox
    • JP: February 24, 2005
    • NA: August 16, 2005[2]
    • EU: November 4, 2005
GenreRun and gun
ModesSingle-player, multiplayer
Arcade systemNeo Geo MVS

Metal Slug 4[a] is a run and gun video game developed by Mega Enterprise and Noise Factory and published by Playmore for the Neo Geo arcade and home platforms. It was released in 2002 for the Neo-Geo MVS arcade platform, and is the fourth game in the Metal Slug series. Two years later, Playmore published Metal Slug 4 for consoles.

Metal Slug 4 retains the same gameplay as previous titles, with the addition of some enemies, bosses, weapons, several vehicles and a bonus combo system. It was ported to Xbox and PlayStation 2 as a stand-alone game in Japan and Europe, and along with Metal Slug 5 as a compilation in North America and South Korea. Hamster Corporation re-released the game as part of their ACA Neo Geo series for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Android and iOS.[3][4]

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot, showing Nadia and Trevor battling multiple enemies.

A bonus scoring system was added that allows the player to be rewarded depending on how many enemies are killed in the time allotted. The time allotted is determined from the type of emblem that is picked up. A time meter will appear on the top of the screen, and if the player lives through the end of the level, they will be awarded bonus points for badges that represent feats accomplished. Eri and Tarma were replaced with Nadia and Trevor.

Plot

One year after the events of Metal Slug 3 and 6, the world is under the threat of a mysterious and deadly cyber virus that threatens to attack and destroy any nation's military computer system. With Tarma Roving and Eri Kasamoto unable to help out due to their own assignments in the matter, Marco Rossi and Fiolina Germi are called in to investigate the situation and are joined by two newcomers, Nadia Cassel and Trevor Spacey. In their investigation, the group discovers that a rich terrorist organization known as the Amadeus Syndicate is behind the plot and has allied with General Morden's Rebel Army. They head into battle against Amadeus' forces, hoping to destroy the cyber virus before it gets the chance to wipe out the entire world's military computer system.

Halfway through the game's story mode, the player is confronted by who they presume to be General Morden. In the final stage, they find an underground facility where android doubles of Morden are being manufactured. Allen O' Neil fights the player and is also revealed to be a machine replica. The player confronts the leader of the syndicate, a man tentatively called "Doctor", who attacks with a series of powerful robots, but he is defeated and is trapped in his own devices as the base self-destructs, killing him. If the player safely escapes the base's bonus explosion stage, the credits will show the main cast eating a feast of food, but if the player gets caught in the explosion, the player character will appear in the hospital, bandaged and bed-ridden, being brought get-well gifts of food from both Tarma and Eri. After the credits, a single computer monitor is seen transmitting data to an unknown location before shutting down.

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Metal Slug 4 as the second most successful arcade game of April 2002.[5]

Metal Slug 4 was mixed to positive received by players with users scores of 7.8 for PS2, 7.3 for Xbox, 8.1 for Neo Geo and 8.3 for the arcade versions, while Metacritic and GameRankings are given with 70.47% and 70 along with Metal Slug 5 as compilation for both PS2 and Xbox score.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]

Legacy and re-releases

An emulated port by Code Mystics was released for Microsoft Windows on the Prime Gaming service on April 20, 2023.[15][16][17] This port was released on GOG.com on April 8, 2024.[18][19][20]

Notes

  1. Japanese: メタルスラッグ 4, Hepburn: Metaru Suraggu 4

References

  1. Akagi, Masumi (October 13, 2006). アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971–2005) [Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971–2005)] (in Japanese). Japan: Amusement News Agency. p. 135. ISBN 978-4990251215.
  2. Remo, Chris (August 16, 2005). "Late Night Consoling". Shacknews. Retrieved October 18, 2026.
  3. "Metal Slug 4 returns today, so grab your Hevveee Machine-gun". Destructoid.com. August 9, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  4. "Hamster's Neo Geo Hot Streak On The Switch eShop Continues With Six New Confirmed Games". NintendoLife.com. July 20, 2018. Archived from the original on August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  5. "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 657. Amusement Press, Inc. May 1, 2002. p. 17.
  6. "Metal Slug 4 & 5 Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on March 4, 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  7. "Metal Slug 4 & 5 - IGN". Uk.ign.com. August 25, 2005. Archived from the original on December 14, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  8. "Review: Metal Slug 4". ComputerAndVideoGames.com. November 21, 2005. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  9. "Metal Slug 4 & 5 for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on March 30, 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  10. Price, James (December 7, 2005). "Metal Slug 4 Review • Reviews • PlayStation 2 •". Eurogamer.net. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  11. "Metal Slug 4 & 5 for Xbox Reviews - Metacritic". Metacritic. Archived from the original on December 14, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
  12. "Metal Slug 4 & 5 for PlayStation 2 Reviews - Metacritic". Metacritic. Archived from the original on March 30, 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  13. "Metal Slug 4 & 5 for Xbox - GameRankings". Archived from the original on November 25, 2016. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
  14. "Metal Slug 4 & 5 for PlayStation 2 - GameRankings". Archived from the original on November 25, 2016. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
  15. Leggett, Chris (March 30, 2023). "Prime Gaming April Content Update: Wolfenstein: The New Order Headlines with 15 Free Games". Medium. Prime Gaming. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  16. Petite, Steven (April 7, 2023). "Amazon Prime Members Can Claim 3 Free Games, Including Wolfenstein: The New Order". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  17. Bonelli, John (March 30, 2023). "Amazon Prime Adding 15 Free Games for April 2023". Game Rant. Valnet Inc. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  18. "GOG yet again joins forces with SNK, to release over 20 classic titles and a Publisher Sale!". GOG.com. CD Projekt. April 8, 2024. Archived from the original on April 9, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  19. Middler, Jordan (April 10, 2024). "20 classic SNK titles have been released on GOG". Video Games Chronicle. Gamer Network. Retrieved April 10, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  20. McCarter, Reid (April 9, 2024). "Dozens of forgotten PC classics have suddenly just been relaunched". PCGamesN. Network N Media. Retrieved April 10, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)