For those who spent their youth in the thrall of arcade games, the name Metal Slug needs no introduction. The action-packed side-scroller was a staple of arcades around the world and is back with Metal Slug: Awakening, now available on PC and mobile devices.
Not familiar with the series? It all started in 1996, when Metal Slug first appeared as an arcade machine. Almost every laundromat or pizza parlor had a Metal Slug machine. For just 25 cents, you could enjoy top-notch entertainment. There’s something nostalgic about that wild but gleeful era of arcades in the 90s, when the game was so addictive that you forgot what time you should be getting home.
Metal Slug is set in a dystopian year 2028. You’ll take on the role of a soldier fighting a coup that threatens to destroy peace and impose a recent world order. You’ll bombard enemies with relentless gunfire and melee attacks, all the way to boss fights in each level.
Throughout each level, you could find prisoners of war who would give you rewards when you freed them. You always started with a straightforward pistol, but as you progressed through the levels, you would earn special weapons—like machine guns, rocket launchers, and shotguns. You could also jump into tanks called Metal Slugs (after the series, of course). As the series progressed, more heroes and more special weapons were added.
Awakening builds on the same foundation as its predecessors. It still features side-scrolling action, special weapons, and Slugs. Even the iconic “mission begins” and “mission ends” announcements from the original game are still present. But not everything is elderly school—graphical updates breathe recent life into characters, weapons, and vehicles; recent characters with unique abilities debut; and pioneering features and game modes offer a refreshing twist on gameplay.
Speaking of characters, that’s an area where Metal Slug: Awakening has expanded. While previous games had a maximum of six characters, Awakening has over 20 — with more on the way. You can unlock characters in Treasure Dig mode, and each character has unique skills and an ultimate ability that can range from slowing down time to summoning a battleship.
Awakening introduces a mix of classic weapon types, as well as unique, new-to-the-series weapons such as sniper rifles, saw launchers, and the boxing pistol (a literal firearm with a spring-loaded boxing glove attached). Additionally, all weapons come in different varieties, some of which can inflict various status effects, such as freezing or burning enemies.
Joint Operation is another of the major innovations in Metal Slug: Awakening. Unlike classic arcade games where you can take on bosses alone, you can now team up with two additional players for these epic duels. You can do this by teaming up with friends or teaming up with strangers that the game pairs you up with. Each of you will choose your own character and pack your most powerful weapons before hitting the battlefield to claim victory.
Looking for a change of pace? You can dive into the PvP mode for a different experience. Fight against real players, controlling three characters and changing them to demonstrate your unique fighting style. With three characters and three weapons at your disposal, the combinations you can come up with offer endless possibilities.
Time to play! Metal Slug: Awakening is available now as a free download on PC, iOS, and Android, and you can play with a controller. Your progress is tied to your account, which you can exploit across all platforms, so you never have to start over. Enjoy your time re-watching the classic series.
