Video game arcades are an important part of pop culture. As it holds a variety of games that holds historical relevance to players all over the world. From fighters likeStreet FighterIIandTekken.However,the arcadesare also known for their arcade shooters which have stuck around for a long time, with one of the most notable being theMetal Slugfranchise. Originally created for the Neo-Geo arcade machines, theMetal Slugseries has become one of the most popular franchises in SNK.With new games being planned for development.However, there might be some developmental facts that newcomers might not know about.
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These are some facts regarding theMetal Slugfranchise that players should know about.
10SNK Didn’t Create Metal Slug, Nazca Did
AlthoughSNK is the primary publishersfor theMetal Slugseries, the series is originally created by Nazca Corporation. The company was only present for roughly 2 years before it eventually merged into SNK proper. As a result, the developers prior to the merge created the originalMetal Slug.
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Through the merge, theMetal Slugteam eventually developed the second and third entries. However, due to the 2001 bankruptcy, the original team eventually disbanded completely and the series became held by other developers going forward.
9Metal Slug Is The Result Of Previous Games Before It
Prior to the development of the originalMetal Slug,the game was inspired by a variety of different arcade shooters. These includeGunforceand the sequel, as well asIn The Hunt.Gunforce 2in particular is often considered the spiritual predecessor ofMetal Slug.This is detailed based on the gameplay similarities and sprite work.Gunforce 2essentially laid down the groundwork for what the Metal Slug franchise eventually became.
8Over 30 Games
Thanks to the longevity of the franchise, theMetal Slugseries has over 30 games under its name. The mainline titles have roughly 7 entries overall. But the series also includes 2 remakes and 4 spin-off titles.Metal Slugalso includes a variety of mobile entries and a series of compilations that contain several games in the series. The series also has several pachinko machines and a game that eventually got cancelled calledMetal Slug Online Zero.
7Metal Slug Is SNK’s Biggest Sellers Next To King Of Fighters
As a result of the series having a large plethora of games, it is arguably the biggest franchise that SNK owns right next toKing Of Fighters. UnlikeMetal Slug,theKing Of Fightersseries is a fighting game seriesthat calls back to their previous franchises such asFatal Fury.
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However, due toKing Of Fightersbeing a crossover series that many SNK properties come to be a part of, someMetal Slugcharacters appear in the game. Specifically Ralf Jones and Clark Still, who are also the protagonists of theIkari Warriors.
6Originally, Metal Slug Was About A White Soldier Riding A Mech
According to development facts regarding the originalMetal Slug, the game wasn’t gonna have the colorful characters that players became aware of. Instead, the game was originally about a white soldier as they are riding the titular Metal Slug tank. However, it seems the idea was scrapped fairly early on as the gameplay eventually evolved into something different. Which has stuck around with the franchise to this day.
5Metal Slug Was Meant To Be Simple
From the beginning, the conception behind theMetal Slugfranchise was simple.According to an interview within theMetal Slug Anthology, the game was intended to be friendly with players with 2 buttons and a joystick. The game was meant to be fairly comedic from the start, however, the developers wanted to make strong action with interesting mechs. As a result, the developers followed the slogan of “Gameplay will be sometimes comical, but also challenging at important points and always cool to look at and play!”
4Player Reception Influences The Games Development
During the same interview, it has been elaborated that fans have input to the development of the franchise. By researching the reactions and feedback from players, developers were able to create balance changes. That way, the games would be more accessible with other players going forward. Although the developers wanted their players to play the game without a lot of stress, they are willing to break that rule if done on purpose.
3Metal Slug 2’s Ending Is A Reference To Independence Day
Players who have finishedMetal Slug 2may notice that the game pulls a reference toIndependence Day. The Rugname battle homages the main climax of the movie,where it makes reference to one of the characters flying his jet into the mothership core.The game pays homage to the same scene where following the end fight, where one of Morden’s pilots flies upward to destroy the weapon.
2Not All Games Were Done By SNK
Due to SNK’s history revolving around its bankruptcy and eventual return, theMetal Slugfranchise was held by different developers over the years. Starting withMetal Slug 4, the series was co-developed by Noise Factory with help from other developers like Mega Enterprise. SNK Playmore eventually helped developed the fifth entry with Noise Factory. Prior to this, Noise Factory was only responsible for the soundtrack of the third entry.
1Characters Appear In King Of Fighters
The King Of Fightersfranchise is a series where characters across SNK’s lineup would appear as fighters.Metal Slugis one of them, with characters such as Fio Germi appearing as a striker inKing Of Fighters ‘99and2000. Characters from theIkari Warriorsdoes appear in bothKing Of FightersandMetal Slugas playable characters. Not only that, but many original characters that appear inKing Of Fightersmake their appearance as playable characters inMetal Slug. Most notably Leona Heidern.
