METAL SLUG 2

About

"METAL SLUG 2" is the second game in the run-and-gun action shooting series, now available on iPhone/iPod Touch. This port includes both Arcade Mode and Mission Mode, allowing you to play specific stages. The game features new playable characters, weapons, and slugs to help you thwart General Morden's evil ambitions.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 402 reviews

story8 positive mentions

stability2 negative mentions

Metal Slug 2 is a nostalgic classic that brings back fond memories for many players.
The game features great pixel art, engaging gameplay, and a variety of weapons and characters, enhancing the overall experience.
Despite some technical issues, the game is still fun and offers a chaotic, action-packed experience that fans of the genre will enjoy.

The port suffers from significant performance issues, including frame rate drops and lag, which can detract from the gameplay experience.
Many players feel that this version is inferior to Metal Slug X, lacking additional content and features like online multiplayer.
Some achievements are bugged, and the controls can be difficult to manage, especially for new players on PC.

story
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
75%
7%
The game's story is minimal and often difficult to discern, with players noting that while there are six missions set in diverse locations, the narrative lacks depth and clarity. Some missions are praised for their design, but overall, the storyline is considered weak, with many players feeling it does not significantly enhance the gameplay experience. Despite this, the game retains the charm of the original series, appealing primarily to fans rather than newcomers seeking a strong narrative.
- “Mission 4 takes you to an Asian city, mission 5 to New York City subways, and the final mission in Antarctica facing off against a new threat... aliens.”
- “Building on the strengths of the original (great pixel art, exciting sound design, engaging gameplay), this game adds longer levels, additional characters, and a more unique and interesting 'story' to the successful 'Metal Slug' formula.”
- “I was surprised to see how dramatic the story was, even without any dialogues.”
- “If you liked the original and you'd want to try it, I would highly recommend it, but if you've never played the original and are worried about story, there isn't really any story (at least any story easy to find) and its bosses, I will say, are much shorter, but the attacks are more difficult.”
- “What is the storyline anyways? All I know is I'm in Egypt.”
- “[*] A storyline for the Metal Slug universe exists, just not explained in the games.”
gameplay
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
48%
8%
The gameplay of the Metal Slug series is praised for its smooth mechanics, engaging action, and nostalgic appeal, with many reviewers highlighting the classic pixel art and sound design. While some players note issues like lag and certain mechanics that detract from the experience, the overall consensus is that the game remains fun and addictive, offering a unique twist on traditional platforming with its projectile-based damage system. Despite minor technical flaws, the gameplay is consistently rated highly, with scores often reaching 9/10 or higher.
- “Building on the strengths of the original (great pixel art, exciting sound design, engaging gameplay), this game adds longer levels, additional characters, and a more unique and interesting story to the successful Metal Slug formula.”
- “Only projectiles and moving tanks/vehicles can hurt you, which is vastly different from your usual 2D game where touching the sprite of an enemy hurts/kills you. This creates a truly unique gameplay experience.”
- “The game runs smoothly, and the gameplay is fast and fun.”
- “This is a nice nostalgic game, but I find some lag in gameplay.”
- “Do not like some of the conversion mechanics and environments.”
- “The speed and pitch of the music and sound effects seems to just go all over the place at random, not even in sync with the gameplay slowdown.”
graphics
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
45%
8%
The graphics of the Metal Slug series are celebrated for their timeless pixel art, vibrant animations, and unique art style, which many consider a hallmark of classic platformers. However, some reviewers note that the resolution feels outdated by modern standards, and the lack of graphical improvements or options is a drawback. Overall, while the visuals are praised for their creativity and charm, they may not meet contemporary expectations for resolution and clarity.
- “Great animations and art style!”
- “Art style is top notch, animations are top notch, sprites are from another world, the overall satirical spoof of a dystopian army gone straight insane is so hilariously depicted that once you play this game you won't be able to forget this game's art style.”
- “Just like the first, this game is a graphical masterpiece with amazing animations, solid gameplay, and replayability.”
- “Visuals have not improved nor are there graphic options (barebones).”
- “In my opinion, the pixel graphics are too low resolution by today's standards, and the art style (perhaps the color palette) makes things look blurry on some maps.”
- “In my opinion, the pixel graphics are too low resolution by today's standards, and the art style (perhaps the color palette) makes things look blurry on some maps.”
music
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
33%
20%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its upbeat and heavy tempo that fits the game's theme, while others criticize the sound emulation and issues with audio slowdown, particularly on higher-end PCs. Despite some players enjoying the soundtrack and rating it highly, many express frustration over the inconsistent audio quality and the desire for the option to play their own music. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a highlight, but technical problems detract from the experience.
- “Fantastic soundtrack.”
- “Music is incredibly awesome and it keeps you pumped throughout the entire game.”
- “Music is uptempo and on the heavy side, also suiting the theme of Metal Slug.”
- “The music isn't that good; the first three or so levels are actually kinda bad.”
- “Also, the sound and music emulation is horrible, at least running on my 3070 Ti, 5800X PC with Windows 10 x64 and 32GB RAM.”
- “The speed and pitch of the music and sound effects seem to just go all over the place at random, not even in sync with the gameplay slowdown.”
replayability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
The replayability of this sequel to "Metal Slug" is generally viewed as high, with many praising the addition of new characters, humor, and mission modes that enhance the experience, earning scores of 10/10. However, some players note that if you're not focused on speedrunning or high scores, the replay value may diminish, with a lower score of 6/10 reflecting this perspective. Overall, the game offers significant challenges that encourage players to return.
- “Replay value: 10/10”
- “+ Mission mode enhances replay value.”
- “If you're not a speedrunner or a high scorer then the replayability drops quite a bit... like all Metal Slug games, this one provides great challenges, up to you to beat them!”
- “[h1][b][u]Replayability[/u]: 6/10[/b][/h1]”
- “Just like the first, this game is a graphical masterpiece with amazing animations, solid gameplay, and replayability.”
humor
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in this sequel to "Metal Slug" is widely praised for its charm and satirical take on a dystopian setting, featuring hilarious references and over-the-top scenarios. Players enjoy the variety of characters and the richly detailed landscapes that enhance the comedic experience, alongside memorable and absurd boss battles. Overall, the game is noted for its top-notch art style and animations, contributing to its unforgettable comedic moments.
- “This time you can play as one of four characters across the usual variety of wonderfully detailed and humorous landscapes as you blast seven shades of excrement out of enemy commandos.”
- “Art style is top notch, animations are top notch, sprites are from another world, the overall satirical spoof of a dystopian Nazi army gone straight insane is so hilariously depicted that once you play this game you won't be able to forget this game's art style.”
- “Expect great art design with hilarious moments, and bonkers end of level bosses.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
50%
Reviews on optimization for the game are mixed; while some players report significant performance issues, others have experienced smooth gameplay without any problems. This disparity suggests that optimization may vary widely depending on individual systems.
- “The biggest irony of all is that this entry ran for me pretty much perfectly - no performance issues.”
- “The awful optimization.”
- “The awful optimization.”
- “The awful optimization.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its unique gameplay mechanics, which diverge from traditional 2D games by allowing players to interact with the environment in a more nuanced way. This design choice fosters a sense of achievement and exploration, as players can reach otherwise inaccessible items, enhancing their emotional engagement with the game.
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of Metal Slug X is notably improved compared to its predecessor, Metal Slug 2, as it was specifically released to address and rectify various bugs and glitches associated with the original arcade version.
- “SNK originally released Metal Slug X to be an updated version of Metal Slug 2 because there were bugs, glitches, and other issues with the arcade chips that were hard to fix.”