Metal Slug 3 [Xbox]

Thanks to the NeoGeo (known as the System That Couldn't Die, until it did) Metal Slug has long been the go-to game for hardcore shooting. Metal Slug 3 dates back to the coin-ops of 1996, and it's a testament to the series' impeccable quality that an eight-year old arcade port is even worth talking about.

Serious fans should already be familiar with the game, thanks either to dingy, lingering arcades, or the miracle of emulators. Everyone else should pay attention. Superficially, Metal Slug is a side-scrolling shooter in the grand tradition of Contra. Guns and grenades are the basic currency. There are four playable characters, with no discernable difference between them. The mechanics of running, jumping, and shooting are so simple that you'll be amazed at how tough some parts of the game can be.

Screens are packed with constant motion, branching pathways, huge bosses, and fantastic weaponry. Extra firepower comes in the form of the occasional vehicular "slug," which could be a tank, boat, or even a camel. The aesthetic is somewhere between Nazi adventure and midnight monster movie, with soldiers, zombies, and aquatic, aerial, and land animals all after your blood.

The vehicles are fun and they point out one of the game's best qualities: No matter what path you take, there always seems to be another option. The game's replay value lies in exploring those possibilities, and working toward perfect scores.

Many will glance at screens full of animated sprites and dismiss Metal Slug as a pointless throwback. Don't be one of them. The animations powering the characters have more personality than a bus full of stand up comics. There isn't a display of sprite animation anywhere to match what's been done in this series.

Unlike most titles, modern or classic, the designers haven't poured their souls into a few primary characters, leaving the rest out to dry. Here, even the power-ups have style, and everything from scuttling crab pickups to gut-ripping zombies is memorable. It's a combination of movement, facial expressions, and overall design that does it, but even in grainy 24-bit motion, this is a beautiful game.

It's also a very tough one. Each of the five levels may feel short once mastered, but earning your black belt takes time, especially since the game isn't afraid to be cheap. This is old-school, where players learn the ropes by falling into a lot of pits. But it's also a lot of fun, and there aren't many games these days that will have you grinning during the Nth restart after using up five lives.

Again, it's the details. Some of the pickups are foodstuffs (apples, bananas, pigs); grab too many too fast, and you'll get fat and slow. The effect wears off quickly, but it's fun and well-drawn. Similarly, get splattered with zombie goo and you'll look like a reject from Outbreak, lurching in search of a medkit. During your time as an undead dilettante, your grenade attack is replaced with a nasty blood-vomit spew that would make Sam Raimi proud.

Throughout the game, you're rescuing shaggy POWs and the occasional government suit, all of whom reward your efforts with cool guns. Rockets and flamethrowers are sweet, but wait until you see the robot lizards and thundercloud options.

Since this is housed in a green Xbox case, there are a few nods toward replay value besides the primary game. Players have the option to play any stage out of order, provided it's already been cleared. There's no Xbox Live co-op play (two players can cooperate offline), but the service does provide leaderboards. There are also a couple of new modes (Fat Island and UFO). Though slim, the extras do add to the game's repertoire.

We'll admit Metal Slug 3 isn't for everyone. If classic arcade sensibilities sound too narrow, then steer clear. But for those who love simple, arcade shooters that blister thumbs and leave permanent marks in your D-pad, this is the pinnacle of the genre. It's great, quick fun that can be played for five minutes just as easily as five hours, and the animation contains huge amusement value. Sit down with Metal Slug 3, drink in the tasty animations, and relive the best of 1996.