The Metal Slug series has been around for a long time. Between ports and major releases, over 50 games exist with Metal Slug in the name. Somehow, SNK landed on Metal Slug 3  for their iOS version.

I can only assume they had a dart board with the names of the games on it. After all, how do you choose one version from a series with 50 games? How does an old school, fast-paced side scrolling shooter work on a touch screen device? Keep reading and find out for yourself!

Gameplay

Metal Slug 3 is an intense side scrolling shooter that was originally designed for the arcade. Because of this, the game moves at an intense pace. The goal of the arcade game is to stand out and get your quarters. Of course, there are no quarters on iOS, but the game still benefits from this gameplay design. Much of my gameplay on iOS is done in quick bursts, and Metal Slug 3 allows you to get in, get some intense shooter action and get out.

The game sees you killing all kinds of enemies with varying weapons that you pick up throughout the levels. The game design feels very old school, which is something fans of the series will appreciate and newer gamers might find a little antiquated.

There are a limited number of continues, and if you play the arcade mode, this means starting over when you run out. In the new mission mode, you can pick from the stage where you left off, so it makes the progression feel more modern.

You can choose from one of four difficulty levels. Perhaps I suck, but I found anything above medium too hard to be fun. Still, for fans of brutally difficult older games, this will be right up their alley.

If you have a friend sitting with you, there is Bluetooth multiplayer included in the game.

Controls

The controls in Metal Slug 3 are pretty standard for games of this type. It uses an onscreen joystick and three buttons. The joystick moves your character and the buttons jump, shoot and throw grenades.

Generally, the controls work well, but I did have a few occasions where I was sure I was pressing shoot and my character jumped. In a game that requires a high level of precision like this, these issues are intolerable.

Another slight issue with the controls is that the joystick is locked in place. It seems like it has become the standard for the joystick to appear wherever you place your finger. It does not break the game, and the spot they put it is where you want it most of the time anyway, but options are always a good thing.

Presentation

This looks like an arcade game from 12 years ago. Okay, that is a slight exaggeration, as the graphics have improved a little. It looks a little blurry on a retina display, but I can get past that because of how well the game animates.

Of course, gamers accustomed to modern games might be turned off by the old school visuals, but for anyone looking for a throwback, this should suit their needs perfectly.

The menu system really annoyed me. For some inexplicable reason, they made all the menu options require a double tap. This offers no tangible benefit and just makes it take that much longer for me to play the game.

Suggestions

I would love to have seen the joystick move around the screen depending on where I place my finger. It was not overly common, but there were a few instances where I felt like I had to contort my hand to get it out-of-the-way.

For the price they are charging, I think the graphics should have been redone and modernized. Asking a premium price for what is more or less a port of a 12-year-old game seems like a poor value.

Conclusion

Metal Slug 3 is a well-done port of a 12-year-old game. The problem is that it still feels like a a game from 12 years ago. Bluetooth multiplayer is a nice inclusion that increases the value. Fans of the original or old school shooters in general, should love this game. For the more “modern” gamer, this might not tickle their fancy. 7/10