Metal Slug 6: Mission 1: African Winds (Hard, All Routes Shown)

Описание: Metal Slug 5 was the end of the series' time on NEO-GEO hardware, but the series decided to keep trucking on without it.

Metal Slug 6 here is once again made by Noise Factory alongside SNK Playmore, but this time the game is powered by Sammy's SEGA-based Atomiswave hardware.

The background graphics throughout this game have changed to be less pixelated and have more of a painterly CGI look to them, though character and vehicle sprites retain that classic hyper-animated Metal Slug charm.

Another thing to note about this game is its extended roster of characters. Much more interesting than what Metal Slug 4 attempted, even.

I will be playing the PS2 Metal Slug Anthology version of this game, and starting this on its 20th Anniversary! Oh, and this time blood isn't censored away in this release!
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In the official Metal Slug timeline, this game is actually the first to take place after Metal Slug 3, but it also precedes both 4 & 5, in that order. 5 didn't have General Morden's Rebel Army, but they return here following the Regular Army's victory against the Martians... the same Martians that had abducted Morden into a temporary truce against the Regular Army.

After the Martian War, Marco & Tarma of the Peregrine Falcons, and Eri & Fio of the SPARROWS wanted to be discharged from the Regular Army and move on with their lives, but their superiors refused to let them go.

It was probably for the better, however, as it was later discovered that possible remnants of General Morden's Rebel Army were planning their next move in the mountains, though it was not entirely confirmed if this was Morden's doing. Nonetheless, the four were called back into action against this threat.

However, this time, they were met with two other soldiers that were assigned to help them with this new mission: The Ikari Warriors!
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Besides the usual four of Marco, Tarma, Eri, and Fio, this game also lets you select from two guys from an older SNK series about shooting down evil armies: Ralf Jones & Clark Still. I'll be using Ralf for this run.

Compared to (probably unintended glimpses of) Metal Slug 4, choosing characters in 6 matters much more now thanks to the different abilities they start out with. For example, Eri is more proficient at directing and aiming her grenades, and Fio always starts out with a Heavy Machine Gun and picks up more ammo for her weapons.

In the case of Ralf, his basic melee attacks are faster, and he can unleash his signature Vulcan Punch, which can SHRED through vehicles faster than his weapons and even his slugs. This is even effective against bosses. He can also take TWO hits before he dies. However, the ammo of his weapons and grenades are halved.

You may know Ralf & Clark more from their King of Fighters appearances, but they translated well in this game, and have simply moved on to be the closest link towards Metal Slug being in that series (besides just outright putting Marco and/or Fio into very specific games).

Other new features in this game include being able to store two weapons, with one of them being in storage and can be switched out with a button press, or you can just switch back to your default pistol. If you pick up a third weapon, you'll discard the first weapon in storage.
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You start out in an African savannah, and indeed this place is swarming with Rebel soldiers. They and the POWs you rescue have new voices.

There are branching routes in this game, too, but they only appear in this level and a later one. I take note of this level's fork at 4:02:

Top Route (4:03 - 5:57): Climb the cliffs while shooting down more Rebel soldiers. It is possible to bring your Slug all the way up through here with good jumps. You will then reach a secured cave full of POWs to release.

Bottom Route (5:58 - 6:47): You go into a much less secure cave. This one is full of bats, including a golden one that you can try to pick up physically if you don't shoot it down, first.
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Boss (6:48 - 7:53): You will fight against the Bull Drill. It's loaded with normal cannons, rock cannons, and a large drill.

It is here where I get to show off the power of Ralf's Vulcan Cannon. Get REALLY close to this contraption without actually touching it, and watch Ralf shred through it even harder than your slug can! Just watch out for sudden movements, including the drill!