Metal Slug 3 (NGM-2560, earlier) - MAME software

SNK Neo-Geo MVS cart. published 24 years ago:

Metal Slug 3 © 2000 SNK.

The heroes of the first 2 games return once more to do battle with the ever-present General Morden and his vast army. The third game of the series places a greater emphasis on defeating hulking boss characters than the 2 previous outings. Metal Slug 3 also introduced multiple routes through most levels, vastly increasing the replay value of the game. For example; on the first level the player reaches a point where they can either continue over land, or enter a small submarine and head down into the ocean depths, where they will be faced with a variety of huge, deadly sea-dwelling creatures.

Metal Slug 3 introduced a number of new elements that have a direct effect on the player's character - similar to the 'mummification' of the second game. The first of these is the 'fatty' affect: should the player pick up too much food (fish, for example) their character will morph in an obese version of itself. This doesn't have any detrimental effect on performance and is included purely for reasons of humor. Another effect is the now infamous 'Zombification'; should the player's character be attacked by a Zombie, he or she will become Zombie until they are either killed, or pick up a first-aid, which will restore the player's character back to human form. Movement while in the zombie state is slow and restricted but the player is armed with what can perhaps be best described as the 'Zombie Vomit'; a huge arc of blood that can be used to destroy oncoming enemies. A second Zombie attack while the player's character is in a Zombie state will result in the player losing a life.

TECHNICAL
Runs on the SNK "Neo-Geo MVS" hardware.
Game ID: NGM-256

Players: 2
Control: 8-way joystick
Buttons: 3
→ Character > [A] Shoot, [B] Jump, [C] Grenade
→ Metal Slug> [A] Gun Attack, [B] Jump Board Vehicle, [C] Artillery Attack

TRIVIA
Metal Slug 3 was released in May 2000. This game was the last game in the Metal Slug series developed by SNK. The underwater stages are a graphical nod to Irem's 1993 classic, "In the Hunt". This is understandable as many of SNK's Metal Slug developers originally worked for Irem.

Metal Slug 3 features a number of sci-fi movie homages: Mission 2 features a guest appearance by the Men in Black. The carnivorous plant aliens in Mission 4 are a parody of the sci-fi musical comedy, 'The Little Shop of Horrors'. The squid-like aliens in the gigantic Mission 5 (known as 'Mars People') are a homage to the movie, 'Independence Day'. Also, the alien clones you face in this stage seem to parody the sci-fi movie clasic, 'Invasion of the body snatchers'. Finally, the last boss battle seems to be slightly inspired by the ending sequence in the sci-fi horror movie, 'Alien Resurrection'. One of the hostages (who also appeared in "Metal Slug 2" & "Metal Slug X", by the way) known as Hyakkutaro will join the fight by shooting fireballs.

Noise Factory released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (Metal Slug 3 Original Soundtrack - NF-0002) on 31/01/2003.

A hack of this game was released in 2005 as "Metal Slug 6 [Hack]", one year before the official "Metal Slug 6".

SERIES

• Metal Slug - Super Vehicle-001 [Model NGM-201] (1996, MVS)
• Metal Slug 2 - Super Vehicle-001/II [Model NGM-241] (1998, MVS)
• Metal Slug X - Super Vehicle-001 [Model NGM-250] (1999, MVS)
• Metal Slug - 1st Mission [Model NEOP00210] (1999, NGPC)
• Metal Slug - 2nd Mission [Model NEOP00610] (2000, NGPC)
• Metal Slug 3 [Model NGM-256] (2000, MVS)
• Metal Slug 4 [Model NGM-263] (2002, MVS)
• Metal Slug 5 [Model NGM-268] (2003, MVS)
• Metal Slug 6 (2006, MVS)
• Metal Slug 3D (2006, PS2)
• Metal Slug 7 (2008, NDS)

STAFF
Planners: Meeher, Akio
Enemy sequence: Narusawa, Arita
Character chief: Akio
Background chief: Susumu
Designers: Cannon, Tomo, Kozo, Kuichin, Flying Fox, Curry
Wizard: Andy
Enemy's brain: Aba
Programmers: Tecchan-Take, Dramania Hide, Fujisawa, Nakatsuka, Seeker
Sound: Hiyamuta (Hiya!), Captain Beroou (as Bero-ou), Hohi_Hohi, Q_Jiroo, Maitaro

PORTS

• CONSOLES:

[JP] SNK Neo-Geo AES (june.01, 2000) "Metal Slug 3 [Model NGH-256]"
[JP] Sony PS2 (june.17, 2003) "Metal Slug 3 [Model SLPS-25209]"
[JP] Microsoft XBOX (june.24, 2004) "Metal Slug 3 [Model DP5-00001]"
[JP] Sony PS2 (Nov. 18, 2004) "SNK Best Collection: Metal Slug 3 [Model SLPS-25428]"
[JP] Sony PSP (Feb. 22, 2006) "Metal Slug Complete [Model ULJS-00090]"
[JP] Sony PS2 (may.31, 2007) "Metal Slug Complete [Model SLPS-25762]"
[JP] Nintendo Wii (Dec. 27, 2007) "Metal Slug Complete [Model RVL-RMLJ-JPN]"
[JP] Sony PS2 (june.18, 2009) "SNK Best Collection: Metal Slug Complete [Model SLPS-25937]"
[JP] Sony PSP (june.18, 2009) "SNK Best Collection: Metal Slug Complete [Model ULJS-00206]"

• COMPUTERS:

PC [MS Windows, DVD-ROM] (2009) "Metal Slug Collection PC"

• OTHERS:

Google Play (2012) "Metal Slug 3"

CONTRIBUTE
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