Shock Troopers

If you love Metal Slug and are looking for where to head next, Shock Troopers should be right at the top of the list. This action gem for the Neo Geo from 1997 is among the very best the run & gun genre offered in the arcades — and yet it remains undeservedly in the shadow of its more famous siblings.

Unlike classic horizontal shooters, Shock Troopers bets on a multi-directional top-down view, where you push forward, sideways and into the depth of the screen. This freedom gives the fights a different rhythm: you take cover behind obstacles, flank an enemy nest from the side and constantly weigh where to cut through the infantry assaults and armoured vehicles. The game is brisk, readable and packed with action from the very first second.

Behind the game stands studio Saurus under the wing of SNK, a master of two-dimensional arcade action. You recognise the game by its typically rich hand-drawn pixel graphics and fluid animation, the kind the Neo Geo pulled off like few other pieces of hardware of its time. A signature element is the choice of multiple characters, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, so it pays to experiment with weapons and play style.

The second draw are the branching paths. Before missions you choose the route you will take to the goal, and each offers a different environment, different enemies and different traps. This dramatically boosts replayability — playing through the game a different way each time is by itself a reason to come back. And since it is an arcade classic, you can set out solo or in co-op with a buddy.

Shock Troopers is a showcase of craft at its peak. It brings no revolution, but it does everything you expect from honest run & gun action superbly. For fans of the Metal Slug style it is a mandatory stop.

Why play it: Top-tier multi-directional action from SNK with character selection and branching paths — the ideal next step for anyone who has finished Metal Slug.