Metal Slug XX

Metal Slug 7 came out in 2008 exclusively for the Nintendo DS, and due to the console's weaker performance it had to limit the number of enemies on screen and the smoothness of the animation - fans of the series still welcomed it back for its inventive campaign, the return of beloved characters, and the bonus Boss Attack and First Mission modes, which let players replay just the boss fights or the first mission with a different weapon selection. A year later, though, the same game returned in a form that finally fulfilled its potential.

Metal Slug XX is a reworked version of the seventh game for the handheld PSP, where the greater processing power allowed the smooth animation and density of enemies the series was known for from arcade cabinets to return. A new playable character, Nadia Cassel, was added, along with adjusted difficulty for individual missions, reworked levels, and a brand-new bonus mission that was missing from the original DS version. Controls were newly adapted to the PSP's single analog stick instead of being split across two touchscreen-controlled screens, which brought the game closer to the classic arcade control scheme of two buttons and a joystick. Visually, it's the sharpest and smoothest version of the seventh game that existed at the time, and that's exactly why it became the reference choice for players who wanted the experience without the compromises of the DS's small screen. The content of Metal Slug XX later made it to other platforms through digital re-releases, but the PSP remains the version in which this form of the game first came into being and for which it was designed with the single analog controller in mind. The PSP's portability also meant that a demanding run and gun game, previously associated mainly with arcades and the living room, could be played anywhere in short bursts between missions.

Why play it: Metal Slug XX is the right choice for anyone who wants to experience the seventh game of the series in its smoothest and most complete form, with an extra character and mission compared to the DS original.