Contrary to what one might think, Metal Slug Advance is in no way a conversion of one of the versions to have emerged on the defunct Neo Geo. Despite the presence of numerous screenshots and a few videos, the confusion was rather legitimate. We also experience the same feeling once the cartridge is inserted into its GBA SP: (almost) identical graphics, a familiar soundtrack and gameplay that is still just as explosive. Do not mistake yourself, Metal Slug Advance is indeed a completely new episode and this can be recognized from the character selection page.
always scout
Exit Marco, Tarma, Fio and Eri, it is now the soldiers Walter and Tyra who share the poster and who will have to face the enemy armies. The energy gauge is also part of the novelties present in Metal Slug Advance. Your character will therefore not succumb to the slightest enemy fire and will be able to take several hits (it then depends on the power of the attack) before giving up the ghost. However, once your health bar is emptied, you will always be sent back to the nearest checkpoint. Not too embarrassing as given the low difficulty of the game but frankly frustrating in front of a Boss since in the event of premature death, it will be necessary to resume the confrontation from the beginning. But before embarking on the battle, we discover the presence of a page allowing access to several sections. It is the "Cards" and "Prisoners" sections that catch the eye and show that it is possible to store bonuses during the game. Indeed, by delivering the many prisoners (some of whom are scrupulously well hidden) , they will give you items in exchange for your good gesture: food, weapons, ammunition and cards. These items are 100 in number and they will allow you to unlock bonuses such as new vehicles (here called Slugs) or even secret levels but which have nothing to do with missions in their own right. These are also five in number as announced by SNK Playmore. A little light certainly but knowing the series of Metal Slug with its pronounced difficulty and its many branches, we could always expect good hours of good laughs, but unfortunately this is not the case for Metal Slug Advance.
Shamefully short!
1h30, that's the time it takes for a follower of the series (count between 3 and 4 hours for an average player) to complete the five missions of the game. It's simply outrageous, not to mention the difficulty is not on point at all. A piece of advice, choose the "Hard" mode from the start if you want a little spice on your plate. Each level is shamefully short and the Bosses, as imposing as they are, will not resist your attacks for long, once you have grasped the technique to bring them down effectively. The real difficulty is only in the last Boss which will give you a hard time, given its enormous longevity and the lack of ammunition at your disposal. Once the "Final Mission Completed" is displayed, it is expected to unlock a new series of missions. Nay, there is only the possibility of going in search of cards and other prisoners to raise the interest of the game a little, especially since it is impossible to connect a second Game Boy to redo the missions. together. "It's a shame" as our friends across the Channel would say! We can also point out a level design singularly lacking in imagination. Apart from this major flaw, Metal Slug Advance remains a title that has the merit of being fun, of offering a concrete achievement (still far from displaying the plethora of enemies and animations as on Neo Geo, but that's quite normal given the capabilities of the portable console) and above all effective gameplay.
