METAL SLUG XX

I have a lot of affection for the Metal Slug series, which makes the Steam version of XX harder to recommend than it should be. This is a port of a PSP title originally released in 2009, built on the bones of Metal Slug 7, and arriving on PC a decade later with upscaled resolution as the headline selling point. The core run-and-gun loop, blasting through seven side-scrolling levels while dodging incoming fire, piloting slug vehicles, and rescuing bearded POWs for weapon drops, is still genuinely enjoyable in short bursts. The pixel art holds up with its cartoon charm intact, the soundtrack thumps along at the right tempo, and the seven playable characters, including series regulars Marco Rossi and Fio Germi plus KOF crossovers Ralf and Clark, give you enough reason to replay at least a couple of times. The Combat School mode adds some meaningful padding beyond the main campaign. It stacks up over 70 mission-based challenges that test specific skills and unlock military rank promotions, including a satellite support tool that carries into the main game. For completionists who want to push past the roughly one-hour runtime of the standard arcade run, this is the mode that actually gives the game legs. Branching hidden routes in the seven stages also reward exploration over pure speed-running, which is a nice touch for a game that could otherwise be blown through in a single sitting. Here is where the enthusiasm has to pump the brakes. The Steam port launched with serious quality-of-life problems: no key rebinding, no meaningful graphics settings, reported input lag, and a notorious issue where hitting Escape instantly closed the game without any confirmation prompt. SNK acknowledged these problems post-launch and pushed patches, but the Mixed review score sitting at 52 percent positive reflects how much goodwill was burned early. Windows 11 compatibility has also caused crashes for some users, with fixes living in community discussions rather than official documentation. This is not a polished port; it is a functional one, with caveats. The gameplay itself courts its own criticism independent of technical issues. The difficulty swings from manageable to punishing without much warning, and the enemy waves repeat in patterns that feel thin compared to earlier entries in the series. Credit-feeding to see the ending is tempting precisely because the challenge spikes feel arbitrary rather than earned. Co-op local play is present and does make the whole thing considerably more fun, but the absence of online co-op on PC is a real omission for a title in 2019. If you grew up on the NeoGeo originals or have a soft spot for Metal Slug 3 and want to fill in the series gaps, XX scratches that itch adequately. If you are coming in fresh expecting a polished modern release, the port quality and thin runtime will disappoint. Check that the known technical issues are resolved for your setup before committing.

Alex · Scout Team

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