Item: METAL SLUG 3
Rating: 92
Author: Dinsun

Dinsun Review

Look, if you grew up in the arcades, you know Metal Slug 3 is the peak of the series. The pixel art is still some of the best in the business—every explosion and enemy death animation is a labor of love. SNK didn't mess with the formula here; it’s a direct port of the NEOGEO original. The branching paths add a layer of depth most modern runners wish they had, and the mission mode is a nice touch for those of us who don't want to start from the beginning every time we have five minutes to kill.

However, we need to talk about the transition to mobile. Touch screens and twitch-shooters are like oil and water. Trying to pull off precise jumps or aim diagonally while a boss fills the screen with projectiles is a recipe for frustration. It’s better with a controller, but if you're playing on glass, you're going to feel like you're fighting the interface more than the Morden Army. It’s a great game trapped in a sub-optimal format, and for an old-schooler like me, that lack of tactile precision hurts the experience.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

Incredible 2D pixel art
Branching level paths
Faithful arcade porting

Imprecise touch controls
High difficulty spikes
Wi-Fi only multiplayer

Technical Report

Performance: Occasional frame drops during heavy sprite counts; requires iOS 14.0 or later.

Accessibility:

Difficulty Presets
Autofire Toggle
Window Mode (Button placement)

Audience Fit

Buy if: You have a Bluetooth controller and a deep nostalgia for the 90s arcade scene.

Skip if: You have zero patience for 'NES hard' difficulty or virtual joysticks.

Similar Games:

Contra
Gunstar Heroes
Blazing Star

Reviewer Context

Reviewer: Dinsun
Hardware: iPhone 15 Pro
Playtime: 15 hours
Status: Finished Story (Arcade Mode)

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

530060483

$2.99 9+★3.5 867 reviews

Author : SNK CORPORATION

Pubish Date : Fri Jul 06 2012

Last Update Date : Tue Apr 19 2022

Support Languages : English and Japanese

Genres :

Version 1.5.1Tue Apr 19 2022

Compatible with iOS14 or higher
The legendary NEOGEO 2D action shooting masterpiece “METAL SLUG 3” heads out to iPhone devices! Use various weapons and slugs to fight your way through and survive on the battlefield!!
■Not only a perfect port of the original NEOGEO game!
In addition to its classic “ARCADE MODE”, this perfect conversion of “METAL SLUG 3” includes a “MISSION MODE”, allowing you to select in which stage you want to play!
You can now train yourself in your favorite stages or those which give you a hard time!
■ Command many Slug vehicles like an ace!
The Slugs are back and more colourful than ever, with Slug Mariners, Drill Slugs, and Elephant Slugs joining the original Metal Slugs and Slugnoids!!
■ Clear all routes via the branching map system!!
A branching map system allowing you to take a different route to the end with each play-through, and an immense map of endless gameplay awaits you in “METAL SLUG 3”!!
■Intense cooperative gameplay via the Wi-Fi function!
"METAL SLUG 3” can be doubly enjoyed by playing with another brother-in-arms simultaneously via the Wi-Fi function!
Will you be able to clear the hardest stages with your friends?
■Compatible with “GAME CENTER”!
Complete the maximum number of “ACHIEVEMENTS” in order to increase your "METAL SLUG 3" Player Rank!
Beat the best scores and become World’s Number 1!!
Requires iOS 14.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
The legendary NEOGEO 2D action shooting masterpiece “METAL SLUG 3” heads out to iPhone devices! Use various weapons and slugs to fight your way through and survive on the battlefield!!
■Not only a perfect port of the original NEOGEO game!
In addition to its classic “ARCADE MODE”, this perfect conversion of “METAL SLUG 3” includes a “MISSION MODE”, allowing you to select in which stage you want to play!
You can now train yourself in your favorite stages or those which give you a hard time!
■ Command many Slug vehicles like an ace!
The Slugs are back and more colourful than ever, with Slug Mariners, Drill Slugs, and Elephant Slugs joining the original Metal Slugs and Slugnoids!!
■ Clear all routes via the branching map system!!
A branching map system allowing you to take a different route to the end with each play-through, and an immense map of endless gameplay awaits you in “METAL SLUG 3”!!
■Intense cooperative gameplay via the Wi-Fi function!
"METAL SLUG 3” can be doubly enjoyed by playing with another brother-in-arms simultaneously via the Wi-Fi function!
Will you be able to clear the hardest stages with your friends?
■Compatible with “GAME CENTER”!
Complete the maximum number of “ACHIEVEMENTS” in order to increase your "METAL SLUG 3" Player Rank!
Beat the best scores and become World’s Number 1!!

Ratings & Reviews

3.5 out of 5 with 867 Counts

★★★★★

Age Rating 9+

Metal Slug 3 brings the legendary SNK arcade action to iOS. This perfect port includes the original Arcade Mode as well as a Mission Mode that lets you play your favorite stages individually. Use an arsenal of weapons and pilot various 'Slug' vehicles to take down aliens, zombies, and giant crabs. Featuring a branching map system, players can discover different routes to the end of each stage, ensuring no two runs are exactly the same.

Features

Perfect NeoGeo arcade port

Branching path system for replayability

Bluetooth controller support

Co-operative play via Bluetooth

Tips

Saving Your Grenades

Don't waste grenades on standard soldiers. Save your explosive ordinance for the mid-level mini-bosses and the massive final bosses at the end of each mission.

Promotion Videos

METAL SLUG 3 Gameplay Trailer | PS4, PS3 - YouTube

News on this game

Gameplays

Vehicle Mastery

When inside a Slug vehicle, use the 'Slug Attack' (jumping out while it explodes) only as a last resort, as the vehicle's armor is your best defense against projectiles.