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Get ready to blast Nazis, zombies, and giant machines!

Metal Slug 3 is actually the fourth game in the series (since Metal Slug X came out just before it as a remake of sorts of MS2). Developed and published by SNK, this run n' gun is an arcade port which was released for Neo Geo in 2001. There are four characters: Marco Rossi, Tarma Roving, Fio Germi, and Eri Kasamoto (two guys and two girls). They all play the same. The game is comprised of just five levels, but each one is distinct and fun, taking you to the locations such as the beach, haunted grounds, an underwater base, and the desert. Also, the levels have multiple routes, giving more replay value to the game. 

The Nazi-like soldiers are back from previous games. But they're not the only ones you'll be blasting. Along the way, you'll face zombies, plant monsters, submarines, tanks, and even an Arab tribe that likes to use explosives. The Nazi-like soldiers in the game are hilarious. Sometimes just the way they died made me laugh (morbid, right?). If your character comes close enough to a bad guy, he will slice him with a knife instead of shooting him. What I thought was really funny is that if your character dies, the soldiers will laugh, but when you reappear, they will scream in horror as if they just saw a ghost. The attention to detail in this game is incredible.

You're given a standard gun at the beginning of each level. Throughout the levels, you will see prisoners who are tied up; if you shoot them free of their ropes, they will say "Thank you" and give you something in return, many times a special gun. Unfortunately, you will have limited ammo with a special gun, so use it wisely. MSX has a good variety of guns, including the heavy machine gun, laser gun, rocket launcher, drop shot, flame gun, shot gun, enemy chaser, iron lizard, and super grenades. Some of these guns are absolutely awesome (the shot gun really stands out).

Transformations also return in MS3. In level 2, you can get infected by the zombies and turn into one! However, if you can make it to a health pack, you can change back to normal. If you get hit while a zombie, you disentigrate. Gross! The obese transformation is back as well. If you eat enough food items throughout a level, you will become really fat. Being obese, you are slower, but your attack is stronger. If hit, you will burst like a water balloon.

Of course, the best part of the game is the metal slugs, big machines that you can jump into and use to blast away at the enemy. Some of them are like tanks, rolling along the ground; others can fly like planes; others still hop around and shoot with long cannons on the side. Metal slugs are in every level, and they are a blast! Once they take enough damage, however, you will have to jump out before they go boom. MS3 adds the submarine slug and the helicopter slug, both of which are really fun to use. 

Unlike MSX, you don't have unlimited continues in this game. This makes the game more challenging. However, you can save your game after each level and then start a new game at any level you've already beaten. This is a huge relief as the game is too difficult to get through in one sitting. The bosses especially can be really tough. Also, the game actually lags when too many enemies are on-screen. Things can get chaotic when enemies are all around you throwing bombs and shooting at you. 

Unfortunately, MS3 has the same problem as its predecessors. The bosses can take a long time to beat if you're not in a metal slug or have a powerful weapon. Also, you cannot shoot your gun diagonally. You can only shoot straight over or straight up. This resulted in times when I had to be directly under a flying opponent in order to hit it, which was kinda frustrating. Despite these, MS3 is a really fun and frantic game. 

Final Verdict--4 Stars: Recommended

Metal Slug 3 just oozes with personality and craziness. The levels are interesting and fun. Of course, the game is two player, and it's always fun to blast enemies with a friend. Sadly, the game has no extra content, but that's because it's just a straight arcade port. If you enjoy run n' guns, you'll certainly love this game. It's available on the Wii Virtual Console, and I recommend you give it a try if you have an itching to blast enemies with giant, powerful guns.