Metal Rambo Anthology Slug Attack

Metal Rambo Anthology Slug Attack is a traditional side-scrolling shooter.

You run to the right, shooting and tossing grenades at swarms of enemies while dodging their bullets, picking up weapon upgrades,

and rescuing POWs, with the action regularly punctuated by screen-filling boss fights.

As generic as that might sound, the game has always separated itself from the pack with a goofy sense of humor, great-looking 2D graphics,

and the kind of manic, sometimes punishing gameplay that leaves your hands aching.

You'll also regularly happen upon the titular the game--high-powered armored vehicles that come in a variety of forms.

At their most basic, slugs look like superdeformed tanks,

but they can appear as helicopters, jets, submarines, mobile suits, camels, donkeys, and more.

Metal Rambo Anthology Slug Attack is also the recipient of some audio-visual upgrades.

The camera will automatically zoom out during specific encounters, a little trick that allows for even bigger boss fights.

It also sounds significantly different from the previous games, with loads of new voice samples and new music that sounds much less synthesized.

These are certainly technical improvements, but considering the inherent throwback nature of the series,

these changes make Rambo feel less authentic.

However, all of the games included look great on the crisp PSP screen,

which eliminates the blown-up, pixelated look that many arcade-to-home ports suffer from--the Wii version of the game included.

Additionally, you can choose to play the game in its original resolution, an enlarged 4:3 aspect ratio that fills the screen vertically,

or a stretched-out 16:9 aspect ratio that will fill the whole screen.

While it's nice to be given the choice, the original resolution seems to be too small and the 16:9 aspect ratio too distorted,

with the enlarged 4:3 aspect ratio providing a nice, happy medium.

Metal Anthology: Slug Attack is a great value.

Along with seven full arcade games--each rife with alternate paths, hidden areas,

and some clever Easter eggs--you get music, concept art galleries, and a confounding Q&A with developers of the series,

where they discuss topics ranging from the underlying design ethic of the series to their personal casting choices for a nonexistent live-action Slug movie.