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Metal Slug 6

Metal Slug 6 is a run-and-gun video game developed by SNK Playmore and published by Sega for the Sammy Atomiswave arcade platform, released in Japan on February 22, 2006.^[1] It serves as the sixth main installment in the Metal Slug series, continuing the franchise's tradition of fast-paced, side-scrolling shooter gameplay where players control Peregrine Falcon Squad members battling diverse foes.^[2]^[3] The game's story unfolds after General Donald Morden's third failed attempt at world conquest, with remnants of his rebel army allying with extraterrestrial forces, including UFOs, aliens, and massive creatures, prompting an investigation by protagonists Marco Rossi, Tarma Roving, Eri Kasamoto, and Fio Germi.^[2] Joining them are new playable characters Ralf Jones and Clark Still, crossover guests from SNK's Ikari Warriors series, expanding the roster to six selectable heroes.^[2] This entry marks the first Metal Slug arcade release not utilizing Neo Geo hardware, instead leveraging the Atomiswave system co-developed by Sammy Corporation and published by Sega in Japan.^[4] Key gameplay innovations include an Easy Mode for more accessible play, a Weapon Stock System allowing limited ammunition carryover between stages, and the Rush Blaster System, which enables rapid-fire special attacks using accumulated "Rush energy" from defeating enemies.^[2] Players can pilot new "Slugs" (vehicles) such as the Slug Riser motorcycle and the amphibious Slug Gunner, alongside updated arsenal options like the Rush Blaster heavy machine gun.^[2] The game supports up to two-player cooperative mode, emphasizing team-based action against waves of soldiers, mutants, and bosses across seven missions.^[3] A console port for the PlayStation 2 followed on September 14, 2006, in Japan and South Korea, with a North American release on March 27, 2007, bundled in compilations like Metal Slug Anthology.^[5]^[1] This version retained the arcade's core mechanics while adding features like a mission select mode and character voice acting, though it received mixed reviews for its perceived lack of evolution from prior entries.^[3] Despite its innovations, Metal Slug 6 is often noted for shorter development time compared to earlier titles, leading to reused assets and a more linear structure.^[3]

Development

Background

Metal Slug 6 emerged as the sixth mainline entry in the long-running run-and-gun series, evolving from Metal Slug 5, the final mainline entry on the aging Neo Geo AES/MVS hardware. This led to a deliberate return to core arcade formatting for Metal Slug 6, albeit on entirely new hardware to sustain the franchise's viability.^[6]) The development was spearheaded by Noise Factory as the primary studio, building directly on their co-development contributions to Metal Slug 4 and 5, while SNK Playmore handled publishing duties. The shift from the Neo Geo AES/MVS to the Sammy Atomiswave arcade platform stemmed from escalating maintenance and development costs for the outdated Neo Geo systems, compounded by the need for more efficient production amid tighter budgets. Sega's role in distributing Atomiswave cabinets in Japan further enabled this hardware transition, marking the series' first departure from SNK's proprietary arcade ecosystem.^[6]^[7]^[4] Key personnel included director Nobuhisa Shinoda, whose prior involvement in the Metal Slug series brought continuity to the project's vision. Production commenced in 2005, with an early build showcased at the JAMMA amusement trade show that September, ahead of the game's full arcade launch the following year.^[8]^[7]

Production

The production of Metal Slug 6 involved a dedicated team at SNK Playmore, with key contributions from designers Rinken and Masafumi Fujii, who handled character designs and influenced level layouts and enemy behaviors through their work on sprite animations and interaction patterns.^[9] Their efforts maintained the series' hand-drawn animation style while adapting it to new hardware constraints.^[10] The soundtrack was composed by Manabu Namiki and Mitsuhiro Kaneda of Basiscape, shifting toward orchestral and rock elements with electronica influences, diverging from the chiptune-heavy scores of earlier entries limited by Neo Geo hardware.^[11] This approach incorporated dynamic layering for boss themes and stage transitions, enhancing the audio's intensity during gameplay sequences.^[12] Technical development focused on the Sammy Atomiswave arcade platform, the first in the main series to abandon Neo Geo hardware, enabling integration of 2D sprite animation at higher resolutions—backgrounds up to 480p and sprites improved beyond the Neo Geo's 320x224 limit, though without full HD capabilities.^[10] This adaptation allowed for more detailed visuals in environments and animations while preserving the run-and-gun fluidity.^[13] Producer Moon oversaw the overall process, including balancing new features such as the dual Easy and Hard difficulty modes, which were refined during testing phases in 2005 and early 2006 ahead of the game's February 2006 arcade release.^[9] These modes adjusted enemy aggression, weapon ammo limits, and level access to broaden accessibility without compromising core challenge.^[3]

Story

Plot

One month after the events of Metal Slug 3, the remnants of the Regular Army's Peregrine Falcon Squad—Marco Rossi, Tarma Roving, Eri Kasamoto, and Fio Germi—detect signs of renewed global instability, including unconfirmed reports of UFO sightings, alien activity, and massive creatures emerging from underground.^[14] These disturbances suggest possible involvement from returning antagonist General Morden or the Mars People, prompting the squad to investigate a settlement in a mountainous region where Morden's forces appear to be gathering weapons.^[14] The narrative escalates as the squad uncovers a greater peril: the Invaders, a subterranean race of insectoid aliens posing a threat far beyond previous foes.^[15] To counter this, an unprecedented alliance forms between the Regular Army, Morden's Rebel Army, and the Mars People, uniting former enemies against the common Invader menace.^[16] Ralf Jones and Clark Still from the Ikari Warriors unit are introduced as key allies, dispatched by higher command to bolster the Regular Army's efforts in the escalating conflict.^[14] The plot unfolds chronologically across five missions, chronicling the alliance's push against the Invaders. In Mission 1, the protagonists launch an assault on a Rebel base in an open African savanna, clashing with Morden's troops amid grasslands, rivers, and drilling operations before the fragile truce takes hold, culminating in a battle against the Bull Drill machine. Mission 2 shifts to a dense jungle in an ancient El Dorado-like ruin, where the team infiltrates an Invader outpost concealed amid the foliage and temples, uncovering the aliens' expansion plans, facing the Iron Sentinel guardian. Mission 3 unfolds in a war-torn urban Chinese city, solidifying the alliance as Regular Army and Rebel forces coordinate street battles and factory infiltrations to repel Invader advances and establish joint operations, confronting the Brain Robot boss. Mission 4 involves a high-stakes defense and pursuit over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, battling biomechanical horrors like the Elder Centipede amid destruction and aerial chases, with alternate routes allowing rescues by Morden or Rootmars. In Mission 5, the heroes disrupt Invader aerial reinforcements aboard massive flying carriers, rescue captured Mars People allies, and delve into the subterranean hive for a showdown with the Invader King amid betrayal ambushes and manipulations by the aliens. The climax sees the allied factions—Regular Army, Rebels, and Mars People—overwhelm the Invader King in a desperate assault, resolving the immediate crisis and linking back to series lore by quelling the alien resurgence that echoed earlier invasions. Multiple endings vary by difficulty mode: easier settings conclude after Mission 4 with a partial victory and a call to "try harder," while harder modes deliver a full triumph after Mission 5, affirming the alliance's success against the underground horde.^[15]

Setting and Themes

Metal Slug 6 is set in a world that expands the series' established lore, taking place one month after the events of Metal Slug 3, where the Regular Army confronts escalating extraterrestrial threats that force unlikely alliances across factions. The game's narrative integrates the Invaders, a subterranean alien race emerging as the primary antagonists, distinct from the previously encountered Mars People, marking a progression in the sci-fi invasion motif from earlier installments. This lore connection emphasizes a redemption arc for the Rebels under General Morden, who join forces with the Regular Army and even the Mars People to combat the greater danger posed by the Invaders.^[15] The environments in Metal Slug 6 showcase a blend of terrestrial and extraterrestrial locales, designed to heighten the sense of global peril. Players traverse open savannas in Africa with Rebel outposts, ancient jungle ruins, war-torn urban streets in a Chinese city, the collapsing Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco with aerial pursuits, and culminating in subterranean depths overrun by Invader hives. These diverse settings underscore the theme of temporary unity against overwhelming odds, portraying humanity's factions setting aside rivalries to address an existential invasion that permeates both Earth's surface and underground realms.^[15]^[16] Visually, the game employs hand-drawn animations to depict scenes of destruction and hybrid human-alien warfare, with high-resolution backgrounds featuring shadows and a muted color palette that evokes a dreary, post-apocalyptic atmosphere. This artistic style reinforces the motifs of escalation in sci-fi conflicts, where familiar Earth-based skirmishes evolve into interstellar battles, highlighting the fragility of inter-faction alliances in the face of superior alien technology. The zoom-out camera mechanic during boss encounters further amplifies the scale of these hybrid threats, blending military realism with fantastical elements.^[15]^[17]

Gameplay

Core Mechanics

Metal Slug 6 employs a run-and-gun side-scrolling format as its foundational gameplay structure, where players control soldiers navigating horizontally through levels filled with enemies. Basic movement includes running left or right and performing full jumps, omitting the short hop and sliding mechanics present in earlier entries in the series. Combat revolves around directional shooting capabilities, allowing players to aim and fire their weapons in eight directions while moving, alongside tossing grenades for area-of-effect damage. These elements emphasize precise timing and positioning to evade projectiles and close-quarters threats. A new addition is the Rush Blaster System, which builds "Rush energy" from defeating enemies to enable rapid-fire special attacks for increased damage and scoring.^[18]^[19] The game supports character selection from six protagonists, each with distinct stats influencing power, defense, and speed that alter gameplay dynamics, such as varying damage output or mobility. For instance, Marco Rossi benefits from enhanced pistol strength, while Eri Kasamoto starts with additional grenades. Two-player cooperative mode permits independent character choices, enabling complementary strategies without restricting pairings. Character-specific abilities, like melee attacks, add minor tactical depth but remain secondary to core controls.^[18] Progression incorporates a weapon stockpile system, permitting players to carry up to two special weapons simultaneously, with the ability to switch between them or discard excess pickups; special weapons and ammo are lost upon death, reverting the player to the default handgun. POW armor pickups, obtained from rescued prisoners of war, provide temporary invincibility, shielding players from damage for a short duration to facilitate survival during intense sequences.^[20]^[21] Dual difficulty modes further shape player experience, with Easy mode providing a default Heavy Machine Gun with infinite ammo, doubled special weapon ammo, and ending after four missions, while Hard mode uses the standard pistol with halved special ammo, heightened enemy density and aggression, limited or no continues, and a full five-mission campaign. Mission 4 features branching paths for varied progression.^[20]^[18]^[22]

Weapons and Vehicles

Metal Slug 6 introduces several new and returning weapons that expand the player's arsenal, emphasizing strategic switching between tools via the innovative Weapon Stock System. This system allows players to carry up to two special weapons alongside the default handgun, enabling on-the-fly swaps to adapt to enemy types, with all special ammo lost upon death.^[20] The Zantetsu Sword serves as a powerful melee option, launching short-range energy waves that can destroy bullets in flight, armored vehicles, and clusters of infantry, though its horizontal-only firing limits vertical coverage. It starts with 10 uses on standard difficulty, increasing by 67% per pickup, and is obtained from rare black crates marked with a yellow "Z".^[23] Complementing close-quarters combat, the Iron Lizard deploys remote-controlled explosive drones that track along the ground to detonate on contact with enemies, excelling against infantry but struggling with elevated or flying foes; ammo mirrors the Zantetsu Sword at 10 initial shots, with a fat character variant adding bipedal charging behavior for erratic attacks.^[24] Returning staples like the Heavy Machine Gun provide sustained fire support, boasting infinite ammo on easy mode but limited to 100 shots on hard, with diagonal aiming capability and a rapid rate that pierces light armor, stocked from common black crates with a yellow "H".^[25] Vehicles, known as Slugs, offer mounted firepower and temporary protection, though they can be destroyed by sustained enemy fire, forcing players to eject and continue on foot. The Slug Gunner Prototype, a new transformable mech introduced in Mission 3, features automatic vulcan guns for anti-air and a forward cannon for heavy targets, lacking the full armor and melee drills of later models but providing high mobility without pilot exposure risks.^[20] Other rideable units include the classic SV-001 Metal Slug tank, equipped with vulcan cannons and a powerful forward shell that cannot reverse, offering three hits of durability before destruction.^[22] The Donkey Slug, a unique lightweight mount found in Mission 2, delivers basic vulcan fire and later unlocks a cannon, prioritizing speed over armor for quick evasion in open areas.^[26] Updated variants like the SV-002 Slug Flyer provide aerial missiles and vulcan support with three-hit resilience, while the Drill Slug in the final mission burrows through terrain with drill attacks and mine deployment, unsuitable for escape but ideal for underground assaults.^[20] Weapon and vehicle usage integrates with core shooting by dropping from destructible crates in rarity tiers—common for basics like the Heavy Machine Gun, uncommon for Iron Lizard, and rare for Zantetsu Sword—encouraging exploration without infinite ammo exploits from prior entries. Balance adjustments include character-specific tweaks, such as Eri's four-directional grenade aiming for precise arcing throws, while overall special ammo is halved on hard mode to heighten resource management, with no carryover between lives.^[20] These elements highlight innovations like dual-stock carrying, absent in earlier games, promoting tactical depth over sheer firepower.^[21]

Characters

Protagonists

The protagonists of Metal Slug 6 consist of six playable characters from the Regular Army's elite units, each bringing unique backgrounds, skills, and combat specializations to the mission against emerging threats linked to General Morden's remnants. These soldiers—drawn from the Peregrine Falcon Squad (PF Squad) and the Special Operations Squad S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S., along with crossover allies—unite to investigate anomalous activities involving UFOs and underground forces, marking the first time in the series that Ikari Warriors characters join the core team as playable operatives.^[2] Marco Rossi, the veteran leader of the PF Squad, is an Italian-American soldier who debuted in the original Metal Slug as the squad's commanding officer during the initial conflict with Morden's rebel army. A graduate of a military academy's special technologies college, Marco is known for his gentle nature contrasted by fierce determination, particularly after losing comrades to Morden's forces; he once even developed a rogue computer virus that nearly triggered a nuclear launch, showcasing his technical expertise. In Metal Slug 6, he serves as the balanced all-purpose fighter and de facto mission coordinator, with his default pistol dealing double damage, equivalent to a Heavy Machine Gun, to provide reliable firepower in prolonged engagements.^[27]^[15] Tarma Roving, Marco's loyal second-in-command and best friend in the PF Squad, specializes in vehicular warfare, reflecting his background as a captain who rescued the president early in his career and customized motorcycles as a hobby. Born Tarmicle Roving III to a family of distinguished soldiers, he joined special tactics training after junior high and fought alongside Marco in the Great War, opting to remain in service despite post-war plans for a bike shop due to his unwavering loyalty. Tarma's role emphasizes tank and Slug vehicle handling, with Slugs having doubled durability and power-up effects while piloting, and the Vulcan cannon's power increased by 50%, making him ideal for mechanized assaults in the game's diverse battlefields.^[28]^[15] Eri Kasamoto, a sergeant second-class in S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S., acts as the team's intelligence operative and demolition expert, with a backstory rooted in street survival after being orphaned and abandoned at a church. Recruited by Government Forces Intelligence for her innate combat prowess, she underwent elite spy training and completed high-risk assassination missions before transferring to special operations, where she played a pivotal role in quelling Morden's second coup. Eri's abilities focus on grenades, providing double the standard drops upon resupply and allowing directional throws for precise, explosive crowd control, enhancing her utility in tight or enemy-dense scenarios.^[29]^[15] Fio Germi, Eri's counterpart in S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S. and the squad's logistics specialist, hails from the prestigious Italian Germi family, a lineage of soldiers; as the first female heir, she was raised with refined education in chiropractics and acupuncture, aspiring to become a sports doctor before enlisting at her father's urging. Her support-oriented role ensures sustained team endurance, with abilities that double item pickups—including ammunition and power-ups—allowing her to maintain heavy firepower, such as starting with a Heavy Machine Gun after respawns, in resource-scarce missions.^[30]^[15] Ralf Jones, a powerhouse mercenary from the Ikari Warriors series, makes his crossover debut in Metal Slug 6 as a private contractor allied with the Regular Army, bringing his explosive combat style to the joint operation against subterranean invaders. Paired with his longtime partner Clark Still from their origins as commandos in the Ikari Warriors unit, Ralf's brute strength defines his contributions, featuring melee attacks that deal double damage—including a Vulcan Punch capable of damaging vehicles—and halved ammunition supplies, positioning him as the frontline brawler in close-quarters confrontations.^[2]^[15] Clark Still, Ralf's steadfast companion from the Ikari Warriors lineage, joins as the team's speed-focused operative in this inaugural crossover, offering agile support in the high-stakes alliance against alien-influenced foes. Known for his tactical precision and war-hardened reliability alongside Ralf, Clark's abilities emphasize evasion and quick strikes, with a special Super Argentine Backbreaker suplex that grants brief invincibility for devastating close-range kills, complementing the group's dynamic in fast-paced vehicular and infantry battles.^[2]^[15]

Antagonists

The antagonists in Metal Slug 6 primarily consist of two allied factions: General Donald Morden's Rebel Army and the extraterrestrial Invaders, who pose the central opposition to the protagonists before a narrative shift leads to a reluctant alliance against a deeper threat. The Rebel Army features returning human enemies, including infantry soldiers equipped with rifles, grenades, and melee weapons, as well as mechanical units like tanks and walking mechs that emphasize hierarchical military structures with officers commanding ground troops. General Morden, the faction's leader, assumes a reluctant alliance role, allying temporarily with the heroes after initial conflicts, reflecting his complex position as a recurring human adversary driven by ambitions of world domination but forced into cooperation by overwhelming external dangers.^[14]^[15] Allen O'Neil serves as a prominent recurring boss within the Rebel Army hierarchy, appearing in multiple stages as an enhanced super-soldier augmented with Invader biotechnology, which grants him grotesque mutations such as additional limbs and regenerative abilities, escalating his threat level beyond standard encounters.^[15] The Invaders form the game's core alien antagonist faction, depicted as a hostile extraterrestrial species with grotesque, biomechanical designs including tentacled monstrosities, floating bio-ships, and swarming insectoid drones that underscore their invasive, otherworldly hierarchy led by a supreme ruler. This group represents the primary threat, invading Earth with advanced plasma weaponry and organic fortifications, directly tying into the series' extraterrestrial narrative arc established in prior entries. The Invader King, as the faction's apex leader and final boss, manifests as a colossal, multi-phase entity combining massive tentacles, energy barriers, and projectile barrages, requiring coordinated attacks across its segmented body to dismantle its defenses.^[14]^[15] The Mars People appear as a minor antagonistic element, consisting of green-skinned, humanoid aliens with teleportation and abduction mechanics that briefly disrupt player progress, but they transition to allies mid-game, providing temporary support against the Invaders in a nod to their evolving role across the series.^[15]

Release

Arcade Version

Metal Slug 6 was released in arcades on February 22, 2006, in Japan by Sega Corporation for the Atomiswave platform, marking the first entry in the series to depart from the Neo Geo hardware.^[4]^[31] Developed by SNK Playmore, the game was exclusively distributed through Japanese arcade operators due to the Atomiswave system's regional focus and cartridge-based distribution model.^[15] The Atomiswave hardware featured a Hitachi SH-4 32-bit RISC CPU running at 200 MHz, paired with a PowerVR 2 graphics engine capable of rendering up to 2.5 million polygons per second and supporting advanced effects such as bump mapping, fog, and anti-aliasing.^[32] This setup allowed for smoother animations and enhanced visual effects compared to the Neo Geo, including object shadows, camera zooms during boss encounters, and refined sprite work, though output was limited to standard definition resolutions up to 480p depending on the cabinet configuration.^[33]^[15] The game was housed in standard upright Atomiswave cabinets equipped with a 25-inch 31 kHz monitor for high-resolution display, stereo sound via the integrated Yamaha AICA chip supporting 64-channel ADPCM audio, and controls for 1-2 players using twin joysticks and buttons.^[34]^[32] Coin-operated mechanics included a continue system to extend gameplay, typical of the era's arcade titles. Initial marketing highlighted the inclusion of crossover protagonists Ralf Jones and Clark Still from the Ikari Warriors and The King of Fighters series, alongside new vehicles and Slugs, to attract fans of SNK's broader portfolio.^[15]^[33]

Home Ports

The standalone PlayStation 2 port of Metal Slug 6 was released on September 14, 2006, in Japan and South Korea, while in North America it was included in the Metal Slug Anthology on March 27, 2007, and in Europe on July 6, 2007.^[1]^[3] This version provided a faithful emulation of the arcade original, including features like save states to accommodate home console play.^[3] Metal Slug 6 was bundled in the Metal Slug Anthology collection, which included the first six games in the series and launched between 2006 and 2007 across multiple platforms: PlayStation 2 in North America on March 27, 2007, Europe on July 6, 2007, and Japan on May 5, 2007; PlayStation Portable in North America on February 20, 2007, Europe on February 9, 2007, and Japan on February 22, 2007; and Wii in North America on December 14, 2006, Australia on March 26, 2007, Europe on March 30, 2007, and Japan on December 27, 2007.^[35]^[36] A digital version became available on the PlayStation Network for PlayStation 3 in Japan on May 20, 2015, featuring enhancements such as trophies for achievement tracking.^[37] Later ports leveraged backward compatibility for modern systems, with the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable versions of Metal Slug 6 (via the Anthology) accessible on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita through PlayStation Classics starting in 2016.^[38] An unofficial homebrew port for the Sega Dreamcast was developed by fans and released in November 2020, incorporating native Atomiswave emulation with added HDMI output support for improved display options.^[39] Home ports generally avoided major content alterations compared to the arcade version, though some emulations introduced input lag that affected responsiveness, particularly in the Anthology releases on later hardware.^[40] Difficulty was occasionally adjusted for console audiences, such as setting a standard level equivalent to arcade's Level 4 to balance accessibility without altering core challenge.^[41]

Reception

Critical Reviews

Metal Slug 6 received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its retention of the series' signature hand-drawn animations and visual flair, despite the shift to the Atomiswave hardware.^[42] The game's boss encounters were highlighted for their variety and creativity, including multi-phase fights like the final Invader King battle, which featured escalating alien threats and dynamic scaling effects during confrontations.^[15] Additionally, the inclusion of crossover characters Ralf and Clark from SNK's Ikari Warriors series was appreciated for adding unique abilities, such as Ralf's enhanced melee attacks, enhancing co-op play.^[42] Critics pointed out several design choices that increased player frustration, including the absence of the sliding mechanic from earlier entries, which limited mobility and made dodging enemy patterns more challenging. The dual-mode structure—Easy and Hard—drew mixed reactions on difficulty balance, with Hard mode seen as excessively punishing due to denser enemy placements and durable "spongy" foes, while Easy mode restricted access to the final stage and offered fewer adversaries.^[43] Home ports, particularly the PSP version in the Metal Slug Anthology, suffered from technical shortcomings like graphical distortion and input delays, with squished visuals on smaller screens exacerbating the issues.^[15] Notable reviews included an 8/10 from HonestGamers, which commended the visuals and co-op elements but noted aggravating boss designs like the third encounter's screen-spamming attacks.^[42] Hardcore Gaming 101 described it as a "solid but not innovative" entry in 2008, praising boss inspirations while critiquing uninspired level layouts.^[15] On GameFAQs, the user average stood at 4/5 based on over 70 ratings as of 2009, with feedback emphasizing strong enemy designs amid calls for better challenge tuning.^[44] Among fans, Metal Slug 6 is often viewed as an underrated installment, with praise for its CD-quality music tracks and creative sampling from prior games, though hardware constraints on Atomiswave led to lower-resolution sprites that some felt diminished the polish compared to Neo Geo predecessors.^[45]

Sales and Legacy

The commercial performance of Metal Slug 6 was constrained by its niche arcade release and subsequent port to the PlayStation 2, released in Japan and South Korea on September 14, 2006, and in North America on March 27, 2007, resulting in modest sales primarily within the domestic market. Exact figures remain limited and untracked by major databases, but the title's specialized appeal to series enthusiasts contributed to relatively low unit shipments compared to earlier entries. Its inclusion in the Metal Slug Anthology compilation for PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and Wii—released starting in 2006—enhanced accessibility and helped sustain interest, integrating it into a package that broadened the franchise's reach across home consoles.^[15]^[46] As the final mainline arcade installment in the Metal Slug series, Metal Slug 6 represented a pivotal shift toward console and mobile development, utilizing the Atomiswave hardware for enhanced visuals like shadows and camera zooms while departing from the traditional Neo Geo platform. This evolution influenced subsequent titles, including Metal Slug 7 on Nintendo DS in 2008, by emphasizing recurring alien themes—such as the Invaders faction as primary antagonists—over purely human conflicts, a motif that persisted in spin-offs and mobile adaptations. The game's playable roster, featuring crossovers Ralf Jones and Clark Still from the Ikari Warriors series (integrated into The King of Fighters), reinforced SNK's interconnected universe and inspired ongoing character exchanges in later media.^[15]^[47] Metal Slug 6 has left a lasting mark on the run-and-gun genre by preserving arcade-style intensity amid the 2000s decline of physical cabinets, with its dynamic gameplay and hand-drawn animations maintaining fan loyalty. Fan-driven initiatives, including a native 2020 port to Sega Dreamcast emulating the original Atomiswave code, underscore its enduring appeal among retro enthusiasts. Modern re-releases, such as the 2015 addition to PlayStation 2 Classics on Japanese PS3 and PS Vita platforms, have prolonged its cultural relevance, introducing the title to 2020s players through backward compatibility and digital storefronts.^[48]^[39]

References

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Metal Slug 6 (Video Game 2006) - Release info - IMDb
Release date · Japan. February 22, 2006(Arcade) · Japan. September 14, 2006(PS2 Version) · South Korea. September 14, 2006(PS2 Version) · United States. March 27, ...
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METAL SLUG 6:METAL SLUG OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Metal Slug 6 introduces new characters Ralf Jones and Clark Still, new elements like Easy Mode, and a story about a group resembling Morden's army.
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Jan 5, 2007 · The seventh main game in the series stays close to the fast-paced 2D side-scrolling shooting gameplay of the original, but with a few enhancements.
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Description. Metal Slug 6 is an Action game, developed and published by SNK Playmore, which was released in Japan in 2006. ; Platform: PlayStation 2 ; Genre: ...
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Sep 1, 2005 · Metal Slug 6 was shown running off the Atomiswave arcade board, marking the first time the series has taken flight of its Neo Geo roots. The ...
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Nobuhisa Shinoda. Director: Metal Slug 6. Nobuhisa Shinoda is known for Metal Slug 6 (2006), Metal Slug 7 (2008) and King of Fighters: Maximum Impact ...
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Mar 31, 2019 · Composer / Composer, Manabu Namiki / 並木学, Mitsuhiro Kaneda / 金田充弘. Tracklist. English; Japanese. Disc 1. 01, Last Resort (Character ...
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ストーリー：METAL SLUG 6 - 株式会社SNK
モーデン軍らしき一団が兵器を集め、集落を作り、山岳地帯に. そして見慣れない、だが、どこか懐かしい2人がその場に居合わせ ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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Nov 22, 2008 · Metal Slug 6 is the first (and only) entry to run on the Atomiswave platform, leaving the old Neo Geo hardware behind.
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### Summary of Zantetsu Sword in Metal Slug 6
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### Summary for Metal Slug 6: Iron Lizard
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Metal Slug 6 (メタルスラッグ 6) is a run and gun video game for the Sammy Atomiswave arcade platform released in 2006.Story · Gameplay · New Slugs · Weapons
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The Weapon Stock allows players to hold on to two separate weapons at once without the worry of accidentally picking up extra weapons.Weapon Slot Mechanics · Tossing Weapons · Character BonusesMissing: features difficulty
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### Summary of Marco Rossi's Background and Bio
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### Background and Bio for Tarma Roving
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Fiolina Germi:METAL SLUG OFFICIAL WEBSITE
### Fio Germi Background and Bio Summary
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Sammy Atomiswave Hardware (Other) - System 16
HARDWARE DESCRIPTION. CPU : Hitachi SH-4 32-bit RISC CPU (200 MHz 360 MIPS / 1.4 GFLOPS) Graphic Engine : PowerVR 2 (PVR2DC)
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Metal Slug 6 - Videogame by SNK Playmore | Museum of the Game
Metal Slug 6 was produced by SNK Playmore in 2006. SNK Playmore released 9 machines in our database under this trade name, starting in 1987. SNK Playmore ...
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https://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=812
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Metal Slug: Anthology (2006) - MobyGames
Released: December 14, 2006 on Wii ; Credits: 37 people ; Releases by Date (by platform). 2006 (Wii); 2007 (PSP); 2007 (PlayStation 2); 2015 (PlayStation 3); 2016 ...
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Metal Slug Anthology (Video Game 2006) - Release info - IMDb
Release date · United States. December 14, 2006(Wii version) · United States. February 20, 2007(PSP version) · Australia. March 26, 2007(Wii version) · United ...
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Metal Slug 6 International Releases - Giant Bomb
Metal Slug 6 ; Region, Japan ; Developer, SNK ; Publisher, Sega, SNK ; Release date, September 14, 2006 ; Product code, None.
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Metal Slug Anthology PSP on PSVita/PSTV (Showcasing all 6 Games)
May 3, 2016 · Metal Slug Anthology PSVita Gameplay. Compatible with the PlayStation TV. Thanks for watching! Please feel free to comment, ...
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Metal Slug 6: First Atomiswave Arcade Native Port to Dreamcast
Nov 7, 2020 · The Atomiswave arcade platform is seen by many as a spiritual successor to the Neo Geo MVS, being a collaboration between Sammy, SNK, and Sega.<|separator|>
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Input Lag/Delay - Metal Slug Anthology - GameFAQs
Rating 73% (38) Jul 6, 2016 · The delay making adjusting jump flight makes the game much harder than it is for dodging things. If it was like the arcade, mame, neo-geo or ...Missing: difficulty | Show results with:difficulty
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Metal Slug Series - Forums - Difficulties across different ports
The default difficulty for Metal Slug games(original arcade and neogeo releases) tends to be Level-4. The closest difficulty for this in the steam version is ...
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Metal Slug 6 (PlayStation 2) Review - HonestGamers
Rating 8/10 · Review by timrodOther than that extremely cheap and annoying boss, the rest of the game is fine. ... My other pet peeve about MSlug6 is the lack of any of the "hidden" powerups ...
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Metal Slug 6 Review for PlayStation 2 - GameFAQs
Rating 4.0 · Review by ZylothewolfJan 7, 2009 · Another Metal Slug, this time you can play as Ralf and Clark. SNK continues to give us more of their excellent Run and Gun series. Since all the ...Missing: plot | Show results with:plot
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Metal Slug 6 for PlayStation 2 - GameFAQs
Metal Slug 6 is an Action game, developed by SNK Playmore and published by Sega, which was released in Japan in 2006.
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Metal Slug 6 - Reviews - HowLongToBeat.com
Metal Slug 6 is a pretty good entry into the famed run and gun shooter series. The game takes place around the events of Metal Slug 2/X and Metal Slug 3.
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Metal Slug 6 Anthologized - GameSpot
Sep 23, 2006 · Billed originally as six games in one (Metal Slug 1-5 and the Metal Slug 2 spin-off Metal Slug X), the compilation will now include Metal Slug 6 ...
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Metal Slug 7 Release Information for DS - GameFAQs
Rating 70% (38) Game Detail · Platform: DS · Genre: Action » Platformer » 2D · Developer: SNK Playmore · Publisher: Ignition Entertainment · Release: November 18, 2008.
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Utawarerumono, Metal Slug 6, more added to PS2 Classics in Japan
May 19, 2015 · The PS2 Classics of the Japanese PlayStation Store was updated with five new releases, including the original Utawarerumono, Metal Slug 6, ...