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Metal Slug 7 rescues North America this fall
Ignition Entertainment has finally offered some hint as to when Metal Slug 7 will be released stateside in a press release sent out today. The company specified a fall release for the SNK Playmore-developed (and co-published) run-and-gun sequel. "Truth be told, I have a pink DS and was embarrassed to play it in public," said Ajay Chadha, Ignition president. "Now with Metal Slug 7 loaded, I have no qualms," said Ajay Chadha, President of Ignition Entertainment. Good thing this was a textual release and not an audio announcement, because it would have been really hard to say that with his tongue that far in cheek.Along with the release window, Ignition sent out the American boxart, which, we are happy to say, isn't completely different from the great Japanese art. The contrast has been increased, and the logo has been moved into a more prominent position and framed by explodies, but we fully approve of those minor changes.%Gallery-16835%
Metal Slug 7 site updates with new screens
The official site for upcoming SNK title, Metal Slug 7, has updated with some new goodies for fans. For those of you who want to know more about the cast of the game, there's an updated character profile page. Also, you'll find a boatload of screens showing off gameplay, the rankings screens and "Combat School," which looks like training missions.You can find all of the new screens in our gallery below, so head on in and check out the eye candy.%Gallery-16835%[Via Go Nintendo]
Metal Slug 7 boxart will soon wrap copies of Metal Slug 7
The appearance of a boxart image for Metal Slug 7 means that SNK is one step closer to putting the game in boxes and shipping it out to stores in Japan (which happens on July 17!). Then, some time in the future, it'll get shipped out to the U.S. Then, shooting stuff time! Even without the portent of Metal Slug on the way, we'd be happy with this boxart, which can only be described as classic SNK -- detailed, colorful hand-painted art that would be right at home adorning the box for a $300 game. Hopefully SNK realizes it would be cheaper to keep the same awesome art for the American box, rather than replacing it with something boring.
Metal Slug 7 trailer introduces new Super Vehicles
Now, for some less ... awkward SNK news: this trailer for Metal Slug 7 is so not about harassing schoolgirls that you could probably be seen looking at it. You may even be able to bring yourself to buy this game in a store, without a disguise on.There's enough content in the trailer to motivate us to make such a non-incognito purchase, as well. The animation looks wonderful, at least as far as we can tell from YouTube, and there are at least two awesome new vehicles: the Slug Truck, a mine cart thing, and Slug Giganto, a giant robot! Even minor features like the prisoner database sound great.%Gallery-16835% [Via NeoGAF]
Metal Slug blasting up Japan this July
SNK Playmore has slapped a Japanese release date on one of our most eagerly awaited games of the year. Metal Slug 7 will launch there on July 22nd, meaning North America and Europe will probably be left hanging on until later this year.We've no problem with waiting whatsoever, especially since we tried the game ourselves and loved every second. And hey, it's not as though our wallets/unicorn-branded purses will be getting much of a breather in the meantime. Take your sweet time, SNK!%Gallery-16835%[Via Go Nintendo]
SNK enlists Ignition to help fire Metal Slug 7 at North America
Ignition Entertainment currently co-publishes SNK Playmore's games in Europe, and they have announced today that the two will partner for the North American market as well. This new partnership has an immediate, tangible benefit for people who think awesome things are awesome: Metal Slug 7.The first game to be published in the U.S. by the two companies is the new DS-only sequel to the popular, and totally badass, run-and-gun series. Since we had yet to hear any concrete confirmation of a localized version, other than the fact that a playable demo of the Japanese game was on display at GDC (a fact that took even SNK's American staff by surprise), this announcement is more than welcome. Even in the early state it was in, Metal Slug was the real thing.%Gallery-16835%
Ignition, SNK to co-publish Metal Slug 7 in North America
Mercury Meltdown publisher Ignition Entertainment has announced that the company has inked a deal with SNK Playmore to co-publish titles in North America, the first of which will be Metal Slug 7 for the DS. The pair are not exactly strangers, having been cozy together for quite some time on the European side of the pond. Beyond Metal Slug 7, which represents the retro shooter's first outing on Nintendo's handheld, no other titles have been announced, though considering SNK's pedigree we expect the fruits of this union, whatever they are, to be decidedly 2D.
DS Daily: Super Vehicle NDS
One of the most significant discoveries for the DS at GDC this year was Metal Slug 7, a completely unexpected and delightful surprise to walk into. For a brief moment, all of the rushing around, missed meals, long lines, thick crowds and general weariness gave way to a beautiful, blissful reverie of, well, shooting and knifing dudes.Early screenshots were less-than-promising (we've got the same screenshots in our gallery now, in a more flattering resolution), but we can now confirm that, like every recent game, it just looks better in motion. It doesn't look as totally beautiful as the Neo-Geo or Atomiswave games, but this is every bit a real Metal Slug sequel. Did you have faith in Metal Slug 7, or were the disappointing screenshots and SNK silence enough to put you off? Did you believe that a non-arcade, non-Neo Metal Slug could be any good? Did the amazing Contra 4 help?%Gallery-16835%
GDC08: Surprise Metal Slug 7 appearance!
Expecting a room full of Neo Geo collections, I walked into SNK's demo room and found ... a room full of Neo Geo collections. But! In the back of the room, sitting unassumingly on a table, was Metal Slug 7! It was such a surprise that not even the SNK PR people there knew it would be there until this morning. It's fresh. First off, I'll say that the jaggy, messy-looking screenshots released before do not reflect the (not even) final game. In fact, the game looks great, with all of Metal Slug's signature animations intact. The game is controlled with d-pad and buttons (I didn't even think to mess with the stylus) with a progress map on the lower screen. There are six selectable characters: Marco, Eri, Ralf, Clark, Fio, and Tarma. Each comes with a different default weapon; Marco's, for example, was a lightning gun. The levels are rife with bearded hostages, as is the custom for this series, and lots of enemies to be shot and knifed.Unfortunately, I can't provide detailed impressions of multiple levels, because despite my best efforts I died early on in each level. I kept trying, though. There seems to be a mission mode that divides the game into shorter missions; however, since all the interface was in Japanese, I can't be sure. Again, not dying frequently would have helped here.
Simple but effective substitute for Metal Slug 7
Here's the deal: we're still waiting for SNK to pull its finger out and give us a release date for Metal Slug 7. Yes, the game might look the part in motion, but with a release date for Japan not yet announced, it feels some way off.In other words, we could do with a replacement, something to tide us over until SNK's run-'n-gun arrives. We've discussed Simple DS Vol. 31 THE Super Bullet!! Custom Tank previously, and also touched on the similarities it shares with Metal Slug 7 -- the lovably chunky sprites, the relentless blasting, screens packed with explosions.Plus, as much as it might feel a bit "supermarket own-brand" compared to the more renowned SNK game, it holds one vital advantage over its illustrious rival: it's out in Japan in just over a week, on January 31st. It also looks pretty approachable, as Japanese customizable tank games go.If you're still teetering over a purchase -- something that your local friendly importer can help you out with -- roll past the break for another set of new screens.
First batch of Metal Slug 7 screens makes us wish second batch was released instead
It pains us to admit it, but the screenshots that've followed up yesterday's Metal Slug 7 announcement aren't quite the gorgeous scenes of 2D chaos we anticipated. Perhaps 1UP's usual wonky image scaling is to blame, or maybe the run-and-gun game just needs to be seen in motion -- either way, SNK Playmore has a playable demo available at the Tokyo Game Show, so we'll likely receive some hands-on impressions soon. Though we haven't yet heard anything about Metal Slug 7's touchscreen features or any multiplayer possibilities, a "Combat School" mode in which you can complete specific missions and earn medals has been revealed. Hop in an SV-001 and drive past the post break for a couple more screenshots.
Metal Slug 7, Doki Doki Majo Shinpan 2 on the way
This week's Famitsu contains two SNK mini-megatons, according to the NeoGAFfers liveblogging their readthroughs. First, a sequel to a game that plenty of people think shouldn't have existed in the first place, Doki Doki Majo Shinpan. Maybe this one will be less boring than the original. Or, maybe it'll be exactly like the first one.The other game is something that people can express their interest in, even outside of the safe anonymity of the Internet: Metal Slug 7. This is the first game in the main series not to be released to arcades, and it's going to be a DS game (Metal Slug 3D was a Japanese PS2 release, and Metal Slug Advance came out on the GBA). It also means that the same system is getting brand new (2D) Contra and Metal Slug games, and is therefore the best system ever for the run & gun game.
