Metal Slug

メタルスラッグArcade, Other, Saturn, PlayStation +111996

  1. JP1996
  2. NA—
  3. EU—
  4. RU—

Metal Slug kept the same name everywhere; in Japan it is written メタルスラッグ. The easiest legal way to play it today is the PC port by DotEmu, sold on Steam and GOG.

Metal Slug is a run-and-gun game released for SNK's Neo Geo arcade hardware (MVS) on 19 April 1996. It was made by Nazca, a studio founded by former Irem staff, which merged with SNK after finishing the game. The project began as a tank shooter; the team later made a human soldier the hero and kept the small tank, the Metal Slug, as a vehicle players can climb into.

Marco Rossi and Tarma Roving are the only playable characters, each tied to one player, so this is the only numbered entry without a character select. The music is by Takushi Hiyamuta, credited as Hiya!.

Home versions followed on the Neo Geo cartridge system and Neo Geo CD in 1996, then on Saturn and PlayStation. The Neo Geo CD and PlayStation releases added a Combat School mode and an art gallery. A PC port by DotEmu reached Steam in June 2015.123

Names and releases

RegionTitle on the boxPlatformDatePublisherSrc
WW Metal SlugNeo Geo MVS; date from the series infobox on English Wikipedia, region not stated. Arcade Apr 19, 1996 SNK 1
JP メタルスラッグNeo Geo home cartridge (AES). Other May 24, 1996 SNK 2
JP メタルスラッグNeo Geo CD; adds Combat School and an art gallery. Other Jul 5, 1996 SNK 2
JP メタルスラッグ Saturn Apr 4, 1997 SNK 2
JP メタルスラッグAdds Combat School and an art gallery. PlayStation Aug 7, 1997 SNK 2
JP メタルスラッグコンプリートMetal Slug Complete compilation; PS2 on 31 May 2007, Wii on 27 December 2007. PSP Feb 22, 2007 SNK Playmore 2
JP メタルスラッグNEOGEO Station on PS3/PS Vita; the service ended on 27 July 2016. PlayStation 3 Dec 22, 2010 — 2
JP メタルスラッグProject EGG. Windows Jun 28, 2011 — 2
WW METAL SLUGSteam port by DotEmu; Japanese Wikipedia gives 26 June 2015. Windows Jun 25, 2015 SNK 3

Also known as: メタルスラッグ JP2METAL SLUG WW3

Version differences

  • ContentNeo Geo CDPlayStation

    The Neo Geo CD and PlayStation versions add an art gallery and a Combat School mode where players earn promotions.2

  • GameplayPC (Steam)

    The Steam version is built on DotEmu's iOS/Android port and has no replay feature.2

  • Graphicsi-mode

    The 2005 i-mode phone version keeps a layout close to the original but uses redrawn, lighter graphics.2

Where to play legally today

Sources

  1. 1en.wikipedia.org
  2. 2ja.wikipedia.org
  3. 3store.steampowered.com
  4. 4catalog.gog.com
  5. 5store.steampowered.com
  6. 6gog.com

Checked: 2026-10-13Text reviewed: 2026-10-13

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