The Video Game Critic

Wow, I remember someone doing this with Mega Man X1 and X2 at the sime time, but this is madness.    I wonder if someone could do this without being tool assisted.  Whoever can do that is the Zeus of gaming.

[QUOTE=Michael D]

Then, I take it you haven't played some of the derivitive Metal Slug sequels (mainly 2, X, 4, and 5).  They're so similar to each other (and X is actually the same game as 2), unoriginal and evolve the series so little over their predecessors that they make these Mega Mans look like Okami.

[/QUOTE]

Metal Slug  progressively get harder, more intricate and superior for each sucessive version.

[QUOTE=Michael D]

Then, I take it you haven't played some of the derivitive Metal Slug sequels (mainly 2, X, 4, and 5).  They're so similar to each other (and X is actually the same game as 2), unoriginal and evolve the series so little over their predecessors that they make these Mega Mans look like Okami.

[/QUOTE]

But why fix what ain't broke?  It's like God of War II; they didn't change much from the original because they already had a winning formula.

[QUOTE=qubit]But why fix what ain't broke?  It's like God of War II; they didn't change much from the original because they already had a winning formula.
[/QUOTE]

True enough, but there is a bit of a difference between God of War 2 and some of the Metal Slug sequels.  Both of the original games did have winning gameplay formulas and didn't mess around with what worked. 

The difference is that God of War 2, although similar in feel and gameplay as the original, really upped the ante by adding a lot of new elements that truly gave it its own identity and took the series as a whole to the next level.  Some examples include new weapons (love that barbarian hammer!), more (and more epic) boss battles (especially the Colossus), new abilities (like the grappling hook), and a tighter integration of the compelling storyline into the gameplay.  They even addressed some of the minor quibbles from the first game (like pressing R1 repeatedly to open doors; it's now on the more mash-friendly O button).  In short, when comparing the differences between the two God of Wars, you can see a clear example and effort on the part of the developers to evolve the series.

Some of the Metal Slug sequels, on the other hand, didn't evolve as much.  Sure, you got a couple of new weapons here and there and you got a couple of new vehicles to use, but neither really helped the games stand out as a true upgrade over its predecessors. 

And I know this is a hardcore gamer's franchise, so fans may not want an easier play mode, but considering how hard the games can be, it would be nice to ease new players in, wouldn't you say?  It took SNK until Metal Slug 6 to do this and I can't understand what took them so long.  And speaking of 6, that game proves my point, because it's the only sequel that truly builds upon the tried and true Metal Slug formula, thus evolving the series a bit and so it doesn't feel indistinguishable from past entries.

So there's the difference; being similar to past entries of a series is one thing, but attempting to take the series newer heights via evolution in sequels is another.

I really don't care about the MegaMan games being similar.    They were really short, and the formula was perfect.   The MegaMan games are so perfectly made that you don't want to stop playing them, so I am glad there are so many of them.  I know Im in the minority, but I thought the games got better as they went along (at least until the next to impossible GBA games and the horrible MegaMan X5 on the PS1.)  But it came back with a bang with Mega Man 8 and MegaMan X8 so no problem.

 I don't have a problem with Metal slug games being similar, also because they rock, and they are short.  You can beat the entire series in about 4 hours if you want to, so I don't find the sequels repetitive.   and the 40 dollar price tag for the series is amazing.   But if I paid 150 dollars a cartridge on the Neo Geo, it would be another story