Metal Slug 4 & 5 E3 2005 Preshow Report

Currently scheduled for release on the Xbox in August (and on the PlayStation 2 later this month), Metal Slug 4 & 5 is, as its name suggests, a double pack comprising two of SNK's classic side-scrolling shooters. At first glance, the two games appear to be virtually identical. However, they're actually quite different.

Set in the year 20XX, Metal Slug 4 sees you shooting your way through six levels packed full of Morden's cyberterrorists and soldiers that are attempting to hijack all the world's major military forces using a computer virus. You'll play the game as either Marco or Fio from the original game, or as one of two newcomers, Trevor or Nadia. The game boasts an impressive arsenal of over-the-top weapons, a number of different offensive vehicles for you to commandeer, and, of course, some huge boss characters for you to use all that stuff on.

Metal Slug 5, on the other hand, pits you against a paramilitary syndicate known as the Ptolemaic Army, which has stolen a disc containing Metal Slug secrets. You'll play through the game's five levels as Marco, Tarma, Eri, or Fio, all of whom have one or two moves at their disposal more than their Metal Slug 4 counterparts.

The only real difference between the Xbox version of Metal Slug 4 & 5 and the PS2 version, which we already reviewed earlier this month, is that the Xbox game will benefit from the inclusion of Xbox Live leaderboards. We'll bring you more information on the Xbox version of Metal Slug 4 & 5 as soon as it becomes available.