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Metal Slug XX locked, loaded for XBLA launch

Brendan Sinclair
By Brendan Sinclair, Senior Editor

Scrolling shooter debuts on downloadable game service alongside naval action game Aqua; Games on Demand adds Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Top Spin 3, and Too Human to downloadable catalog.

This week's Xbox Live Arcade lineup lives up to the service's name with a heavy focus on arcade-style action. While neither Metal Slug XX nor Aqua has ever appeared in coin-op form, both games owe a debt to the dimly lit gaming dens of eras past.

SNK Playmore's Metal Slug XX for 1,200 Microsoft points ($15) is the latest in the long-running series of military-themed side-scrolling action games that began on the NeoGeo. This installment in the series is a remixed version of the 2008 DS game Metal Slug 7 and first saw release on the PSP earlier this year. The Xbox Live Arcade version of the game retains the branching levels and 70-mission combat school feature of the PSP edition and also supports online cooperative multiplayer.

The Metal Slug gang is all here.

The Metal Slug gang is all here.

Games Distillery's Aqua may not be as tightly tied to the arcades, but the overhead twin-stick shooter should provide plenty of challenge for twitch-happy players. Taking control of one of a number of ship types, players will navigate waterways and open water, trading ample fire with an enemy armada. The game features cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes and will sell for 800 Microsoft points ($10).

Microsoft is also adding three titles to its Games on Demand library of downloadable titles. With Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2 not set for release until October 26, Xbox 360 owners (except those living in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand) who missed the original have plenty of time to bring themselves up to speed by downloading it for $29.99.

The company is also serving up Top Spin 3 on the downloadable game service, with 2K Sports' 2008 tennis sim now downloadable for $19.99, except in Korea and Japan. And while Japanese Xbox 360 owners might not get either of the above Games on Demand titles this week, they will be the only ones receiving the option to download Silicon Knights' Norse-themed action game Too Human.

Brendan Sinclair
By Brendan Sinclair, Senior Editor

Brendan Sinclair has been a games journalist since 1999. His tastes are eclectic, though he has a definite affinity for games with arcade roots. He's Canadian, but has also been at home in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, and San Francisco.

30 comments
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-Katsuri-
-Katsuri-

Awesome! I always liked Metal Slug.

lamprey263
lamprey263

I hope Metal Slug has online co-op

FreakNasty651
FreakNasty651

I love Metal Slug! Can't wait to get this one.

vengefulwilberg
vengefulwilberg

It is nice to see real games like Metal Slug, but isn't it a bit late? If XBLA and PSN really wanted to take advantage of popular arcades, then they should have released them sooner. For instance, Midway's The GRID would have been one of the top sellers if released a few months or a year after the existance of the XBLA and PSN. And there is no excuse for not adding Golden Axe The Revenge of Death Adder to the list. What about the Alien vs. Predator arcade game? XBLA and PSN added alot of stuff, but they are not trying hard enough to make a great online arcade library. The arcade portion of both partys is only mediocore to me. There is too many good arcades that they are not paying attention to.

Jag-T1000
Jag-T1000

Metal Slug XX has too many " loading screens." You can't clear a screen without "loading", clear a screen " loading" again. I hope they fix this.

100proofsoco
100proofsoco

Sweet side scrollin' action! Metal Slug!

dlCHIEF58
dlCHIEF58

@Gelugon_baat Actually you can probably blame the lack of support for the Orange Box on EA's shoulders as they handled the port for PS3 instead of Valve doing it themselves. But updates to Team Fortress have also been non-existent on the 360 since Microsoft wants to charge for those updates that Valve wants to give away. They initially said they were going to release them all in one pack to make it worth a purchase, but as long as it has been I doubt we will even see those.

jarvool
jarvool

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

indongga
indongga

@loopy_101 i would think its cuz of distribution costs

loopy_101
loopy_101

Why can't games like this be released properly on a disc rather than XBLA?

fphats
fphats

metal slug thats a defintie buy

Dark_Arkitect
Dark_Arkitect

This is worthy of my $$.(MSXX) Ok..now where's Killer Instinct for XBL?..(taps foot)

Bangerman15
Bangerman15

wow... metal slug with online co-op?? sounds pretty sexy

Pete5506
Pete5506

I cant wait, I have always been a fan of Metal Slug

FaintRain
FaintRain

i want topspin 4,it's been two years since 3,4 should be coming soon.....hopefully

TheArcade
TheArcade

And we're getting the as playable characters, now that's hardcore! I am so buying.

chopperlink
chopperlink

I just bought Metal Slug XX for the PSP last week. Great game!!

AKAslayer101
AKAslayer101

Hmm $15 on a arcade game seems a lot, but Metal Slug XX might be a game worth checking out at least

xchiefmegadethx
xchiefmegadethx

I just bought Rocket Knight for 1200p/23 Aussie dollars not going to go nuts...

mdboomer
mdboomer

False alarm. I guess I should take Too Human out of my tracked items. I doubt they will ever make a better second installment. To be honest I can't believe the company is still around after that kind of failure.

tremor33
tremor33

Metal Slug!!! I'm there, dude. (even though I already own the DS version, but not the PSP version)

NoDzombie
NoDzombie

iv always had a soft spot for metal slug, so this should be good

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