Atlus chambers Metal Slug XX for PSP

When Metal Slug 7 arrived on the DS in 2008, one of the critical knocks against the arcade-style 2D side-scrolling shooter was that it lacked the series' hallmark cooperative play. That oversight could be redeemed shortly, as Atlus today announced that it will publish Metal Slug XX, a co-op-enabled remix of the game. The SNK Playmore-developed game will arrive for the PSP on February 23, at a budget price point of $19.99.

Metal Slug XX will feature seven main levels with branching paths and more than 70 skill-testing "Combat School" missions. It will also feature six playable characters from the series, with a seventh, Leona, available from the PlayStation Store for $0.99.

The game's X-cessive moniker is a nod to the 1999 Neo Geo shooter Metal Slug X, itself a revamped version of Metal Slug 2. The remix added new weapons, enemies, and juggled up the boss roster and hidden item locations to provide a fresh challenge even to hardened veterans of the original title.

For more on Metal Slug XX's inspiration, check out GameSpot's review of Metal Slug 7.