Metal Slug Mobile

Our society is obsessed with war. If we're not celebrating yet another anniversary (D-Day, VE-day, Trafalgar day...), then we'll be watching the latest from Iraq, browsing the 24-hour Hitler channel, sorry History channel or watching Hollywood's latest re-dramatisation.

No surprise then that the world of games has got in on the act, with an unceasing bombardment. And not content with historic events and expert military advisors, some games offer updatable battlegrounds based on real skirmishes in Afghanistan and Iraq - hell even the US Army got in on the act with its own game-cum-recruitment tool.

If this is the sort of thing that floats your battleship, then you're better off popping on over to our Conflict Vietnam review, as Metal Slug’s cutesy cartoon visuals and stylised weapons bears no relation to real warfare. Instead it uses the premise of battle as an excuse for a highly enjoyable left-to-right 2D yomp in which you have to fight your way through escalating waves of troops, snipers, tanks, choppers and the like.

Cast as rookie Marco Rossi, you use the joypad or number keys to run, jump, crouch and, most importantly, shoot your way through well-structured enemy defences. Some enemy troopers run towards you with bayonets bared, others pop up at windows and let loose a shot and every time you take a hit, so does your health bar. Just as well then that Marco is quite an agile fella - able to jump over or duck under bullets. Dispatching the enemy also reveals a variety of power-ups, such as better weaponry, rank upgrades and most importantly health packs. Extra points can also be added by freeing hostages.

It's not all about shooting though, and in the most part you don't need to wipe out the opposition. Jumping around roofs, platforms and guard towers often offers a safer passage, at least until the end-of-level showdown in which you're faced with a barrage of tough troops which must be overcome before you can proceed.

While most levels take place on foot, now and then you'll also get to strap yourself into a tank, adding a little more fire power (you get shells and can run over troops) and health to your arsenal. Surprisingly this doesn't actually compromise your agility too much; although crouching is no longer an option you can still jump onto roof tops. Yet despite this armoured agility, these levels tend to offer the toughest challenges, especially as upward firing (covered by the '1' button when playing as Marco) is handled by a rotating rifle who's movement is triggered as you reverse. Though initially awkward, this it can be mastered with a little practise and complements the otherwise simple control system.

With only 6 levels to complete, which in easy level you should be able to clear in your first couple of hours, this isn't going to be a long campaign - even with the chance to replay on tougher difficulty levels. However, if you're after a short victorious war experience to fill the gaps between Saving Private Ryan, Platoon and Hitler: My Part in his Downfall (well maybe not that), then you won't regret signing up here.