METAL SLUG X Review Summary

Beautiful pixel art and enjoyable online co-op enhance gameplay over predecessors, but frequent frame drops, poor port quality, and very short playtime hold it back.

Beautiful pixel art graphics: Players consistently praise the incredible, hand-drawn pixel art style which remains charming and among the best, showcasing detailed 2D graphics that hold up well.

Enjoyable online co-op mode: The game supports both local and online co-op, which players find fun and great for fostering camaraderie, especially when playing with friends.

Enhanced gameplay over predecessors: Compared to the original, the gameplay is tighter, faster, and more fun, making it an all-around enhancement that feels more interesting and tougher.

Overall excellent game quality: The game is widely regarded as great, excellent, and amazing, with good gameplay that satisfies players.

Excellent soundtrack and sound effects: The soundtrack is described as excellent and very good, with great sound effects that complement the action.

Frequent frame drops and stuttering: Many players experience frame drops, stuttering, and slowdowns, especially during intense action with many enemies on screen. This occurs in both single and multiplayer.

Poor port quality: The port is widely criticized as bad, poorly optimized, and ruining the gameplay experience. Players describe it as mediocre and problematic.

Very short playtime: The game is very short, with single-player sessions often under one hour. Many feel it lacks content by modern standards.

Unoriginal Metal Slug 2 clone: Players report the game is essentially a direct copy of Metal Slug 2 with minimal changes, lacking significant improvements. Many feel it should not be sold as a separate game.

DotEmu emulator poorly optimized: The DotEmu emulator is considered badly optimized and not working well, with some suggesting third-party emulators as a better alternative.

New weapons and enemies: This version adds new weapons like the Enemy Chaser and introduces more enemies compared to Metal Slug 2.

Enhanced version of Metal Slug 2: Metal Slug X is widely described as an enhanced, remastered, or definitive edition of Metal Slug 2, featuring improved sprites, more enemies, new weapons, and reduced slowdown.

Multiplayer and cooperative play: The game supports cooperative multiplayer, both locally and online, allowing two players to play together.

Side-scrolling run-and-gun shooter: The game is consistently categorized as a side-scrolling run-and-gun shooter with fast-paced action, similar to Contra.

Weapon variety: The game features multiple weapon types including Heavy Machine Gun, Rocket Launcher, Flame Shot, and shotgun.

Lag and Input Issues: A significant number of players report noticeable input lag, with key presses not registering properly. This is considered worse than the original arcade version, indicating a fundamental problem with responsiveness.

Good Performance on Some Systems: Several users report smooth performance with no lag, specifically on Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally. This suggests the game runs well on certain hardware configurations.

Framerate Drops with Many Enemies: Frequent framerate drops occur when many enemies are on screen, particularly during heavy sprite action. This is a common complaint affecting gameplay during intense moments.

Improved Over Metal Slug 2: Some users note that performance issues from Metal Slug 2 have been fixed, with reduced frame drops and less slowdown. This port runs better than its predecessor in terms of smoothness.

Emulation-Induced Lag: Players attribute lag to poor emulation and graphic filters, affecting both solo and multiplayer modes. The emulation quality is criticized for causing gameplay issues.

Appeals to retro fans: The game is consistently recommended for old school gamers, retro game fans, and newcomers to classic games. It provides a strong sense of nostalgia and old school skill-based gameplay.

Excellent value for money: Reviewers agree the game is worth purchasing, even at full price, and offers great value for money. It is frequently described as well worth every cent paid.

Buy on sale recommended: Many players suggest waiting for a good sale or discount before purchasing. The game is considered great value at a discounted price, though some think regular price is acceptable.

Only for dedicated fans: Some reviews indicate the game is recommended only for fans and nostalgic players of the series. Casual players may not fully enjoy the experience.

Great for co-op play: Players highlight the game as excellent for short co-op sessions with friends, both online and offline. It is strongly recommended to play with a friend to enhance the experience.

Community fair range: $6.00 - $10.00.

Game completion: 1.0h.

Story completion: 1.0h.

Endgame: 10.0h.

Metal Slug X delivers immediate fun through its classic arcade action and co-op modes, with no required wait time for enjoyment.

Friction: Performance issues such as lag, stutter, and resolution problems; Short single-player length (around 1-2 hours per run).

Unlock drivers: Co-op mode (local and online) amplifies fun; Simple and immediate gameplay mechanics.

Nostalgia-Driven Veteran: Plays solo or co-op, adjusts difficulty for nostalgia or challenge, appreciates the simple mechanics and high-score chasing. Motivation: Reliving arcade memories and enjoying classic pixel-art run-and-gun action. Stance: buy.

Co-op Partnership Seeker: Always seeks multiplayer sessions, prefers online or local co-op for story, values teamwork and shared fun over solo challenge. Motivation: Playing cooperatively with a friend locally or online. Stance: sale.

Challenge & Completionist: Replays missions on higher difficulties, sets credit limits, pursues 100% achievements, competes on leaderboards. Motivation: Mastering the game through practice, high scores, and achievement completion. Stance: deep sale.

Steam Deck: The vast majority of users report that Metal Slug X runs flawlessly on Steam Deck, with excellent controller support, responsive controls, and no significant technical barriers. A single review notes performance issues during enemy swarms and control changes, but this does not reflect the general experience. No external launchers, anti-cheat issues, or forced Proton workarounds are mentioned.

Linux and Proton: Based on two user reviews, the game runs great on Steam Deck (SteamOS/Linux) with no reported issues, indicating excellent Proton compatibility.