TheRedSnifit
Member
The Metal Slug games, as we know, are better than your favorite games. One of many reasons for this is the fantastic music throughout the series. So, let's take a brief moment to listen to it:
Metal Slug 1
MISSION. ONE. START.
The original has the most iconic soundtrack in the series; many of the tracks are remixed in almost every one of the sequels. The game has the most "military" soundtrack of the series, thoroughly grounding the game in a time before Metal Slug had aliens, zombies, and snails that make you naked.
Highlights:
Main Theme - Is there a better way to start a series? Bombastic military marches, with a random-but-awesome jazz section in the middle.
Assault Theme - The most Metal Slug of Metal Slug music.
Final Attack - Alright, so the final boss is pretty lame. Still, his theme is great. Listen to it.
Metal Slug X
Metal Slug X is the best Metal Slug game. An alpha version, named Metal Slug 2, was accidentally released early, with its main feature being ridiculous amounts of slowdown.
Soundtrack-wise, though, it's probably the worst. There's some interesting tracks here and there, but for the most part it's just slightly higher-quality versions of music from the original. It works, but it's not particularly exciting.
Highlights:
Judgement - That opening guitar riff. The song kinda falls apart after that, but that opening is worth it.
First Contact - The aliens' theme. Like Judgement, the first few seconds are the best, with its ominous synthetic strings.
Metal Slug 3
One of humanities greatest achievements.
After a disappointing soundtrack in MSX, MS3 stomps in and drops a ton of awesome music. There's a ton of variety, but the most striking thing is how the old "military" sound has almost been completely dropped in favor of more guitar-driven music; fitting, considering how Morden's troops are largely absent and replaced by aliens and mutated beasties. It's all-around fantastic, and the only real negative is that they still haven't ditched the dull Steel Beast boss theme.
Highlights:
Midnight Wandering - That guitar riff is god-tier. Best zombie theme in any game ever.
Desert - More awesome guitar riffs. It pulls off the "desert rock" theme far better than MSX's attempt.
Marine Diver - Jazzy-sounding underwater theme.
Metal Slug 4
The one with all those FUCKING MUMMIES
MS4 jacks pretty much all of its assets from previous games (assets that aren't recycled are frankenstein'd. Sad but true), so it's pretty surprising that the soundtrack sounds pretty much nothing like the previous games - in fact, it's the only sequel in the series that doesn't remix any previous tracks. With its absurdly catchy melodies composed of a cool blend of rock and synth-orchestras, this has probably gotten the most playtime from me. Definitely gives off some cool spy-movie vibes.
Highlights:
Let's Run Through! - Saxaphone over a plodding guitar. You can't go wrong.
Snowy Road - Die Another Day would've been 10X better if it had this theme. Will we ever know what that guy with he muffled voice like he's talking through a radio is saying? Probably not.
Secret Place The single best track in any Metal Slug game. Thumping four-to-the-floor beat, soft piano, cool riff, and lots of clanging for good measure. It has everything.
Honorable Mention: The boss theme, for not being Steel Beast.
Metal Slug 5
The one with a slide for some reason.
It's rocking, it's hard to the core, and I made a thread about it! Go read about it there.
Metal Slug 6
The one with Emperor Demon Gyaba
The music in this game is like a really trippy version of MS4. Their are dance beats, synth orchestras, and guitar riffs, but it draws from a huge variety of genres: Asian techno, trance, rock, orchestra, etc. There's a lot of misses (like them reintroducing Steel Beast wtf), but when they work, it's awesome.
Highlights:
Asian Impact - A kickass Asian/techno fusion theme heavily featuring pan flutes (?).
Biotoxic - The best boss theme in the series. Creepy strings mixed with synths and crushing bass.
Metal Slug 7/XX
The second best Metal Slug game.
This is probably the most consistently great soundtrack in the series. It returns to the original's bombastic military themes with a fantastic orchestral soundtrack. Its remixes of classic tracks like the Assault Theme work fantastically and, so far as I'm concerned, completely displace the originals. Just a fantastic game all around.
Highlights:
The entire thing.
Underground Fortress
Ruins Base
Beast of Beat 9/8
TL;DR: Metal Slug's soundtrack is phenomenal and is crucial in developing the series's amazing atmosphere. Pretty much every track gives me intense nostalgia for when I first played each game.
Metal Slug 1
MISSION. ONE. START.
The original has the most iconic soundtrack in the series; many of the tracks are remixed in almost every one of the sequels. The game has the most "military" soundtrack of the series, thoroughly grounding the game in a time before Metal Slug had aliens, zombies, and snails that make you naked.
Highlights:
Main Theme - Is there a better way to start a series? Bombastic military marches, with a random-but-awesome jazz section in the middle.
Assault Theme - The most Metal Slug of Metal Slug music.
Final Attack - Alright, so the final boss is pretty lame. Still, his theme is great. Listen to it.
Metal Slug X
Metal Slug X is the best Metal Slug game. An alpha version, named Metal Slug 2, was accidentally released early, with its main feature being ridiculous amounts of slowdown.
Soundtrack-wise, though, it's probably the worst. There's some interesting tracks here and there, but for the most part it's just slightly higher-quality versions of music from the original. It works, but it's not particularly exciting.
Highlights:
Judgement - That opening guitar riff. The song kinda falls apart after that, but that opening is worth it.
First Contact - The aliens' theme. Like Judgement, the first few seconds are the best, with its ominous synthetic strings.
Metal Slug 3
One of humanities greatest achievements.
After a disappointing soundtrack in MSX, MS3 stomps in and drops a ton of awesome music. There's a ton of variety, but the most striking thing is how the old "military" sound has almost been completely dropped in favor of more guitar-driven music; fitting, considering how Morden's troops are largely absent and replaced by aliens and mutated beasties. It's all-around fantastic, and the only real negative is that they still haven't ditched the dull Steel Beast boss theme.
Highlights:
Midnight Wandering - That guitar riff is god-tier. Best zombie theme in any game ever.
Desert - More awesome guitar riffs. It pulls off the "desert rock" theme far better than MSX's attempt.
Marine Diver - Jazzy-sounding underwater theme.
Metal Slug 4
The one with all those FUCKING MUMMIES
MS4 jacks pretty much all of its assets from previous games (assets that aren't recycled are frankenstein'd. Sad but true), so it's pretty surprising that the soundtrack sounds pretty much nothing like the previous games - in fact, it's the only sequel in the series that doesn't remix any previous tracks. With its absurdly catchy melodies composed of a cool blend of rock and synth-orchestras, this has probably gotten the most playtime from me. Definitely gives off some cool spy-movie vibes.
Highlights:
Let's Run Through! - Saxaphone over a plodding guitar. You can't go wrong.
Snowy Road - Die Another Day would've been 10X better if it had this theme. Will we ever know what that guy with he muffled voice like he's talking through a radio is saying? Probably not.
Secret Place The single best track in any Metal Slug game. Thumping four-to-the-floor beat, soft piano, cool riff, and lots of clanging for good measure. It has everything.
Honorable Mention: The boss theme, for not being Steel Beast.
Metal Slug 5
The one with a slide for some reason.
It's rocking, it's hard to the core, and I made a thread about it! Go read about it there.
Metal Slug 6
The one with Emperor Demon Gyaba
The music in this game is like a really trippy version of MS4. Their are dance beats, synth orchestras, and guitar riffs, but it draws from a huge variety of genres: Asian techno, trance, rock, orchestra, etc. There's a lot of misses (like them reintroducing Steel Beast wtf), but when they work, it's awesome.
Highlights:
Asian Impact - A kickass Asian/techno fusion theme heavily featuring pan flutes (?).
Biotoxic - The best boss theme in the series. Creepy strings mixed with synths and crushing bass.
Metal Slug 7/XX
The second best Metal Slug game.
This is probably the most consistently great soundtrack in the series. It returns to the original's bombastic military themes with a fantastic orchestral soundtrack. Its remixes of classic tracks like the Assault Theme work fantastically and, so far as I'm concerned, completely displace the originals. Just a fantastic game all around.
Highlights:
The entire thing.
Underground Fortress
Ruins Base
Beast of Beat 9/8
TL;DR: Metal Slug's soundtrack is phenomenal and is crucial in developing the series's amazing atmosphere. Pretty much every track gives me intense nostalgia for when I first played each game.
