Metal Slug 3

[Kieran76]

Seeing as there are a few of us playing this right now I think it would be a good idea to start a thread.
I think I may be getting soft in my old age but this is tough, but not unfair, its one of those where I keep either getting a bit further with each play or ease through an earlier section. So far I am stuck on the second level, those zombies are a real pain but I can't stop playing, it has been a real shot in the arm for me and exactly the sort of game I needed. Graphics are exactly want you would expect from a metal slug game but for 20 notes you can't complain.
This rules, and by the end of the weeked I will have a score in the top ten!

[VR46]

It is great, 19th on Live for me 768,000ish points, tip is to finish mission 1 on your first life, guaranteed at least 600,000 points then

And don't get me started on the Zombies, normally lose 2 lives getting past them and last life on the mission 2 boss.

Great graphics and gameplay and replay value, certainly has that one more go appeal, think difficulty level is just right, there are "only" 5 missions. Mind you the two bonus games unlocked when you complete arcade mode look great, though it'a gonna be some time before I unlock them (unless I use easy and all 9 continues )

[rjpageuk]

What are the differences between the four characters?

It has some profile thing in the manual but doesnt actually tell you any differences. I am sure they feel different to play as though...

[Kieran76]

When I play with Marco I feel as if he is easier to rotae his gun with, if that makes any sense. I may just be imagining that though.
When you are in the submarine in level one I am rescuieng the hostages and then they sprout wings and fly upwards, have I saved them or are they dead? Because I felt sure I completed the level without dying and I only ended up with a bonus of about 370 000.

[buster_broon]

top tip fellas

but spoiler - loads of points
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if they have kept it like the neo aes/mvs version - if its authentic

on the first level boss dont kill him right away - keep on going moving to the right of the screen shooting occassionally until you have 20+ pows they will keep on coming, if you destroy him quickly you will only have around 10-13

on each level there is a back packer - she give the most bonus out of the pows and also reaching the end with a slug in tow adds loads of points as well

also to make the boss easier dont use the sub-slug, just go across the screen and you will end up with the tank - alot easier to destroy the 1st boss since you dont have to aim the 2 little guns

also when you get to level 2

head inside to cave and get on the elephant-slug, but before getting on it shoot the wall - loads of coins

on level 5

head downwards until you get underground - its easier and you have loads of rabbit holes to shoot up and you get 1/4 million bonuses every time and eventually you will get the drill-slug

on mvs level 4 i could normally get 4.5million + on 1 credit, i do ahve this i just havent had the chance to play it

[VR46]

top tips Buster, your right about level 1 boss, however, later on, coins are only worth 10 points in this version, not worth bothering with, even if there's loads of them.

RJPage, I find the female charcters a bit more nimble, this helps on zombie level turn and jump quicker, or is it just my imagination, don't think there is much difference between them all tbh.

[huxley]

wo a thread for us, I`ve never played any slug games this is my first and I love it.
I`m about 16th as of last night on live.
I`ve only used Marco so far, so I`ll have a go with the other chars 2morrow.
a question for you guys - are you using the xbox pads or arcade stick?
I`m using my Dreamcast stick with a magic box, the xbox pad just doesnt seem right.
ps hate those zombies on mission 2

Great tips Buster ;-)

[VR46]

Buster & RJP what are you gamertags so I can keep an eye out for you.

Got 829,000 last night, good enough for 15th

[buster_broon]

Buster & RJP what are you gamertags so I can keep an eye out for you.

Got 829,000 last night, good enough for 15th

i have the xbox version but i'm not on live

the scores i got where on the homecart version - couldnt normally finish the game on 2-3 credits

there are other little secrets

like on level 1 when you drop into the water walk slightly to the right and jump and shoot down into the water, if you hit it right you should get around 10 diamonds/coins and when you get ashore you will see a rocket sticking out of the ground - shoot it (stand underneath and shoot upwards) and you will get a key/diamond

also on level one when you get to the first boat - when it moves off keep on shooting upwards and you will shoot the ledge - around 20-30 coins will pour out of it once you shoot it enough

not worth that much - but all these little things rack up on every level

[VR46]

Shame about Live Buster, I'll look and see what the number one score is so you have something to thrash

Game gets better and better, still dying at end of Level 2 on normal with 3 lives, those floating "ghosts" are a sode if you have run out of bombs and only have your standard gun, take forever to get rid of, then the gravestones

Can't wait for another go, anyway 904,000 now, 12th I think.

Managing to upto 22 hostages on level 1 (gives me total about 725,000 points at end of level) this is by following standard route, not been taking any sde paths, will try some out to see f there are more hostages to be had

[buster_broon]

Managing to upto 22 hostages on level 1 (gives me total about 725,000 points at end of level) this is by following standard route, not been taking any sde paths, will try some out to see f there are more hostages to be had

if you go in the sub-slug you probably wont end the level without losing a life because

1/ there is a small volcanic section at the bottom of the water which can be a nightmare and the eels/crabs are annoying

2/ when you get to the top of the water you get the arms-slug - which is a robot type thing with 2 guns as arms and to be honest unless you're moving upwards - its useless and its slow, even if you want to get a decent shot on the end boss you have to be pretty close and it normally ends up with him hitting you

wrt to the 2nd level boss

use all your grenades to dispose of the aliens and with the rocks that fly down afterwards just move slowly from left to right or vice versa speeding up as they speed up and its a doddle, halfway thru you should get one of the rapid gun upgrades

gonna open it up and see how i do

[buster_broon]

played it thru and i got just over 1million before the 2nd round boss

one level 1 when you parachute in shoot move slightly to the right and jump and shoot downwards - you will get 5000 bonuses worth of fish

when you get on the first boat shoot the anchor hole of the derelict ship (when you pass it) for about 1000 worth of bonuses

also i forgot to mention - when you get loads of helicopters coming in the 1st one is always red - aim for that one only

because when it explodes it takes the others with it which results in a combo explosion and you get about 200,000 worth of points

[huxley]

omg most of the high scores are made up of secrets.
gonna have a little hunt now.
Thx Buster

[buster_broon]

also wrt to the red helicopter

only try and destroy it when the helicopters are moving from right to left, if they do a sweep across the screen and head the other way the explosion of the red helicopter moves in the same direction - so it wont engulf the rest of the helicopters

more to this game that you first thought eh?????

when you are a zombie dont bother using your gun either as its rank - just use whatever grenades you have qnd you get a red stream of vomit that takes out more or less everything

[rjpageuk]

David - I dont have XBox live so I bought the PS2 version as I would rather play on dpad (and didnt fancy my chances with the XBox dpad).

I am Marco most of the time - the 2nd char (which I think is a woman) I found really weird and did much worse with her but maybe this was just because she was extra nimble .

I have tried different paths through the first level and all the other paths seem miles harder!

I managed to get to the end of level 2 yesterday and you are right about those ghosts they are bloody hard.