View source for Metal Slug 4



{{Infobox video game
|title         = Metal Slug 4
|image         = Metal Slug 4 arcade flyer.jpg
|developer     = [[Mega Enterprise]]<br>Noise Factory<br>[[Playmore]]{{efn|Ported to Xbox by [[SNK#2003–2016: SNK Playmore|SNK Playmore]].}}
|publisher     ={{collapsible list|title={{nobold|[[SNK#2001–2003: Bankruptcy and Playmore Corporation|Playmore]]}}|'''Arcade'''{{vgrelease|KOR|MEGA|NA|BrezzaSoft}} '''Neo Geo AES'''{{vgrelease|JP|Sun Amusement|NA|BrezzaSoft}} MEGA <small>(Windows)</small><br />'''PlayStation 2'''{{vgrelease|JP/NA|SNK Playmore|EU|[[Ignition Entertainment]]}} '''Xbox'''{{vgrelease|JP/NA|SNK Playmore|EU|Ignition Entertainment}} [[D4 Enterprise]]<br /><small>(Virtual Console)</small><br />SNK Playmore<br /><small>(PlayStation Network)</small><br />[[Hamster Corporation|HAMSTER Corporation]]<br /><small>(PS4/Switch/Xbox One)</small>}}
|producer      = Hong Ick Cho<br />Keiko Iju
|designer      = Kazuki Ito<br />Masafumi Fujii
|programmer    = Hiroshi Hishikawa<br />Kazuaki Ezato
|artist        = Joo Hwan Sohn<br />Yong Hee Lee
|composer      = Toshikazu Tanaka
|series        = ''[[Metal Slug]]''
|platforms     = {{collapsible list|title={{nobold|[[Arcade game|Arcade]]}}|[[Microsoft Windows]], [[Neo Geo AES]], [[Nintendo Switch]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[PlayStation 4]], [[PlayStation Network]], [[Virtual Console]], [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]], [[Xbox One]]}}
|released      = {{collapsible list|title={{nobold|27 March 2002}}|'''Arcade'''{{vgrelease|WW|27 March 2002}} '''Neo Geo AES'''{{vgrelease|WW|13 June 2002}} '''Windows'''{{vgrelease|KOR|5 December 2002}} '''PlayStation 2'''{{vgrelease|JP|22 September 2004|NA|24 May 2005|EU|28 October 2005}} '''Xbox'''{{vgrelease|JP|24 February 2005|NA|19 August 2005|EU|4 November 2005}} '''Virtual Console'''{{vgrelease|JP|20 November 2012|NA|31 January 2013|PAL|7 March 2013}} '''PlayStation Network'''{{vgrelease|[[Taiwan|TW]]|15 July 2015}} '''Nintendo Switch'''{{vgrelease|WW|9 August 2018}} '''PlayStation 4'''{{vgrelease|AS|9 August 2018|NA|19 December 2018|PAL|18 February 2020}} '''Xbox One'''{{vgrelease|WW|9 August 2018}}}}
|genre         = [[Shoot 'em up#Run and gun|Run and gun]]
|modes         = [[Single-player]], [[multiplayer]]
|arcade system = [[Neo Geo MVS]]
}}

{{nihongo foot|'''''Metal Slug 4'''''|メタルスラッグ 4|''Metaru Suraggu 4''||lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a [[Run and gun (video game)|run and gun]] [[arcade game]] for the [[Neo-Geo]] console/arcade platform, developed by [[Mega Enterprise]] along with Noise Factory and [[Playmore]]. It was released in 2002 for the [[Neo-Geo MVS]] arcade platform, and is the fourth game in the [[Metal Slug (series)|''Metal Slug'' series]]. Two years later, Playmore published ''Metal Slug 4'' for consoles.

''Metal Slug 4'' retains the same gameplay as previous titles, with the addition of some enemies, bosses, weapons, several  vehicles and a bonus combo system. It was ported to [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] and [[PlayStation 2]] as a stand-alone game in Japan and Europe, and along with ''[[Metal Slug 5]]'' as a [[compilation (games)|compilation]] in North America and South Korea. The [[Nintendo Switch]] version was released in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=Metal Slug 4 returns today, so grab your Hevveee Machine-gun|date=9 August 2018 |url=https://www.destructoid.com/metal-slug-4-returns-today-so-grab-your-hevveee-machine-gun-516425.phtml|access-date=14 Aug 2018|publisher=Destructoid.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Hamster's Neo Geo Hot Streak On The Switch eShop Continues With Six New Confirmed Games|date=20 July 2018 |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/07/hamsters_neo_geo_hot_streak_on_the_switch_eshop_continues_with_six_new_confirmed_games|access-date=14 Aug 2018|publisher=NintendoLife.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814232840/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/07/hamsters_neo_geo_hot_streak_on_the_switch_eshop_continues_with_six_new_confirmed_games|archive-date=14 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Gameplay ==
[[File:NEOGEO Metal Slug 4.png|thumb|left|Gameplay screenshot, showing Nadia and Trevor battling multiple enemies.]]
A bonus scoring system was added that allows the player to be rewarded depending on how many enemies are killed in the time allotted. The time allotted is determined from the type of emblem that is picked up. A time meter will appear on the top of the screen, and if the player lives through the end of the level, they will be awarded bonus points for badges that represent feats accomplished. Eri and Tarma were replaced with Nadia and Trevor.

==Plot==
One year after the events of ''[[Metal Slug 3]]'' and ''[[Metal Slug 6|6]]'', the world is under the threat of a mysterious and deadly cyber virus that threatens to attack and destroy any nation's military computer system. With Tarma Roving and Eri Kasamoto unable to help out due to their own assignments in the matter, Marco Rossi and Fiolina Germi are called in to investigate the situation and are joined by two newcomers, Nadia Cassel and Trevor Spacey. In their investigation, the group discovers that a rich terrorist organization known as the Amadeus Syndicate is behind the plot and has allied with General Morden's Rebel Army. They head into battle against Amadeus' forces, hoping to destroy the cyber virus before it gets the chance to wipe out the entire world's military computer system.

Halfway through the game's story mode, the player is confronted by who they presume to be General Morden. In the final stage, they find an underground facility where android doubles of Morden are being manufactured. Allen O' Neil fights the player and is also revealed to be a machine replica. The player confronts the leader of the syndicate, a man tentatively called "Doctor", who attacks with a series of powerful robots, but he is defeated and is trapped in his own devices as the base self-destructs, killing him. If the player safely escapes the base's bonus explosion stage, the credits will show the main cast eating a feast of food, but if the player gets caught in the explosion, the player character will appear in the hospital, bandaged and bed-ridden, being brought get-well gifts of food from both Tarma and Eri. After the credits, a single computer monitor is seen transmitting data to an unknown location before shutting down.

==Reception==
{{Rewrite section|date=June 2025}}
In Japan, ''Game Machine'' listed ''Metal Slug 4'' as the second most successful arcade game of April 2002.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software)|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=657|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=1 May 2002|page=17|lang=ja}}</ref>

''Metal Slug 4'' was mixed to positive received by players with users scores of 7.8 for PS2, 7.3 for Xbox, 8.1 for Neo Geo and 8.3 for the arcade versions, while [[Metacritic]] and [[GameRankings]] are given with 70.47% and 70 along with Metal Slug 5 as compilation for both PS2 and Xbox score.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/metal-slug-4-and-5-review/1900-6131086/ |title=Metal Slug 4 & 5 Review |publisher=GameSpot |access-date=2013-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304010338/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/metal-slug-4-and-5-review/1900-6131086/ |archive-date=2014-03-04 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2005/08/25/metal-slug-4-5 |title=Metal Slug 4 & 5 - IGN |date=25 August 2005 |publisher=Uk.ign.com |access-date=2013-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214091825/https://uk.ign.com/articles/2005/08/25/metal-slug-4-5 |archive-date=2019-12-14 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/129664/reviews/metal-slug-4-review/ |title=Review: Metal Slug 4 |publisher=ComputerAndVideoGames.com |date=2005-11-21 |access-date=2013-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105094928/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/129664/reviews/metal-slug-4-review/ |archive-date=2013-11-05 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/metal-slug-4-and-5/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 |title=Metal Slug 4 & 5 for PlayStation 2 Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=2013-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330024934/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-2/metal-slug-4-5 |archive-date=2014-03-30 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Price |first=James |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_metalslug4_ps2 |title=Metal Slug 4 Review • Reviews • PlayStation 2 • |publisher=Eurogamer.net |date=2005-12-07 |access-date=2013-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105101722/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_metalslug4_ps2 |archive-date=2013-11-05 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/metal-slug-4-and-5/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox |title=Metal Slug 4 & 5 for Xbox Reviews - Metacritic |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=2016-11-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151214064224/http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox/metal-slug-4-5 |archive-date=2015-12-14 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/metal-slug-4-and-5/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 |title=Metal Slug 4 & 5 for PlayStation 2 Reviews - Metacritic |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=2013-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330024934/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-2/metal-slug-4-5 |archive-date=2014-03-30 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox/920516-metal-slug-4-and-5/index.html |title=Metal Slug 4 & 5 for Xbox - GameRankings |access-date=2016-11-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125044428/http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox/920516-metal-slug-4-and-5/index.html |archive-date=2016-11-25 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/920446-metal-slug-4-and-5/index.html |title=Metal Slug 4 & 5 for PlayStation 2 - GameRankings |access-date=2016-11-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125044310/http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/920446-metal-slug-4-and-5/index.html |archive-date=2016-11-25 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Legacy and re-releases ==
An emulated port by Code Mystics was released for [[Microsoft Windows]] on the [[Prime Gaming]] service on April 20, 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Leggett |first1=Chris |title=Prime Gaming April Content Update: Wolfenstein: The New Order Headlines with 15 Free Games |url=https://primegaming.blog/prime-gaming-april-content-update-wolfenstein-the-new-order-headlines-with-15-free-games-ef76e84c1978 |website=[[Medium (website)|Medium]] |publisher=[[Prime Gaming]] |access-date=10 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408172335/https://primegaming.blog/prime-gaming-april-content-update-wolfenstein-the-new-order-headlines-with-15-free-games-ef76e84c1978?gi=efb763258a96 |archive-date=8 April 2023 |date=30 March 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Petite |first1=Steven |title=Amazon Prime Members Can Claim 3 Free Games, Including Wolfenstein: The New Order |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/prime-gaming-april-2023-free-games/1100-6512818/ |website=[[GameSpot]] |publisher=[[Fandom (website)|Fandom]] |access-date=10 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530045903/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/prime-gaming-april-2023-free-games/1100-6512818/ |archive-date=30 May 2023 |date=7 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bonelli |first1=John |title=Amazon Prime Adding 15 Free Games for April 2023 |url=https://gamerant.com/amazon-prime-adding-15-free-games-for-april-2023/ |website=[[Game Rant]] |publisher=Valnet Inc. |access-date=10 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406211942/https://gamerant.com/amazon-prime-adding-15-free-games-for-april-2023/ |archive-date=6 April 2023 |date=30 March 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> This port was released on [[GOG.com]] on April 8, 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=GOG yet again joins forces with SNK, to release over 20 classic titles and a Publisher Sale! |url=https://www.gog.com/en/news/gog_yet_again_joins_forces_with_snk_to_release_over_20_classic_titles_and_a_publisher_sale |website=[[GOG.com]] |publisher=[[CD Projekt]] |access-date=10 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240409165044/https://www.gog.com/en/news/gog_yet_again_joins_forces_with_snk_to_release_over_20_classic_titles_and_a_publisher_sale |archive-date=9 April 2024 |date=8 April 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Middler |first1=Jordan |title=20 classic SNK titles have been released on GOG |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/20-classic-snk-titles-have-been-released-on-gog/ |website=[[Video Games Chronicle]] |publisher=[[Gamer Network]] |access-date=10 April 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240410164850/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/20-classic-snk-titles-have-been-released-on-gog/ |archive-date=10 April 2024 |date=10 April 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=McCarter |first1=Reid |title=Dozens of forgotten PC classics have suddenly just been relaunched |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/king-of-fighters-15/snk-classics-gog |website=[[PCGamesN]] |publisher=Network N Media |access-date=10 April 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240410165205/https://www.pcgamesn.com/king-of-fighters-15/snk-classics-gog |archive-date=10 April 2024 |date=9 April 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://www.metalslug10th.com/english/history/series7/index.php}}
* [https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/arcade/562999-metal-slug-4 ''Metal Slug 4''] at [[GameFAQs]]
* [https://www.giantbomb.com/metal-slug-4/3030-2018/ ''Metal Slug 4''] at [[Giant Bomb]]
* [https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=10854 ''Metal Slug 4''] at [[Killer List of Videogames]]
* [https://www.mobygames.com/game/metal-slug-4 ''Metal Slug 4''] at [[MobyGames]]

{{Metal Slug series}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Metal Slug 4}}
[[Category:2002 video games]]
[[Category:ACA Neo Geo games]]
[[Category:Arcade video games]]
[[Category:Cooperative video games]]
[[Category:D4 Enterprise games]]
[[Category:Hamster Corporation games]]
[[Category:Metal Slug]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Neo Geo games]]
[[Category:Nintendo Switch games]]
[[Category:Noise Factory games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 2 games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 4 games]]
[[Category:PlayStation Network games]]
[[Category:SNK Playmore games]]
[[Category:UTV Ignition Games games]]
[[Category:Sequel video games]]
[[Category:Video games about terrorism]]
[[Category:Video games about zombies]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Video games developed in South Korea]]
[[Category:Video games featuring female protagonists]]
[[Category:Video games set in Canada]]
[[Category:Video games set in Italy]]
[[Category:Video games set in Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Video games set in Nepal]]
[[Category:Video games set in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Virtual Console games]]
[[Category:Xbox games]]
[[Category:Xbox One games]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Metal Slug 4|access_date=2026-03-04}}