Many 2D shooter fans will know already that Metal Slug has finally made it to the present generation consoles and also to our beloved Gameboy Advance. For those of you not in the know, when describing the Metal Slug series, known throughout arcades across the land for cleaning out pocket money and even wage slips, you should consider the words awesome, legendary, breathtaking and of course daunting. Long known for being one of the most addictive side-scrolling platform shooters ever to have hit the arcades, the console conversions have a lot to live up to. While some may have been disappointed by the Xbox and Playstation 2 releases, I think you will be more than satisfied by this little number.

The story is largely irrelevant - it's some nonsense about being slung onto an island in the middle of the ocean somewhere to take on the armies of some mad/evil/crazy (delete where appropriate) dictator, destroying everything your path. That's all you need to know - any further back story would only get in the way of the main purpose of the game; to run, gun, and destroy.

Obviously the gameplay is far from original, being a soldier who has to run from left and right, destroying all in his path. However, this doesn't matter, as what this grand little game does is take this concept and elevate it to a place where it cannot be touched by others of its ilk. When it comes to playability, this is wonderful. There are a few changes from the original though. First of all, your character isn't wiped out after one hit from an enemy and you don't get three lives. What you get is a little energy bar at the top of the screen and when that's gone, it's game over. However, you do get limitless continues.

This is just as well, as the game is absolutely solid! I haven't played anything this hard since Megaman Zero 2. Initially the first level is taxing, as soldiers duck, roll and hide to avoid your bullets while pummelling you with machine gun fire and grenades. After a few tries you'll crack it, only to find that subsequent levels have you pulling your hair out in frustration, only counteracted by the smooth scrolling, the sublime control set-up and the sheer fun in taking on the advancing hordes.

Besides the traditional foot soldiers you're also going to be up against tanks, turrets, helicopters, weird voodoo creatures, bats, scuba divers, kamikaze bombers and a whole host of nasties. Each has a unique way of attacking and so a different means of approach; get too close to a bomber when he dies and you'll go up in the explosion, as he pulls the pins on his grenades as a last dying gesture; submarines on cranes may look ridiculous, but their firepower is immense so you need to take them out immediately; leaping scuba divers will catch you unawares so mark their entry spots well. While the action of running and gunning can be repetitive, your adversaries provide that much needed variety in this type of game. It keeps it fresh and most definitely interesting, as do the airborne sections.

That's right, you're not just restricted to the ground. At appropriate moments throughout the game you're pitched against airborne foes and have to take them on in a requisitioned plane of your own. Rather than being just something the game designers flung in to try and keep your interest, it feels like an intrinsic part of the game and these are up there with some of the best side scrolling flying shooters available on this console.

There are some other nice touches that have you revisiting the same levels over and over again. First of all, you're going to want to come back for more, purely because destruction has never been so much fun! However, if you persevere and manage to complete a level without dying and continuing, you get to keep any of the cards you have found. These cards are extras and pick ups that aid you in future levels, or simply make a complete collection of cards for you to show off to your mates. Some cards give you better armour, more energy or a longer life bar. Some even give you more firepower. Saving your game once completing a level untouched is essential, as it's unlikely you'll easily complete that level unscathed again! Also, there are a host of Prisoners of War scattered throughout each level who, if you cut their bonds and rescue them, give you a state of the art bit of weaponry to take on the advancing hordes. These include machine guns, rocket launchers and flamethrowers, each a wonder to behold as you spew molten death on the enemy.

The effects of each weapon is presented beautifully, in a fashion fans of the arcade game will drool over. The explosions are large and bright, the shots fired seem ringed with flame and the expressions and actions of those that come under fire suitably gratifying. The foot soldiers alone have such a variety of expression, be it grim determination, fear as they flee or horrible grimaces as they're blown away. Besides that you also have the very fluid movements of bigger combatants, be they tanks, subs or even bigger machines of war like airplanes. On top of this, the war is waged in a landscape awash with colour and detail. Initially it is the entrenched beach fortifications, followed closely by a craggy mountain pass, followed by deep caves where all sorts of weird nasties lurk. Each area is replete with a variety of hewn rock, massive fallen tree trunks to negotiate, foliage of all kinds and the various constructions housing the enemy. When combined together you're left with a rare visual treat for Gameboy Advance owners. It's unusual for this type of game to be so pretty, while at the same time so full of moving characters, explosions, items, flying bullets and all sorts of other visual bits and bobs.

The sound too will definitely please fans of the arcade version. In fact, if memory serves correctly, the audio samples seem to be taken directly from the original. This is from the chatter of gunfire, the teeth rattling explosions and even the soundtrack. The audio capabilities of the Gameboy seem stretched to breaking point and you sit stunned as you hear the announcer shouting out the guns you've picked up, or the enemies cackling, or the trundle of tracks of the tank. All I can say about the sound to sum it up is 'wow!'

Now comes the bit that really sticks in my craw, the bit where I have to diss, no matter how lightly, this gleaming gem amongst the 2D shooter already available on the Gameboy. You may have noticed I've only really been referring to fans of Metal Slug and how satisfied they'll be with the game. For those coming to the title for the first time, I have a few reservations. First of all, there's the difficulty. This title is Hard, it is Extreme, it is for the Serious Gamer Only. Casual players will most likely drop the Gameboy from their poor quivering Nintendonitis shrivelled fingers after just getting to the end of the first level. Also, even though the replay value of the game is high, there are only five levels. When you consider how much golden Slug goodness there is packed into this cartridge already that's hardly a surprise, but gamers who seek value for money by the length of the game they play may be a little peeved. While this has been alleviated by a choice of two characters to play through as and the aforementioned completeness factor of collecting all the cards and bonuses, many may see this as a bit of a cop-out.

That said, this title comes thoroughly and happily endorsed by this humble reviewer. I don't care if you've never encountered the joys of Metal Slug before, you must own this title. Hard? So what. Be a man! Join the ranks of hardened gamers who can lay their hands on their heart and say they have completed a Metal Slug game unscathed and watch the awe in the eyes of those in the know. Short? So what. Play it again and again until you know every nook and cranny and have seen every enemy running from you in fear. Trust me, it's a magic moment. Worried for your tendons? Ha! Call yourself a gamer? We laugh at those crippling curled up hands of ours that can barely hold a controller. Bring it on!

What with the outstanding gameplay, the longevity of playing the beautiful levels over and over and the cracking sound effects, I say get Metal Slug Advance! It may be the greatest 2D shooter to hit the Advance, before the next-generation handhelds are grabbed by our grubby, sweaty and rather worn out paws.

Reviewed by Dave Wynn for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).