The Animation in Metal Slug Games

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  • Опубліковано 10 лип 2024
  • This time we attempt to cover the animation in the Metal Slug series.
    This is the the article from which the interview translation from the NeoGeo magazine comes: shmuplations.com/metalslug
    Follow me for more animation and video game things on Twitter @Rootayable
    Consider donating $1 a month to my Patreon to help support the channel in getting better equipment, better games to talk about, better software, better research, better quality editing and seeing your name in the credits: www.patreon.com/DanRoot
    Thanks to my youngest daughter for shouting "WOW!" whenever she saw me playing Metal Slug for footage capture.
    Stay tuned for The Animation of Hollow Knight next:
    #MetalSlug
  • Ігри

КОМЕНТАРІ • 682

  • @nnamdiekwueme4895
    @nnamdiekwueme4895 4 роки тому +855

    I don't care WHO you are. You've had to at least seen a metal slug explosion once in your life.

    • @dominics.8796
      @dominics.8796 4 роки тому +31

      Nnamdi Ekwueme True. Never played Metal Slug, but I saw few of its explosions in Sonic For Hire.

    • @osamaroum
      @osamaroum 4 роки тому +31

      i played all metal slugs games since the 90s except the strategy ones .

    • @fishyfinthing8854
      @fishyfinthing8854 4 роки тому +16

      To me, I like seeing mummies get blasted into dust by a shotgun. Look so cheesy! Best 2D animated game series ever!

    • @bappojujubes981
      @bappojujubes981 4 роки тому +13

      True. Especially in thousands of Flash animations and games.

    • @ZuoKalp
      @ZuoKalp 3 роки тому +1

      @@osamaroum "Strategy" ones

  • @stripedhyenuh
    @stripedhyenuh 4 роки тому +437

    Metal Slug used one of the most arcane black arts of pixel techniques: subpixel animation. Instead of moving whole pixels every frame, inbetween movements are implied by moving the colors of pixels that stay in the same position. It's insanely hard to pull off successfully but it lets you imply fluid animation even at Neo Geo's low screen resolution

    • @VideoGameAnimationStudy
      @VideoGameAnimationStudy  4 роки тому +40

      Thanks for that!

    • @IlSharmouta
      @IlSharmouta 4 роки тому +21

      I've honestly never considered that, and I'm now very glad I am aware of this, thank you

    • @somerandombub
      @somerandombub 4 роки тому +41

      One of the most noticable objects that uses subpixel animation is the Metal Slug tank itself, which allows it to look like it's subtly shaking from the engine, even when you're not moving it. (Also makes it look even more alive!)

    • @thrillhouse_vanhouten
      @thrillhouse_vanhouten 4 роки тому +3

      Could you suggest some other good examples of subpixel animation?

    • @Faun471
      @Faun471 4 роки тому +1

      @@thrillhouse_vanhouten donkey kong country, castlevania I guess? But don't worry, metal slug's sub pixel animation is godlike. Just take a look on this website 2dwillneverdie.com/tutorial/give-your-sprites-depth-with-sub-pixel-animation/ The elephant's animation is amazing, btw.

  • @zxGHOSTr
    @zxGHOSTr 4 роки тому +838

    All those secondary animations with those big machines are on another level. They realy knew what they were doing.

  • @taufanadikurniawan7170
    @taufanadikurniawan7170 4 роки тому +758

    Metal Slug is really a classic game.
    Doesn't take themselves seriously, no boring cut scenes, complicated story, fun for beginners, have co-op players mode, and of course all that insanely detailed funny, strange, and cute animation that exceed players expectations.
    Just like pizza, something that so humble but insanely delicious 😋

    • @Icantpickaname12
      @Icantpickaname12 4 роки тому +18

      Then came metal slug attack, i have never seen such boring cutscenes.

    • @taufanadikurniawan7170
      @taufanadikurniawan7170 4 роки тому +26

      @@Icantpickaname12 there's nothing perfect in this world. Let's hope that's not becoming a trend, anyway who came with brilliant idea "oh let's slap long, boring and unskipable cutscenes, everybody will love it"
      I hated it.. personally, deeply, passionately hate it

    • @Icantpickaname12
      @Icantpickaname12 4 роки тому +16

      @@taufanadikurniawan7170 i know nothing is ever perfect, but I'm just saying that maybe they should've put more work into those MSA cutscenes, the character portraits don't even move let alone any facial expression that relate to the text your reading.
      like this-
      marco: i am so sad *default portrait*
      MS-Alice: good bye *dies* *default portrait but then turns gray and fades*
      marco: NOOOOOO *default portrait*
      Only thing i really liked was the music, because metal slug has some good music anyways.

    • @jasoethesentienteyeshapedg4847
      @jasoethesentienteyeshapedg4847 4 роки тому +2

      @@Icantpickaname12 *DeviantArt:* "Hahaha, time to redraw them all..."

    • @Kilesfactor
      @Kilesfactor 4 роки тому +2

      Pizza is humble?

  • @dracmeister
    @dracmeister 4 роки тому +510

    Fun fact, this series originally was supposedly literally just about the titular tank, Metal Slug as the character, no named human protagonists. But the developers decided telling a story of just about a machine, that was possibly sentient, was difficult to tell at the time.

    • @majorblitz3846
      @majorblitz3846 4 роки тому +85

      That's pretty much explained why they add the story later but with a remodeled story in MSA
      _"Instead of just a sentient machine, it's a sentient waifu tank AI"_

    • @ags8507
      @ags8507 4 роки тому +36

      that explains the animations of the metal slug, nice

    • @harlannguyen4048
      @harlannguyen4048 4 роки тому +10

      With the next Metal Slug game being announced, I wonder what they're going to do for the story?

    • @ivoo604
      @ivoo604 4 роки тому +7

      Honestly it would be amazing and, possibly for the time, ground breaking. I always felt like the tank was the true protagonist and is so iconic

    • @tomhill3248
      @tomhill3248 4 роки тому +6

      @@majorblitz3846 I preferred it as just a machine. Wally did super good. Why are people so insecure that they feel the need to inject the human shape into everything? We're hungry for non-human protagonists! We're ready you don't have to keep changing yourselves! We've been around our own species for millions of years, give me the game about the giant invincible invisible skeleton. I can handle it.

  • @Gamersgoinblind
    @Gamersgoinblind 4 роки тому +255

    My favorite little detail of metal slug is the reloading animation even though it is not necessary since you have basically endless bullets.

    • @brute6896
      @brute6896 4 роки тому +42

      There’s this animation where one of them pulls out a canteen and takes a chug out of it, I think it was Marco

    • @edsionmartinez8828
      @edsionmartinez8828 4 роки тому

      @Derago 2. Ralf and Clark are from king of fighters. The white hair blue vest is trevor from metal slug 4

    • @dr.eisenhauer8922
      @dr.eisenhauer8922 4 роки тому +21

      My Favourite little detail is when the Rebel Soldier with the Rifle reloads between shots, all the motion and how the rifle reacts, you even see the bullet casing beeing ejected.

    • @NeonLeV95
      @NeonLeV95 4 роки тому +10

      I agree, that's really a neat - though unecessary, as you said - detail indeed. Also, on top of that, I've noticed that the reload animation occurs depending on the pistol you're using and the number of bullets you shot.
      For example, playing with either Fio, Eri or Nadia will trigger the reload after six shots, because obviously those gals use revolvers; as for Marco, Tarma and the others, that animation is triggered after 12 shots or so (I don't remember precisely), naturally because of their semi-auto guns and related magazine capacity.
      These games get more interesting the more you analyze them.

    • @Abel-Alvarez
      @Abel-Alvarez 3 роки тому +5

      @@NeonLeV95 Wtf I did not know that. Damn this series has been around for almost 25 years (woop woop) and to think that there's still new things to see and learn about this game is incredible. Talk about attention to detail (massive respect for NAZCA and SNK for this amazing gem of a series.)

  • @CompleteAnimation
    @CompleteAnimation 4 роки тому +480

    The last generation of pixel art (before pixel art had a revival) holds up a lot better today than the first generation of polygonal graphics.

    • @cannonfodder4000
      @cannonfodder4000 4 роки тому +88

      Likewise; the last generation of practical movie special effects holds up better than first generation CG

    • @TJ-ck3fp
      @TJ-ck3fp 4 роки тому +69

      These graphics are timeless because they are built on strong fundamental art and animation principles. Same goes for the old 2D Disney movies.

    • @Toack
      @Toack 4 роки тому +19

      And of course the technology to generate 2D graphics (pixel art or whatnot) was way less demanding and affordable than the ones to create 3D specially when it was starting. Basically they were creating technology, techniques and processes. That is why your comparison makes no sense.

    • @kabronex9877
      @kabronex9877 4 роки тому +9

      @@cannonfodder4000 shit dude most cg these days looks *worse* than last gen practical.

    • @jasongarrett768
      @jasongarrett768 4 роки тому +18

      Toack No, it still bears noting because it was that exact point in time that many leaders in the industry insisted on burning the old to make way for the new. See Sony higher-ups’ hostility towards sprite-based games at the time.
      The hard work and craft of pixel artists is well worth vindicating.

  • @pavro_w0t719
    @pavro_w0t719 4 роки тому +271

    Metal Slug explosions were a work of ART.

    • @bubbastevegarcia2459
      @bubbastevegarcia2459 4 роки тому +16

      Pavro w0t the entire game is!! Some of the best sprite work in the business!!

    • @theprocrastinator6813
      @theprocrastinator6813 4 роки тому +4

      yea seeing the frame by frame effects all at once makes you appreciate the work they do

    • @noesunyoutuber7680
      @noesunyoutuber7680 4 роки тому +7

      There's a reason every damn flash animation ever stole them for effects. MS explosions are the best.

    • @DonVigaDeFierro
      @DonVigaDeFierro 4 роки тому +2

      "Were"? They are still case studies for aspiring animators!!

    • @M0D776
      @M0D776 4 роки тому +3

      Im sorry but they were not a work of art...
      They ARE a work of art

  • @WanArk86
    @WanArk86 4 роки тому +110

    Metal Slug will always be one the best and most expressive sprite animation ever

  • @riosol8950
    @riosol8950 4 роки тому +173

    man i never realized just how spicy metal slugs animations were

    • @joaquinfernandez3977
      @joaquinfernandez3977 4 роки тому +4

      how can you not notice????

    • @born2war1
      @born2war1 4 роки тому +5

      Metal slug 3 when female character get hit by acid from snail i always pause frame by frame to look the detail :P

    • @gaygoddessnamedmadoka2252
      @gaygoddessnamedmadoka2252 4 роки тому +9

      @@born2war1 especially when it's fio
      we're perverts
      also fio best girl

    • @saidoterodiseno
      @saidoterodiseno 4 роки тому +2

      Honestly that was the most impressive aspect of the game IMO. Watching those aliens melt and explode is very impressive.

  • @stevewik2280
    @stevewik2280 4 роки тому +55

    The team that did the King of Fighters games for Neo Geo were brilliant pixel artists as well. Actually, that platform had a LOT of excellent pixel artists and animators.

  • @SIMIFU
    @SIMIFU 4 роки тому +103

    Metal slug to me is still peak 2d sprite animation, its ridiculous how good this looked back then and is still (in my opinion) the best looking sprites that have yet to be dethroned.

    • @TailsGuy72
      @TailsGuy72 4 роки тому +6

      Street Fighter III wan't's to know your location. (But, Metal Slug is top tier too)

    • @sgnitzlennahv
      @sgnitzlennahv 4 роки тому +3

      @@TailsGuy72 well kof 13 say hello.

    • @TailsGuy72
      @TailsGuy72 4 роки тому

      @@sgnitzlennahv you aren't wrong...

    • @Ploist
      @Ploist 2 роки тому +2

      Rainworld is a potential contender

  • @benwilliams5760
    @benwilliams5760 4 роки тому +99

    For a series that is clearly an overwhelming treasure chest for animation study you covered a lot of ground here! Great job, pal. It makes me miss our break time sessions on the cabinet.

    • @VideoGameAnimationStudy
      @VideoGameAnimationStudy  4 роки тому +8

      There's so much to study, it was a tough call!
      Ahh yeah man, those were the best. It'd have been cool to play it all day.

  • @capoman1
    @capoman1 11 місяців тому +5

    Metal Slug should go on forever. I'd keep playing no matter how many came out.

  • @TheDoctorProfessor
    @TheDoctorProfessor 4 роки тому +56

    Metal Slug has the best sprite art you will ever see. SNK kept churning out incredible sprite work until the art form became a dead art. With the reintroduction of pixel graphics, I hope we get another Metal Slug someday.

    • @VideoGameAnimationStudy
      @VideoGameAnimationStudy  4 роки тому +4

      Hopefully one day!

    • @zebra972
      @zebra972 4 роки тому +2

      KoF XIII has amazing sprites too!

    • @everythinggoesforjack3987
      @everythinggoesforjack3987 4 роки тому

      Well, we are. It's just not the kind we're expecting lol. The 3D animations so far are pretty good though.

    • @VideoGameAnimationStudy
      @VideoGameAnimationStudy  4 роки тому +1

      Another Metal Slug?? 🤔

    • @everythinggoesforjack3987
      @everythinggoesforjack3987 4 роки тому +1

      Yeah, it's codenamed Code J. Its a 3D side scroller in the vein of the original Metal Slugs just with RPG elements. They replicated the original animations in 3D pretty well.

  • @dekoldrick
    @dekoldrick 4 роки тому +55

    >Relieve daily stress
    >Makes a game with an insane difficulty even on easy mode

    • @Crspss
      @Crspss 4 роки тому +2

      funny, that is the opposite for some if not many people

    • @விஷ்ணு_கார்த்திக்
      @விஷ்ணு_கார்த்திக் 4 роки тому +1

      By default, in any MS game Its not hard until you get to Mission 3.

    • @zhaoyun255
      @zhaoyun255 4 роки тому +1

      @@விஷ்ணு_கார்த்திக் Well, until you play MS3 onward when Mission 2 is starting to get fucking hard. And then, in MS3, there is a beginner trap in Mission 1.

  • @Akko1
    @Akko1 4 роки тому +15

    Don't forget when that Rambo dude gets eaten by an Orca. The physics involved in those bones lol

    • @livretro
      @livretro 2 роки тому +2

      He name is allen o'neil

  • @justvibin1087
    @justvibin1087 4 роки тому +26

    This series has some of the best pixel art animation I have ever seen.

  • @asmara9779
    @asmara9779 Рік тому +5

    SNK has the best sprite and animation back in the day.

  • @p59u00
    @p59u00 3 роки тому +7

    It just goes to show how much care and effort went into the art and animation of these games. It's unsurprising how they still hold up so well even after 20+ years later, especially when compared to many 3D games during the time.

  • @BigShinyPearl
    @BigShinyPearl 10 місяців тому +4

    Metal Slug might be an Old game, but the dedication and everything the developers made for that game is no joke. Even the arts itself is too much, plus animated. It even has some secrets. This game will forever be in my heart.

  • @kyoyamurasaki9169
    @kyoyamurasaki9169 4 роки тому +21

    Metal Slug is just a joy from start to finish, everything is so smooth and cartoony and we love it for that. Glad to see you like how the 001 reacts and moves as well

  • @trigs7127
    @trigs7127 4 роки тому +5

    "Metal Slugs feel alive and full of character."
    But you know what. I like to think that the metal slug IS a character. Frankly, it has more personality than the playable heroes themselves. I adore it to bits. I want a plush of this thing and hug it and see all his parts pop out as if reacting to being squeezed.

    • @VideoGameAnimationStudy
      @VideoGameAnimationStudy  4 роки тому +1

      Yep, me too! I think I do call it a character later on in the video, actually. If I recall.

    • @trigs7127
      @trigs7127 4 роки тому

      @@VideoGameAnimationStudy oh yes you did. I just think that saying that it is a character has the same value as saying that's its full of character, as you stated in your video.

  • @EiShatMaiSelf
    @EiShatMaiSelf Рік тому +4

    I’ve gotten into metal slug recently. It is now one of my favorite game series ever.
    Keep in mind this was in the span of a couple months.

  • @AkosiJeThro
    @AkosiJeThro 4 роки тому +19

    Mission 1 Start
    OHHhh BIG
    Heavy Machine Gun
    Rocket Launcher
    FlameThrower
    Laser Gun
    Mission Completed

  • @yoshinpixels9924
    @yoshinpixels9924 4 роки тому +2

    God damn
    I haven't even played a MS game, but just from visuals alone, it's genuinely top 5 favourite game aesthetics, the backgrounds are so high quality and faithfully textured, the material of the landscape represented brilliantly with pixels, the sub pixelling on practically everything is obscenely godlike, the actual animations themselves are silky smooth and full of character, fuck dude
    Imma be real, in regards to really small sprites, i genuinely can't think of another game that tops this

    • @JSN117
      @JSN117 4 роки тому +3

      Youre missing out not playing this. The gameplay is as smoothe as its graphics.

  • @hermesdavidms
    @hermesdavidms 4 роки тому +29

    [frees prisoner] THANK YOU!

  • @matthewfunk6435
    @matthewfunk6435 2 роки тому +6

    This is why I love metal slug while all it’s contemporaries continue to age and look worse trying to look cutting edge metal slug is ageless and looks spectacular

  • @TheBigL1
    @TheBigL1 3 роки тому +6

    The zombie vomit beam is one of my favorite bits of animation in the series too. I think it might have directly inspired the Brimstone weapon in Binding of Isaac - it's a nearly identical beam of projectile vomit blood that shoots across the screen and blasts through pretty much everything in your way.

  • @DDRUTOU
    @DDRUTOU 4 роки тому +7

    SNK really knew quality. Look at today. The games they made vs the games they were competing against.....Metal Slug has still held up!!!

  • @lambdalabs7807
    @lambdalabs7807 2 роки тому +7

    Fun fact about the slug: In MS1-5, the tank uses a average amount of animation frames, but there’s a copy of almost every single frame for a ton of different angles, to at least 90 degrees!

  • @ankd956
    @ankd956 4 роки тому +90

    I hope Marco is in the next Smash Bros character pack DLC

    • @bikeybill
      @bikeybill 4 роки тому +39

      honestly I think the the metal slug itself would work as a character.

    • @alexhardline2208
      @alexhardline2208 4 роки тому

      @@bikeybill that'd be a final smash. Marco (or any other playable Metal Slug character) has enough weapons.

    • @brycebitetti1402
      @brycebitetti1402 4 роки тому +24

      @@TheRealBatabii Yeah, they ruined it by putting in their more recognizable character who is the mascot for their fighting games which is what SNK is mostly known for. What idiots.

    • @chronic939
      @chronic939 4 роки тому +7

      @@brycebitetti1402 whining fools begone

    • @VideoGameAnimationStudy
      @VideoGameAnimationStudy  4 роки тому

      @chronic - Haven't you already used that insult elsewhere in the comments?

  • @125discipline2
    @125discipline2 4 місяці тому +2

    this game was perfect from the start, one of its kind, playing MS1 in sunday morning is one of the best experience a gamer could have

  • @TalkSickMass
    @TalkSickMass 2 роки тому +3

    Akio and Susumu should be given lifetime achievement awards for making memorable 2D sprites and backgrounds pushed to the Neo Geo hardware's limits

  • @jdawgthethingod3212
    @jdawgthethingod3212 4 роки тому +3

    I legit still play MS3 on my phone up until this day. I adore this game since first playing it at a local arcade.

  • @david2618
    @david2618 4 роки тому +4

    That giant crab had excellent animation.

  • @endlessedgar4576
    @endlessedgar4576 4 роки тому +7

    This is hands down my favorite artstyle of any arcade game, is so realistic yet cartoony, pretty much anything you can think that is in this game is full of details and beautiful animation, my favorites are the amount of details in the spaceships you can pilot in the final mission of MS3, the trolleys carrying missiles during the Crablops fight in MS7 when you shoot them and the attacks and movements of the Slug Gunner & Black Hound in MS5.

  • @FireBomberBassist
    @FireBomberBassist 4 роки тому +24

    That Dominion Tank Police inspiration in the tanks are my favorite thing. Great old anime.

  • @apocalypse930
    @apocalypse930 4 роки тому +11

    This is half of the reason why Irem is my favourite game company. Yes, Irem. I don't mean SNK.
    The other half is their weird sense of dark humor.

  • @freshlymemed5680
    @freshlymemed5680 2 роки тому +5

    I remember seeing a metal slug cabinet in an arcade once. I was completely entranced by the preview gameplay. It was absolutely gorgeous. This game definitely sparked my love for sprite work and animation.

  • @ducktail4068
    @ducktail4068 3 роки тому +4

    In metal slug anthology they shared their secret to the detailed animations.
    I think they said it took a lot of ANGER, SADNESS, EFFORT AND GUTS.

  • @yiannispe2117
    @yiannispe2117 5 місяців тому +2

    I dont think we gonna ever have a better pixel game when it comes to animation. Its far and beyond anything weve seen. At least for the first 3 games ! Its beyond impressive

  • @juanrodriguez9971
    @juanrodriguez9971 4 роки тому +23

    I would LOVE a crossover game between Metal Slug and Cuphead, I mean, both are basically the same genre of videogame and also are mainly popular thanks to their beautiful and incredible art style, a videogame crossover where you constantly change between hyper detailed pixelart and old goofy boneless cartoons would be amazing to see.

  • @Devilsblood
    @Devilsblood 4 роки тому +7

    The metal slug series are an absolute work of art.

  • @elone3997
    @elone3997 13 днів тому +1

    The amount of love the artists/animators put into this series is just straight up sickening. It's just a complete eye-gasm. You mentioned the 3D iteration, and while I didn't play it myself, it just looked so generic and devoid of..well..anything. There's just so much soul that goes into *good* pixel art and it's almost as much problem solving as anything else when you have 1 pixel that can make or break a pose - it's the limitations that force you to get good right? The metal slug vehicle character treatment reminds me of the early Pixar short "Luxo Jnr" (I'm sure you know it of course) and how they really conveyed that playful, goofy behaviour beautifully while still staying believable to it's physical form (more or less). It's so cool that so many games are coming out that are continuing the artform with some pretty striking presentation, but I can't think of any that have matched Metal Slug for just gratuitous stubborness to be the absolute benchmark 😉👍

  • @theimperfectgod7140
    @theimperfectgod7140 4 роки тому +5

    When the Metal slug fires it recoils its entire turret.

  • @broodypie2216
    @broodypie2216 3 роки тому +1

    I love it when a machine opens up with 10 more massive guns and missiles than could ever fit on it

  • @Bloxed
    @Bloxed 4 роки тому +23

    I am such a big fan of Metal Slug. I actually beat Metal Slug X in August. Great video! =)

    • @VideoGameAnimationStudy
      @VideoGameAnimationStudy  4 роки тому +3

      Thanks!
      Yeah I've been playing the collection on PS4 for research and forgot how much I loved it!

    • @Bloxed
      @Bloxed 4 роки тому +1

      @@VideoGameAnimationStudy It's always a blast of epic proportions whenever someone returns to this series. Personally, I had modded the game on to a PS1 Classic. I need to get those games for the Switch.

    • @RigbyIsTheMan
      @RigbyIsTheMan 4 роки тому

      @@VideoGameAnimationStudy isn't there an input delay on that port?

    • @VideoGameAnimationStudy
      @VideoGameAnimationStudy  4 роки тому

      Sssssort of.
      It's not too detrimental, though.

  • @fuminy6175
    @fuminy6175 Рік тому +1

    I remember my friends watching me play metal slug for the first time, and now it makes sense why they described the Metal Slug tank as cute.

  • @shallowguy8417
    @shallowguy8417 2 роки тому +3

    This game really appeals to me as a kid and I sometimes still play it because of the nostalgia. Besides its replayability, the design and animation were amazing, I'm always mesmerized with the bosses' design. I really love the Metal Slug too just like what you said it somehow makes you think that it's alive and how almost every part of it moves in every frame. This will be one of the best classic games, I wish that they would still release titles with the similar design.

  • @capoman1
    @capoman1 11 місяців тому +2

    I think the first games where animation really drew me in as a kid was Prince of Persia, and the Earthworm Jim then Cool Spot (7up) and BattleToads. Very exaggerated animation... Another was where Sonic would animate if you just stood there, he'd start making "I'm bored" or "let's go" animations, and he'd animate like he was losing his balance when near an edge.

  • @ruki25
    @ruki25 2 роки тому +2

    That reload animation is on par with all those snappy john wick reloads you see online. Master-class work these guys did.

  • @bigdude1384
    @bigdude1384 3 роки тому +2

    In my opinion the best pixel art i ever see is :
    - Metal slug series
    - Mo astray
    - Carrion

  • @IlSharmouta
    @IlSharmouta 4 роки тому +5

    In games, I personally don't like too much bobbing in running animations. I like that in this game, their body and head are completely still, vertically, so when you move side to side it's very easy to keep track of.
    Even if the legs flailing in the air look really silly

  • @aaronjecevicus3843
    @aaronjecevicus3843 4 роки тому +5

    In terms of graphics from early arcade games from late 1980s through early 2000s, SNK definitely has a lot more heart and soul with its game franchises. One of the biggest one being the king of fighters series. So many Easter eggs, so much going on with the character dialogues especially facing your rival(kyo kusanagi vs. Iori yagami, Terry bogard vs geese Howard, etc) SO much detail with the stages! Weather it's the climate changing, people passing by, and ofcourse seeing our beloved characters from other snk games in the background watching the beatdowns take place was a nostalgic and iconic treat, SNK Never disappointed me till China took over and are now whoring out our iconic characters to company's like Namco. Never in my years of playing old school arcade games have I ever seen so much going on in one game franchise. Its the little things that make snk stand far away from capcom. Street fighter is amazing. But sadly doesn't hold a candle to SNKs nostalgia. Also snk has an ENORMOUS list of fighting games where capcom had only Street fighter, darkstalkers, the early marvel fighting games, besides marvel vs capcom and the almighty capcom vs snk. Which capcom had the animation rights to CVS 1 and 2. So there went all our Easter eggs. And we looked at our KOF fighters with a somewhat less pixleated animation. Then snk made CVS chaos which had fucking violent ken in it besides shin akuma and our Easter eggs were retrieved being that snk has the animation rights to that one. I'm an old school retro game junkie. Snk is a religion besides being one of the GOATS of the arcade era. RIP old snk. Them damn mongorions a take over my a shitysnk. Lol

  • @5x385
    @5x385 2 роки тому +1

    i remember playing a metal slug mod for cortex command when i was a kid and being blown away pixels could look detailed, that was my first introduction to the games' look and it'll stick

  • @dave14647
    @dave14647 4 роки тому +4

    I forgot how beautiful the animation of Metal Slug is.
    I really appreciate the game now than back then when i was a kid

  • @FOXDUDETV
    @FOXDUDETV 4 роки тому +19

    Pixel art will never have this sort of quality again and even if it did, I'd still prefer hand drawn HD sprites. If SNK ever remakes the Metal Slug Series with HD sprites and backgrounds, those would probably be the best looking 2D games ever made. At the very least, rivaling Vanillaware.

    • @plasticflower
      @plasticflower 4 роки тому +3

      I like Vanillaware sprites as well, but what I think seperates MetalSlug or titles like SF3 from Vanillaware is, that that Vanillaware often uses software to deform a sprite to create animation, as opposed to redrawing every frame. It's more cost effective, but the animation also looks more artificial, even if (or especially if) it is very smooth.

    • @TJ-ck3fp
      @TJ-ck3fp 4 роки тому +4

      I disagree that pixel art will never have this quality again. HD sprites can look amazing (Cuphead, Wario Shake It) but pixel art has it's own charm and will likely co-exist alongside HD art for a long time, if not forever. We're seeing a resurgence of pixel art games and it's only a matter of time before artists push the boundaries again. Actually it's already happening.

    • @FOXDUDETV
      @FOXDUDETV 4 роки тому +3

      @@TJ-ck3fp But indie studios use pixel art nowadays mostly to save time and money and pixel art at the level of quality of the Metal Slug series takes a lot of time and money. Owl Boy took ages to develop and it doesn't even come close.

    • @TJ-ck3fp
      @TJ-ck3fp 4 роки тому +1

      @@FOXDUDETV Yeah that's good point, I see where you're coming from. But this is only the beginning of the resurgence. Owlboy isn't a great example, because I'm pretty sure that game was not being worked on full time for the 9 years(I think?) it took to develop. Noitu Love 2 was made by one guy in about 10 months or so if I remember correctly. Now, NL2 might not be Metal Slug quality, but bear in mind it was made by one guy who had to do the game design and music himself too, it would seem reasonable that a small team could do something similar to Metal Slug in a few years given enough time and money. After all, we eventually got the beautiful graphics of Cuphead, which were probably even more painstaking to create than the Metal Slug animations were. Give it another 10 years or so and I bet we'll start seeing something similar to the level of Metal Slug again.

    • @FOXDUDETV
      @FOXDUDETV 4 роки тому +1

      @@TJ-ck3fp But do we really want that instead of crisp high definition sprites? The only adjective people ever use to describe pixel art is "charming", And I believe people always use that word because they can't think of any other quality the medium of pixel art provides. After all, what is pixel art besides being just low resolution art? Have you ever seen the concept art for Moonlighter? It is also very charming, the only difference being that the concept art is HD and the final product is not. I believe that Moonlighter did itself a disservice by going for the pixelated look. The only pixel art game that I bought at full price in recent years was Dead Cells, because when I look at pixel art games, they just look cheap compared to games like Darkest Dungeon, Mark of The Ninja, Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap and the upcoming Streets of Rage 4.

  • @robinpayapag861
    @robinpayapag861 4 роки тому +2

    In the Mobile ver of MS they take explosion off the charts
    The spider one is called Dragon Nosuke

  • @SimplyDad
    @SimplyDad 4 роки тому +7

    missed your videos! good to have you back, loving the video so far.

  • @dutchy5406
    @dutchy5406 4 роки тому

    One of my favorite series ever, and the animation and pixel alone is what caught my interest in the series. Awesome vid :)

  • @PersephonevanderWaard
    @PersephonevanderWaard 4 роки тому +4

    One of my favorite videogame series, animation-wise! Can't wait to sit down and watch this. :)

  • @Icantpickaname12
    @Icantpickaname12 4 роки тому +5

    Rebel soldiers i think have the most animation sprites in the metal slug games. They all look cool.

  • @thrillhouse_vanhouten
    @thrillhouse_vanhouten 4 роки тому +1

    I could listen to you point things out in Metal Slug animations out all day. Hope to see more Metal Slug-centric vids in the future!

  • @TheBandoBandito
    @TheBandoBandito 2 роки тому +1

    I'm looking forward to seeing more from the channel. Subscribed.

  • @ayrtonjoga
    @ayrtonjoga 2 роки тому +1

    Now I hope someone makes a video about Metal Slug's soundtrack, they are gold

  • @haru9666
    @haru9666 4 роки тому +1

    thank you for making this video, i always appreciate when someone makes a video about this game series, since even if metal slug is such an iconic series not that much people talk about it

  • @zenadvent8122
    @zenadvent8122 4 роки тому +2

    First I seen a video Metal Slug: The Complete History - SGR by
    Daniel Ibbertson, which is a sight to see a complete review of the series. So it is quite a joy to see this video talking about the sprite animations done in the game, you hit the nail man. The way the game was before after looking it now, really was way ahead of it's time on how much sprite animation and detail it have going on the game. Great video man.

  • @pheenmachine
    @pheenmachine 3 роки тому +1

    The trick used on the boss animations was used in Super Fire Pro Wrestling X Premium as well it helped give the game un precedented animations at a relatively low resource cost

  • @bestofmusicchannel
    @bestofmusicchannel 7 місяців тому +1

    I dont think there are many action 2D scrollers that can really go next to Metal slug series. They stand out so much for a reason. The main series that is. One of my favorite arcade games hands down.

  • @sufficientframe
    @sufficientframe 2 роки тому +3

    10:00 - Okay, but I found Marco surprisingly good-looking in that game... and the voice he had? Pure honey to my ears.

  • @MadsterV
    @MadsterV Рік тому

    6:42 my eyes, it burns! that uneven scaling with shifting compressed uneven scanlines!!

  • @tomservodoctor42
    @tomservodoctor42 4 роки тому +1

    Thank you! I fuckin' love Metal Slug and you hit the nail on the head. One of the the things that sets the series apart is just how alive and energetic everything feels!

  • @calibulaminus4778
    @calibulaminus4778 11 місяців тому +1

    considering that during the games creation procress, they had to rely on prototype hardware that once caught on fire due to overwork, you get an idea of how much effort when into it, (the reliance on prototype hardware stems from the sheer volume of work that was being done taking infinitely longer on the standard development hardware for the neo geo)

  • @stonetic2515
    @stonetic2515 4 роки тому +1

    If you love Metal Slug, be sure to check out the old Irem arcade games made by the same staff. In The Hunt and Undercover Cops are two of my favorites, they have the same great pixel animation. You can play them with MAME.

  • @FreeBird-ws2ye
    @FreeBird-ws2ye 4 роки тому +5

    My dad watching me play this game in the arcade.

  • @fireaza
    @fireaza 4 роки тому +9

    FYI, I once heard that the game gets it's name from the slug-like movements of the metal slug tanks!

    • @plhector
      @plhector 3 роки тому

      I think metal slug is another name for bullets. Not too sure, though.

    • @pretzel6629
      @pretzel6629 Рік тому

      Yeah I always thought Slug like a shotgun slug

  • @CrokeyHigati
    @CrokeyHigati 4 роки тому +1

    I always wait till the end to hear the end "loveyoubye". There could be a whole series on the animation in this series. I love hi bit pixel art so much, I hope to have it my games one day. Thanks for sharing your favorite bits of Metal Slug Dan!

  • @yurirafa3679
    @yurirafa3679 2 роки тому +1

    Only discovered this video after 2 years, but thank you. For years I would think about it this especially on metal slug 3, on the second mission with the zombies. Thank you

  • @luminousepoque8666
    @luminousepoque8666 4 роки тому +1

    This popped up in my youtube recommendations out ot the blue and, boi, I'm so satisfied.
    Awesome video.

  • @bigsmoke9209
    @bigsmoke9209 3 роки тому +1

    This guya doing pixel art for like 30 years, metal slug and Kof are their masterpieces

  • @moonsdonut5188
    @moonsdonut5188 4 роки тому +2

    my friend i always wanted a video on metal slug animation but there was none until you came thank you as a student of grapich design this is like a chapter frome the bibile to me

  • @Sebass2021
    @Sebass2021 4 роки тому

    I saw the title and immediately clicked. Did not disappoint! Thank you!
    Brb, going to find a Metal Slug 2 arcade cab in my city.

  • @danielhale1
    @danielhale1 3 роки тому +1

    One of my favorite memories from Metal Slug X was fighting a battleship that was literally dropping tanks on me. Each tank would lurch over the edge, fire once, and then fall to the ground and explode, because the enemy is so desperate to stop me they're throwing all their weapons at me as fast as they can in any way they can, and dropping a tank on my head is as good as anything.
    That wonderfully represents the fantastic over-the-top opulence of the Metal Slug series and I love it.

  • @heardofrvb
    @heardofrvb 2 роки тому +1

    It's a miracle the games even run on a Neo Geo.
    Heck, I heard in an interview that the machine caught fire during the first game's location test.

    • @implord4197
      @implord4197 Рік тому +1

      There's a reason why Metal Slug 1 and 2 Lagged/slowed down to hell and back on the arcade machines. They were REALLY pushing that processing power to its limits.

  • @WolfeScratch
    @WolfeScratch 4 роки тому +1

    Amazing Break Down of one of my favorite games. This is the quality content I subbed for. Please keep up the great work!

  • @ganjahfarmer4469
    @ganjahfarmer4469 4 роки тому +1

    metal slug has aged like fine wine

  • @VilaToro64
    @VilaToro64 4 роки тому +1

    The background art was out of this world for a arcade game hands down my All time favorite video game ever

  • @user-fy1nq3nf1q
    @user-fy1nq3nf1q 4 роки тому +1

    Gee, I never thought I'd see a video on this. About time!

  • @user-zo9dc1lu3q
    @user-zo9dc1lu3q 4 роки тому +4

    Great video !
    I have the Metal Slug Anthology + Metal Slug Double X for the PSP and i LOVE IT !!!

  • @Lukeormaybenath
    @Lukeormaybenath 4 роки тому

    Your channel is one of the true reasons why I really enjoy creative content :) thank you for doing such a great work on analysis

  • @ty_sylicus
    @ty_sylicus 4 роки тому +1

    I'll never forget finding a Metal Slug arcade cabinet in the wild as a boy. The fluid animation and sound effects really left an impression on me. I hadn't been exposed to that level of 2D polish before. I've been a fan of the series ever since.

  • @belldrop7365
    @belldrop7365 2 роки тому +2

    This reminds me of mecha animes. Of how older mecha animations looked so much better than the now 3D mecha animations.
    Some very high budget 3D animation do show promise in replicating that 2D charm. But that's far into the future for the more average shows.

  • @Appleyfrog
    @Appleyfrog 4 роки тому +1

    I love this franchise and this video so much

  • @SquibbeyJenkins
    @SquibbeyJenkins 4 роки тому +2

    It's about time I see a video about Metal Slug on UA-cam

  • @mrwahoo9708
    @mrwahoo9708 Рік тому +2

    This reminds me of mighty goose I loved that game

  • @wileecoyotegenius5955
    @wileecoyotegenius5955 4 роки тому

    A day with a video on Metal Slug is a good day indeed.

  • @CyberneticSheep
    @CyberneticSheep 4 роки тому +1

    Metal Slug was the first videogame ive ever played in my whole life, and grant me the devotion i have for videogames in general. It surely let a great influence on good detailed animation sprites. And im proud to say it was my first game, i hold very dearly this franchise and i wish to someday replicate that feeling i have with my own creations.

  • @redalchemy7322
    @redalchemy7322 4 роки тому +2

    Excellent video!
    The design of the MS Tank 001 was brilliant in terms of making it cute but cool. Its body which consists of the treads and base make up roughly 1/2 of the character making it chibi when you consider the Turret . The Turret acts like a head with the hydraulics acting like neck muscles. There is also its side "arms" that get blown off as you take damage that sort of flail around in the direction you move in. So you can imagine it as a chibi character that belches out tank rounds and has flailing machine gun arms.
    Its absurd and I love it