If you look past those shortcomings you’ll be well pleased. I found Metal Slug 7 a lot of fun and a great addition to the franchise, loaded up with some of the most intense action you will find on any platform this year. The gameplay remains centred around run-and-gun shooting with you choosing from a roster of six commandos each with different attributes and skills and then venturing into old school 2D scrolling levels to dun down anything that moves (which I have to say is alarmingly therapeutic..)

The story apparently plays out as a prequel to Metal Slug 4 with the  Peregrine Falcon Strike Force troops taking on General Morden and his allies from the future although none of that knowledge is needed to play this just run, jump and blast anything that moves and you will be fine.

There are only a couple of differences between this game  and precursors such as Contra and Super C.  The biggest change is the light-hearted art style, which  remain distinctive even on the diminutive DS screen.  The commandos look like small cartoon characters to the point that you can make out Marcos big pompadour and Clark’s hat and shades through to the enemies exaggerated expressions and gestures including big wide eyes and arms thrown wide when you do things like blasting shields out of their hands.  Using prisoners to provide power-ups is another characteristic not found elsewhere.  Robinson Crusoe ragged hostages complete with Rip Van Winkle long beards can be found throughout all levels, and when you set them free they show their gratitude by dishing out goodies such as rocket and laser guns a plenty.  The game also makes greater use of vehicles than most of its rivals.  Just about every  level has a tank, mech or flier of some kind or another that you can hop into and use to blast and incinerate your enemies until it blows up beneath you and you have to eject.