

Even though all the instruments are synthetic, there’s a unique and great quality to the audio, which, despite not being realistic or authentic, gives to the overall sound a certain “retro” feel that simply makes all these compositions stand out even more. They all feature incredibly catchy melodies and grooves, sometimes accompanied even by a jazzy piano and a very prominent use of electric guitars.

The jazz elements of the franchise are instantly noticeable in “Inner Station”, “Ridge 256” and “Gerhard Station”. This over-the-top theme is the core of the entire franchise. It is further reprised in numerous other themes of the soundtrack, notably in “Final Attack” where it gets an “epic” makeover, fitting for the last stage of the game. Opening with bombastic heroic motif and instrumentation that emulates military bands, as the track develops, the theme impresses further with a jazz interlude that adds more depth and personality to the composition. It soon is followed by the heart and soul of the soundtrack, the “Metal Slug Main Theme”, which is used as background music for the first stage. This military march is certainly very clichéd, but fits the context appropriately and is somewhat charming on a stand-alone basis.

The militaristic motifs are first recognizable in the briefing and ranking music, titled “March”. Let’s get down to the mission, shall we? Body Though the soundtrack wasn’t initially released on CD, it formed the basis of the first disc of the Metal Slug Complete Sound Box, released to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the series. It could be less exceptional were it not for the cool and unique arcade synth that it uses, which only adds to the charm. He offers a varied, fun, and colorful soundtrack full of personality and style, mixing heavy metal, jazz, and militaristic orchestral music. Its soundtrack by Takushi Hiyamuta is one of the best aspects of the gaming experience. Metal Slug is one of the rare instances in gaming history where everything was done right.
