Metal Slug, the frantic run-and-gun arcade series that ate a generation's ten-pence pieces, is charging onto the tabletop. SNK has teamed up with Pix'n Love Games to turn the series into a board game, with the project heading to crowdfunding on Gamefound to mark the franchise's 30th anniversary.
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Find events near youMetal Slug started life on SNK's Neo Geo in 1996, a gloriously chaotic side-scrolling shooter where you blast, drive and dodge through cartoon warzones, hopping into the titular tank whenever things get hairy. It has spawned a long line of sequels and ports, and the pixel art still holds up beautifully. A tabletop version has been a long time coming.
The pairing is the reason to pay attention. Pix'n Love is a French outfit that made its name publishing lavish books on video-game history, so a Metal Slug board carrying that pedigree looks more like a labour of love than a quick licence cash-in.
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Start organising for freeFor now, there is not much to grab hold of. Pix'n Love has put up a Gamefound pre-launch page for fans to follow, and the reveal art badges the box for the 30th anniversary, with player icons pointing to a game for up to four. Everything is flagged as not final, and there is no word yet on whether it keeps the arcade's two-player co-op. Mechanics, price and a release date are all still to come, with reveals promised as the campaign nears launch.
You can follow it now on Gamefound. This one is squarely for the retro faithful, at least until there is an actual game to describe.
Sources: Retro News | Gamefound | Pix'n Love
