Metal Slug 3 (c) 2000 SNK.
The heroes of the first 2 games return once more to do battle with the ever-present General Morden and his vast army. The third game of the series places a greater emphasis on defeating hulking boss characters than the 2 previous outings. Metal Slug 3 also introduced multiple routes through most levels, vastly increasing the replay value of the game. For example; on the first level the player reaches a point where they can either continue over land, or enter a small submarine and head down into the ocean depths, where they will be faced with a variety of huge, deadly sea-dwelling creatures.
Metal Slug 3 introduced a number of new elements that have a direct effect on the player's character - similar to the 'mummification' of the second game. The first of these is the 'fatty' affect : should the player pick up too much food (fish, for example) their character will morph in an obese version of itself. This doesn't have any detrimental effect on performance and is included purely for reasons of humour. Another effect is the now infamous 'Zombiefication'; should the player's character be attacked by a Zombie, he or she will become Zombie until they are either killed, or pick up a first-aid, which will restore the player's character back to human form. Movement while in the zombie state is slow and restricted but the player is armed with what can perhaps be best described as the 'Zombie Vomit'; a huge arc of blood that can be used to destroy oncoming enemies. A second Zombie attack while the player's character is in a Zombie state will result in the player losing a life.

>>> TECHNICAL DETAILS
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SNK Neo-Geo MVS hardware
Game ID : 0256
Main CPU : 68000 (@ 12 Mhz)
Sound CPU : Z80 (@ 4 Mhz)
Sound Chips : YM2610 (@ 8 Mhz)
Screen orientation : Horizontal
Video resolution : 320 x 224 pixels
Screen refresh : 59.19 Hz
Palette colors : 4096
Players : 2
Control : 8-way joystick
Buttons : 3
=> Character > [A] Shoot, [B] Jump, [C] Grenade
=> Metal Slug> [A] Gun Attack, [B] Jump Board Vehicle, [C] Artillery Attack

>>> TRIVIA
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Released in May 2000. This game was the last game in the Metal Slug series developed by SNK. The underwater stages are a graphical nod to Irem's 1993 classic, 'In the Hunt'. This is understandable as many of SNK's Metal Slug developers originally worked for Irem.
Metal Slug 3 features a number of sci-fi movie homages : Mission 2 features a guest appearance by the Men in Black. The carnivorus plant aliens in Mission 4 are a parody of the sci-fi musical comedy, 'The Little Shop of Horrors'. The squid-like aliens in the gigantic Mission 5 (known as 'Mars People') are a homage to the movie, 'Independence Day'. Also, the alien clones you face in this stage seem to parody the sci-fi movie clasic, 'Invasion of the body snatchers'. Finally, the last boss battle seems to be slightly inspired by the ending sequence in the sci-fi horror movie, 'Alien Resurrection'. One of the hostages (who also appeared in 'Metal Slug 2' & 'Metal Slug X', by the way) known as Hyakkutaro will join the fight by shooting fireballs.
Noise Factory released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (Metal Slug 3 Original Soundtrack - NF-0002) on 31/01/2003.
A hack of this game was released in 2005 as 'Metal Slug 6 [Hack]', one year before the official 'Metal Slug 6'.

>>> GAME SERIES
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1. Metal Slug - Super Vehicle-001 (1996)
2. Metal Slug 2 - Super Vehicle-001/II (1998)
3. Metal Slug X - Super Vehicle-001 (1999)
4. Metal Slug 1st Mission (1999, SNK Neo Geo Pocket Color)
5. Metal Slug 2nd Mission (2000, SNK Neo Geo Pocket Color)
6. Metal Slug 3 (2000)
7. Metal Slug 4 (2002)
8. Metal Slug 5 (2003)
9. Metal Slug 6 (2006)
10. Metal Slug 3D (2006, Sony PlayStation 2)
11. Metal Slug 7 (2008, Nintendo DS)

>>> DESIGNERS / PROGRAMMERS / STAFF
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Planners : Meeher, Akio
Enemy sequence : Narusawa, Arita
Character chief : Akio
Background chief : Susumu
Designers : Cannon, Tomo, Kozo, Kuichin, Flying Fox, Curry
Wizard : Andy
Enemy's brain : Aba
Programmers : Tecchan-Take, Dramania Hide, Fujisawa, Nakatsuka, Seeker
Sound : Hiyamuta (Hiya!), Captain Beroou (as Bero-ou), Hohi_Hohi, Q_Jiroo, Maitaro

>>> GAME PORTS TO OTHER SYSTEMS
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* Consoles :
Sony PlayStation 2 (2003): complete the arcade mode to unlock 2 mini-games called Another mission 1 and Another mission 2.
Microsoft XBOX (2004)
Nintendo GameBoy Advance (2005, 'Metal Slug Advance')
Sony PSP (2006, 'The Metal Slug Collection')
Nintendo Wii (2006, 'The Metal Slug Collection')
Sony PlayStation 2 (2006, 'The Metal Slug Collection')
Microsoft Xbox 360 (2008, 'Xbox Live Arcade')

>>> OTHER GAME RESOURCES
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Game's rom.
Machine's picture.