I've been a long-time fan of the Metal Slug series, which was introduced a while back on SNK's Neo-Geo arcade hardware. It brings back the old flavor of the Contra series while packing a contemporary, anime-style 2-D look that gives it a personality all its own. With each new adventure, the series has only gotten better and better, and now here comes Metal Slug Advance, the first handheld Metal Slug game to come around since the old Neo Geo Pocket entries.

This is not exactly the same Metal Slug you remember. It certainly looks, plays, and sounds like Metal Slug, but there are a couple of changes that you should know about. For instance, the characters you choose from this time around are different, looking more like modern-day fighters instead of the usual war-torn soldiers that the series is known for. Also, instead of suffering from just a one-hit deaths like in previous adventures, you now have a power bar that dwindles away with each hit that you take. Finally, the game has unlimited continues instead of a limited number like the old games have.

This could easily lead to some complaints about this particular entry, but that's not the case. Despite some of its shortcomings, Metal Slug Advance still comes up big in one key element: action. The game still remains as frenetic and fantastic as it's always been, with an enormous amount of enemies to gun down, hostages to save (who reward you with items and firepower, with weapons like a rocket launcher and a heavy machine gun), and gigantic bosses that require a great deal of strategy to defeat.

The design is just as good as the Neo-Geo efforts before it, with levels that span through different areas and allow you to find action both on-foot and with vehicles, such as a robotic suit that fires dual machine guns and even animals that manage to pack some caliber. But nothing beats the old-school Metal Slug tank, a mini-tank with cannon fire and machine gun capability that rocks. The graphics look great as always, with the traditional hand-drawn approach and no slowdown in sight- good news for those who were disappointed with the E3 build.

The sound is typical Metal Slug, with a score that isn't annoying at all and manages to complement the action. Sound effects are also impressive, including voices that announce your latest weapon and plenty of groans from the soldiers you've dispatched.

As for control, it feels just like Metal Slug, which is good news. You can jump and fire in different directions, and also use vehicles very easily. And while the continues and power bar could be argued, the game does include a fantastic new collection system where you pick up items that will allow you to unlock bonus features, depending on your progress. Your game is saved after each level, allowing you to keep the items you've collected thus far. However, if you die mid-level and continue, you lose the items you collected before you died in that level.

Metal Slug Advance does have a lot to offer. It has six huge missions to beat, as well as bonus mini-games, hidden missions, a detailed profiling of the hostages you rescue, and more. It looks and plays fine, and the collection system, like I said, is a surprise, especially with how the game saves. But I still think more could have been offered. The ability to shut off the power bar would have been nice for those thirsting for a challenge, a two player mode is missing, which would have made for some good cooperative battles, and, let's face it; I would've been cool to find some earlier Metal Slug games as a nice bonus treat. After all, it's not like the game included here is hogging up all the cartridge space.

But, hey, I'm just nitpicking. Metal Slug Advance is still a top-notch entry in the series, and fans who have stuck with it for so long with still find plenty of action to soak in here. Those who missed out on snagging a Nintendo DS or a PSP for the holiday season will still find a lot to be thankful for with this game.