Slug 5 — Metal

: Several planned environments, including underwater segments intended for the Slug Mariner , were scrapped before release. Performance and Difficulty

Reviewers generally consider this entry to have a compared to Metal Slug 3 or 4 , with fewer enemy sprites on screen at once. A standard playthrough typically takes approximately 1.5 to 3 hours to complete, depending on how much extra content a player pursues.

: For the first time, players could perform a sliding maneuver by pressing Jump while crouching, allowing them to dodge attacks and reposition quickly.