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Metal Slug 7 is full of surprises. For one it, like Dragon Quest IV, has a hidden English localization already built in the Japanese release that came out in July. You can’t get access to it by normal means, but a gray area patch with a language selector is floating around. Superficially, this sounds unnecessary since Metal Slug games are run and gun, but Metal Slug 7 actually has text you may want to read. Combat missions have specific instructions and goals given out by Cynthia.
I knew about those from playing Metal Slug 7 at GDC, but I didn’t realize Cynthia acts like a digital date. As you progress further through the combat missions Cynthia warms up to you. The first time you chat her up she coldly explains she is from Minnesota and that you should never as a girl her age. Later Cynthia makes tea for you and blushes when she thinks about “you”. SNK is no stranger to dating sims with Days of Memories and all, but blending the genre into Metal Slug 7 is, for me, an unexpected twist in the series.
Images courtesy of SNK / Selectbutton.net.
