<s>
It	O
was	O
originally	O
released	O
in	O
2000	B-Application
for	O
the	O
Neo-Geo	B-Application
MVS	I-Application
arcade	O
platform	O
as	O
the	O
sequel	O
to	O
Metal	B-Application
Slug	I-Application
2/Metal	O
Slug	O
X	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
ported	O
to	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
,	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
,	O
iOS	B-Application
,	O
Android	B-Application
,	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
Portable	I-Operating_System
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Vita	I-Device
,	O
and	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
adds	O
several	O
features	O
to	O
the	O
gameplay	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Metal	B-Application
Slug	I-Application
and	O
Metal	B-Application
Slug	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
such	O
as	O
weapons	O
and	O
vehicles	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
introducing	O
branching	O
paths	O
into	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
gameplay	O
mechanics	O
are	O
the	O
same	O
as	O
in	O
previous	O
Metal	B-Application
Slug	I-Application
games	O
;	O
the	O
player	O
must	O
shoot	O
constantly	O
at	O
a	O
continual	O
stream	O
of	O
enemies	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
reach	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
each	O
level	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
the	O
way	O
through	O
each	O
level	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
can	O
find	O
numerous	O
weapon	O
upgrades	O
and	O
"	O
Metal	B-Application
Slug	I-Application
"	O
tanks	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
new	O
feature	O
in	O
Metal	B-Application
Slug	I-Application
3	I-Application
is	O
the	O
branching	O
path	O
system	O
;	O
in	O
most	O
missions	O
,	O
there	O
are	O
forking	O
paths	O
from	O
which	O
the	O
player	O
must	O
choose	O
one	O
,	O
each	O
with	O
their	O
own	O
obstacles	O
,	O
and	O
each	O
of	O
varying	O
length	O
and	O
difficulty	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
(	O
PS2	B-Device
)	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
versions	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
once	O
the	O
arcade	O
mode	O
has	O
been	O
beaten	O
,	O
there	O
are	O
two	O
additional	O
mini-games	O
:	O
"	O
Storming	O
the	O
UFO	O
Mothership	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Fat	O
Island	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2006	O
,	O
Metal	B-Application
Slug	I-Application
Anthology	I-Application
(	O
titled	O
Metal	B-Application
Slug	I-Application
Complete	O
in	O
Japan	O
)	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
,	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
and	O
PSP	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
compilation	O
includes	O
the	O
original	O
Metal	B-Application
Slug	I-Application
,	O
and	O
all	O
of	O
its	O
arcade	O
sequels	O
(	O
including	O
Metal	B-Application
Slug	I-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
Metal	B-Application
Slug	I-Application
X	O
)	O
up	O
to	O
Metal	B-Application
Slug	I-Application
6	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Metal	B-Application
Slug	I-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
released	O
on	O
Xbox	B-Device
Live	I-Device
Arcade	I-Device
on	O
January	O
2	O
,	O
2008	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
features	O
upscaled	B-Algorithm
graphics	O
and	O
co-op	O
online	O
gameplay	O
,	O
but	O
it	O
does	O
not	O
include	O
the	O
extra	O
modes	O
from	O
console	O
releases	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
version	O
was	O
made	O
backwards	O
compatible	O
on	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
in	O
2015	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
March	O
2012	B-Application
,	O
the	O
AES	O
version	O
of	O
Metal	B-Application
Slug	I-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
July	O
2012	B-Application
,	O
a	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
iOS	B-Application
and	O
Android	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
February	O
2014	B-Application
,	O
a	O
PC	B-Device
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
Steam	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
and	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Vita	I-Device
(	O
through	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Network	I-Device
)	O
came	O
in	O
November	O
2014	B-Application
in	O
Japan	O
and	O
worldwide	O
in	O
March	O
2015	B-Application
,	O
while	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
version	O
was	O
released	O
worldwide	O
in	O
December	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
version	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
March	O
9	O
,	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Upon	O
its	O
initial	O
appearance	O
,	O
Metal	B-Application
Slug	I-Application
3	I-Application
received	O
generally	O
positive	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
GameRankings	O
,	O
the	O
PS2	B-Device
version	O
has	O
a	O
score	O
of	O
76.78	O
%	O
based	O
on	O
nine	O
reviews	O
,	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
version	O
75.71	O
%	O
based	O
on	O
sixty-four	O
reviews	O
,	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
360	O
version	O
78.46	O
%	O
based	O
on	O
thirteen	O
reviews	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
iOS	B-Application
version	O
74%	O
based	O
on	O
five	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
Metacritic	O
,	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
version	O
has	O
a	O
score	O
of	O
76	O
out	O
of	O
100	O
,	O
based	O
on	O
fifty-six	O
reviews	O
,	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
360	O
version	O
78	O
based	O
on	O
twelve	O
reviews	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
iOS	B-Application
version	O
76	O
based	O
on	O
five	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
his	O
review	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
for	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
,	O
IGN	O
's	O
Hilary	O
Goldstein	O
scored	O
it	O
6.8	O
out	O
of	O
10	O
,	O
feeling	O
that	O
as	O
an	O
arcade	O
shooter	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
stood	O
up	O
well	O
,	O
but	O
as	O
an	O
Xbox	B-Device
title	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
weak	O
when	O
compared	O
to	O
other	O
games	O
on	O
the	O
system	O
:	O
"	O
If	O
this	O
game	O
were	O
$20	O
or	O
even	O
$30	O
it	O
would	O
merit	O
a	O
better	O
score	O
and	O
better	O
recommendation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
is	O
not	O
a	O
$40	O
value	O
unless	O
you	O
absolutely	O
must	O
have	O
this	O
game	O
on	O
your	O
Xbox	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
scored	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
360	O
version	O
7.4	O
out	O
of	O
10	O
,	O
again	O
feeling	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
good	O
for	O
what	O
it	O
was	O
,	O
but	O
somewhat	O
dated	O
when	O
compared	O
to	O
other	O
titles	O
:	O
"	O
Before	O
you	O
purchase	O
Metal	B-Application
Slug	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
you	O
need	O
to	O
ask	O
yourself	O
how	O
much	O
you	O
value	O
ten	O
dollars	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Metal	B-Application
Slug	I-Application
3	I-Application
is	O
a	O
lot	O
of	O
fun	O
,	O
but	O
this	O
should	O
be	O
a	O
$5	O
download	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Especially	O
when	O
original	O
,	O
awesome-looking	O
shooters	O
such	O
as	O
Omega	B-Device
Five	I-Device
are	O
storming	O
Xbox	B-Device
Marketplace	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpot	O
's	O
Ryan	O
Davis	O
scored	O
both	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
and	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
360	O
versions	O
7.5	O
out	O
of	O
10	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Of	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
version	O
,	O
he	O
praised	O
most	O
aspects	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
but	O
criticized	O
the	O
excessive	O
difficulty	O
:	O
"	O
The	O
fundamentals	O
of	O
Metal	B-Application
Slug	I-Application
3	I-Application
are	O
all	O
really	O
excellent	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
So	O
,	O
with	O
all	O
this	O
going	O
for	O
it	O
,	O
it	O
's	O
a	O
real	O
shame	O
that	O
the	O
brutal	O
continue	O
system	O
introduced	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
conversion	O
to	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
makes	O
the	O
game	O
overly	O
uncompromising	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
If	O
you	O
are	O
prone	O
to	O
throwing	O
controllers	O
out	O
of	O
frustration	O
,	O
you	O
may	O
want	O
to	O
approach	O
Metal	B-Application
Slug	I-Application
3	I-Application
with	O
caution	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Of	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
360	O
version	O
,	O
he	O
argued	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
itself	O
was	O
excellent	O
,	O
but	O
it	O
was	O
a	O
somewhat	O
dated	O
experience	O
:	O
"	O
Ultimately	O
,	O
the	O
things	O
that	O
might	O
prevent	O
you	O
from	O
enjoying	O
Metal	B-Application
Slug	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
number	O
of	O
times	O
it	O
's	O
been	O
released	O
on	O
other	O
systems	O
,	O
its	O
relative	O
price	O
point	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
lack	O
of	O
extras	O
,	O
are	O
peripheral	O
to	O
the	O
experience	O
itself	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Eurogamer	O
's	O
Spanner	O
Spencer	O
scored	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
version	O
7	O
out	O
of	O
10	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
praised	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
,	O
but	O
as	O
an	O
Xbox	B-Device
game	O
,	O
he	O
found	O
it	O
somewhat	O
wanting	O
:	O
"	O
So	O
short	O
,	O
so	O
sweet	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Two-player	O
spins	O
it	O
out	O
for	O
a	O
while	O
,	O
and	O
there	O
are	O
Hard	O
and	O
Very	O
Hard	O
modes	O
,	O
but	O
at	O
£15	O
if	O
you	O
shop	O
around	O
Metal	B-Application
Slug	I-Application
3	I-Application
arguably	O
transcends	O
the	O
usual	O
rental	O
recommendation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Patrick	O
Garratt	O
were	O
more	O
impressed	O
with	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
360	O
version	O
,	O
which	O
he	O
scored	O
9	O
out	O
of	O
10	O
,	O
writing	O
:	O
"	O
What	O
's	O
really	O
fascinating	O
here	O
is	O
the	O
fact	O
that	O
a	O
vaguely	O
ageing	O
title	O
appears	O
to	O
have	O
found	O
its	O
niche	O
market	O
on	O
a	O
modern	O
console	O
-	O
this	O
is	O
Metal	B-Application
Slug	I-Application
3s	I-Application
ideal	O
home	O
,	O
and	O
you	O
'd	O
be	O
a	O
fool	O
not	O
to	O
make	O
it	O
welcome	O
in	O
yours	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpy	O
's	O
Darryl	O
Vassar	O
scored	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
version	O
4	O
out	O
of	O
5	O
,	O
arguing	O
that	O
"	O
while	O
each	O
of	O
the	O
individual	O
parts	O
of	O
Metal	B-Application
Slug	I-Application
3	I-Application
are	O
unremarkable	O
,	O
they	O
come	O
together	O
in	O
a	O
way	O
that	O
is	O
greater	O
than	O
their	O
sum	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Metal	B-Application
Slug	I-Application
3	I-Application
is	O
a	O
fantastic	O
game	O
--	O
it	O
's	O
easy	O
to	O
pick	O
up	O
and	O
play	O
,	O
has	O
great	O
character	O
and	O
depth	O
,	O
and	O
is	O
even	O
better	O
with	O
a	O
friend	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Japan	O
,	O
Game	O
Machine	O
listed	O
Metal	B-Application
Slug	I-Application
3	I-Application
on	O
their	O
May	O
1	O
,	O
2000	B-Application
issue	O
as	O
being	O
the	O
third	O
most-successful	O
arcade	O
game	O
of	O
the	O
month	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PS2	B-Device
port	O
sold	O
47,581	O
copies	O
in	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
2014	B-Application
PC	B-Device
port	O
later	O
sold	O
651,482	O
digital	O
copies	O
worldwide	O
on	O
Steam	B-Application
,	O
for	O
a	O
total	O
of	O
at	O
least	O
copies	O
sold	O
for	O
the	O
PS2	B-Device
and	O
Steam	B-Application
platforms	O
.	O
</s>
