# Metal Slug 2 vs Metal Slug X: What Changed, and Which One to Play > Metal Slug X is a remix of Metal Slug 2: the same six missions with no slowdown, new weapons, more enemies and a harder game. Every difference, side by side. - Source: https://yesthisgame.com/blog/metal-slug-2-vs-metal-slug-x/ - Published: 2026-10-31, updated: 2026-10-31 - Author: Yes This Game (the team that makes the games on the site) ## Key takeaways - Metal Slug X (1999) is a reworked version of Metal Slug 2 (1998): the same six missions, soldiers and story. - The big change is speed: Metal Slug 2 slows down when the screen is busy, Metal Slug X almost never does. - Metal Slug X adds new weapons (Iron Lizard, Enemy Chaser, Super Grenade, Drop Shot), stronger versions of the old ones and more enemies. - Metal Slug X is the harder game. Play Metal Slug 2 to see the original, Metal Slug X for the smoother run. **Metal Slug X is a remix of Metal Slug 2.** It has the same six missions, the same four soldiers and the same story, but it runs without the slowdown of Metal Slug 2, adds new weapons, puts more enemies and new bosses in different places, and is harder. If you want the smoother game, play Metal Slug X; if you want to see the original, play Metal Slug 2. Both are free on this site: [Metal Slug 2](https://yesthisgame.com/metal-slug-2/) and [Metal Slug X](https://yesthisgame.com/metal-slug-x/). ## Metal Slug 2 and Metal Slug X side by side *Metal Slug 2 vs Metal Slug X* | | Metal Slug 2 | Metal Slug X | | --- | --- | --- | | Released | February 1998 (arcade, Japan) | March 1999 (arcade, Japan) | | Slowdown | A lot, when the screen is busy | Almost none: it runs on a reworked engine from Metal Slug 3 | | Missions | Six | The same six, with new enemy and boss placements | | Time of day | Day or night | Also dusk, twilight and sunset | | Weapons | Heavy machine gun, rocket launcher, flame shot, shotgun, laser | Stronger versions of those, plus Iron Lizard, Enemy Chaser, Super Grenade, Drop Shot and stones | | Getting fat | Only in Mission 4 | In every mission after Mission 2 | | Difficulty | Hard | Harder | | Home versions | Neo Geo AES, Neo Geo CD | Neo Geo AES, PlayStation | ## Why SNK made Metal Slug X Metal Slug 2 came out in 1998 with Eri and Fio as new playable soldiers, the first aliens of the series and transformations like the mummy and the fat soldier. Its big problem was speed: when many enemies, explosions and vehicles were on the screen, the game slowed down. A year later SNK released Metal Slug X, built on a reworked version of the engine it was making for Metal Slug 3. The slowdown was almost gone, and SNK used the chance to remix the whole game. ## What changed in Metal Slug X ### The weapons The heavy machine gun, flame shot, shotgun, laser and rocket launcher can come as stronger versions that do more damage and cover a wider area. New weapons join them: the **Iron Lizard** (a rocket that runs along the ground), the **Enemy Chaser** (homing missiles), the **Super Grenade** , the **Drop Shot** (bouncing bombs) and even stones. Mission 3 hides a Golden Metal Slug and Mission 4 the Armor Piercer. ### The enemies and bosses Every mission has more enemies, new enemy types such as the mummy dogs, and bosses in new places. Things in the background react when you shoot them, and some explode or drop items and enemies. All this makes Metal Slug X the harder of the two games. ### The missions The six missions follow the same route, but many happen at a different time of day, like dusk or sunset. You can grow fat by eating food in every mission after Mission 2, not only in Mission 4, and there are more hidden power-ups and prisoners. ### Sound and small things Much of the music is remixed, there is a new announcer, and Fio gets her own voice when she is hit (in Metal Slug 2 she used Eri's). ## Which one should you play? - **Play Metal Slug X** for the smoother, harder game with more weapons. Many players call it the best version of this story. - **Play Metal Slug 2** to see the game as it first came out, with the slowdown that sometimes makes busy moments easier to dodge. - **New to the series?** Start with the first [Metal Slug](https://yesthisgame.com/metal-slug/) (1996): four shorter missions and the original Metal Slug tank. Our [Metal Slug tips](https://yesthisgame.com/blog/metal-slug-tips/) (timer, weapons, prisoners and the tank) work in all three games. ## Cheats in both games On Yes This Game, both Metal Slug 2 and Metal Slug X have a magic wand button next to full screen with four cheats for player 1: unlimited lives, unlimited bombs, invincibility and infinite time. We switched each one on in the game and watched the counters stay put. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Metal Slug X the same as Metal Slug 2? Almost. Metal Slug X uses the six missions, soldiers and story of Metal Slug 2, with new enemy placements, new weapons, changed bosses and much less slowdown. ### Why does Metal Slug 2 slow down? Metal Slug 2 slows down when many enemies and explosions are on the screen. Metal Slug X runs on a reworked engine from Metal Slug 3 and almost never slows down. ### Which is harder, Metal Slug 2 or Metal Slug X? Metal Slug X. It has more enemies, and enemies and bosses are placed differently. ### What new weapons does Metal Slug X have? The Iron Lizard, Enemy Chaser, Super Grenade and Drop Shot, stones, the Golden Metal Slug in Mission 3 and the Armor Piercer in Mission 4. ### Can I play both online? Yes. Both run free in your browser on Yes This Game, with optional cheats for unlimited lives, bombs, invincibility and time. ## Games in this guide - [Metal Slug 2](https://yesthisgame.com/metal-slug-2.md): Play Metal Slug 2 online free: Marco, Tarma, Eri and Fio fight through six missions with tanks, camels and planes. Cheats for lives and bombs. - [Metal Slug X](https://yesthisgame.com/metal-slug-x.md): Play Metal Slug X online free: Marco, Tarma, Eri and Fio blast through six missions in SNK's 1999 Neo Geo run and gun. Cheats for lives and bombs. - [Metal Slug](https://yesthisgame.com/metal-slug.md): Play Metal Slug online free: run, shoot and drive the SV-001 tank through six missions of the 1996 arcade classic. Cheats for lives and bombs. No download. - [Contra](https://yesthisgame.com/contra.md): Play Contra online free: run, jump and shoot through eight stages of the 1988 NES classic. Cheats button for unlimited lives and the spread gun. No download.